Offaly 4-12  Dublin 3-11

A minute into added time at the end of the first half, Offaly captain and midfielder Sarah Harding plucked the ball out of the sky with only one intention on her mind.   She made a bee-line for the Dublin goals and with great vision slipped the ball to Louise Mannion who hammered to the roof of the net.   It was an inspirational score and the ideal tonic going into the half-time break.    It was a score that bought huge confidence for the team and the evidence came in the second half.

Dublin had the better of the exchanges before that.  Admittedly the goal came from a penalty well hit by Niamh Rock in the 17^th minute.  But before that the team had shown great purpose when scoring five points on the trot.  The first two came from the stick of free-taker Ciara Holland whose efforts cancelled out scores from Offaly star Sarah Harding.  A great team move involving Evelyn Twomey and Alix Buckley was knocked over the bar by Kerri Finnegan to give Dublin the lead in the 8^th minute.  Evelyn Twomey won the puckout and a slick pass to Alix Buckley was neatly controlled before being dispatched between the posts.  The same player was back a minute later in the 10^th minute for her second point. 

Not for the first time Sarah Harding though was showing her immense promise in midfield and was only centimetres away from a levelling goal.  But Offaly have other stars too - Sarah's midfield partner Louise Savage showed her class with two well-taken scores to leave just a point separating the teams. 

The game was played at a hectic pace and Dublin had several fine contributions.   Sinead Wylde and Jessica McClelland were showing up well at No 11 and 14 and when Jessica was fouled in the box Niamh Rock’s penalty shot managed to hit the back of the net.    But Offaly were showing some nice touches and Sarah Harding and Kaitlyn Kennedy responded when needed with two fine points.    Back from a cruciate injury in 2016, Jessica McClelland put her name on Dublin’s 6 ^th point before Sarah Harding brought her scoring tally to 0-4 with a pointed free.  

As the game entered the final minutes, Dublin were awarded their second penalty.  This time the Offaly backs were ready and ‘keeper Ellen Gilligan made a good save from Niamh Rock.  It was a big turning point that grew more significant when Offaly levelled the game on the blow of half-time at 1-7 each.  Dublin’s 7^th point coming from Ciara Holland. 

Ciara Holland was off her mark in the 31^st minute to give Dublin the lead with a point from play.  But Offaly had a pep in their step in the second half.  Feeding off Sarah Harding’s leadership, the likes of Amy Byrne, Ciara Brennan, Eadaoin Kilmartin and Louise Mannion began to exert a bigger influence on the game.  Between the 33th and 47^th minutes, Offaly hit 2-3 to nil and gave themselves a winning platform.  

Points from Sarah Harding (0-3) were followed by a fine goal created by Louise Mannion and finished superbly by Eadaoin Kilmartin.  This saw the midlanders open a 5 points lead by the 40 ^th minute.   Alana Roddy was outstanding at left back – built in the mould of a Ger Coughlan of old – neat, speedy, tidy and crisp in her striking.   Sarah Guinan and Aoife Whelahan also excelled before Sarah Harding again impacted on the game.   Her long free broke to Kate Bergin and her finish was clinical.  

Dublin tried all the could to respond.  Another point came from free-taker Ciara Holland and substitute Cara O’Sullivan was unlucky to see her first time effort go over the bar when it could just as easily have been under in the 52^nd minute.   When awarded a free Sarah Harding stepped up to the mark to convert a great score.

Dublin came back with force and the move of Chloe Mullen to full forward began to pay off.    From a goalmouth scramble, the midfielder goaled to leave just 4 points between the sides and 5 minutes of normal time left.    

But once again it was the Offaly captain Sarah Harding who stepped forward to point a 65m free.   Five up and playing very composed camogie, Offaly killed the game off when fierce pressure on goalkeeper Megan Thomas led to the ball breaking to Emma Mulrooney and with her first touch since coming on, she goaled. 

Dublin never gave up and with the game in added time, Evelyn Twomey added a point and a goal from Chloe Mullen to cut the gap to four points.  The clock had caught up though and Offaly were deserving winners.

Dublin go forward to play Wexford next Sunday in the Shield Final.

Dublin Scorers:   Ciara Holland (0-6), Chloe Mullan (2-0), Niamh Rock (1-0), Alix Buckley (0-1), Kerri Finnegan (0-1), Jessica McClelland (0-1), Cara O’Sullivan (0-1), Evelyn Twomey (0-1)

Offaly Scorers:  Sarah Harding (0-9), Louise Mannion (1-0), Kate Bergin (1-0), Emma Mulrooney (1-0), Louise Savage (0-2), Kaitlyn Kennedy (0-1)

Referee:  Aiden O’Brien