Offaly 5 - 11 Dublin 2 - 7

The final result could not be disputed but had Dublin been more clinical closer to goal then they could have pushed the Intermediate All-Ireland Champions of 2010 much closer.  Dublin created four extra goal chances - two in either half - but failed to take any of these chances.

The team showed some good passages of play particularly in the first half when playing into the breeze.  Louise O'Hara opened the scoring in the first minute with a pointed free and with Tara Corrigan, Ali Maguire and Sarah Ryan playing well in defence, Dublin were containing the Offaly forwards in the early stages. 

Aided by the stiff breeze in Birr, Offaly eventually broke through for two goals from Arlene Watkins in the 8th and Siobhan Flannery in the 12th minute.  But Dublin responded well.  A good move begun by 'keeper Helen Cosgrave was worked upfield by Tara Corrigan to Ciara Burgess who notched an excellent point in the 18th minute.  However Offaly's Watkins grabbed her second goal in the 24th minute to extend their lead to 3-4 to 0-2.

Dublin had a goal chance but Áine Fanning's effort went wide but a minute later in the 25th minute Louise O'Hara took a pass from Ciara Burgess to point.  Dublin took heart from this effort and when Amy Murphy's shot for goal came back off the butt of the upright, Áine Fanning hammered the rebound to the net. 

If matters had remained like this at half-time Dublin would have been reasonably satisfied with a strong breeze at their backs for the second half.  But Dublin were hit with a fourth goal and Arlene Watkin's third on the stroke of half-time when it appeared that the Dubs might have been entitled to a free out for a foul on Sarah Ryan.

Offaly were now in a strong position and upped their game particularly in the opening 10 minutes of the second half when they added two points from Arlene Watkins and Jean Brady.  The outstanding Michaela Morkan was dominating matters and Dublin were finding it difficult to make ground.

Two points from Louise O'Hara and a superb effort from Aoife Kelly cut the gap but Dublin needed goals.  It was Offaly who found the net however with a wonder goal from Michaela Morkan which killed any slim chance Dublin had.  Aoife Kelly pulled a goal back with a long-range effort and the excellent Aisling Carolan was rewarded with a fine point.  Miriam Twomey came on the notch Dublin's seventh white flag a minute from time but by that stage Offaly were safely through to their first Leinster Senior Final.

Photo Gallery by Seamus Massey

Dublin: Helen Cosgrave, Elaine O'Meara, Tara Corrigan, Sarah Ryan, Gráinne Quinn, Ali Maguire, Arlene Cushen, Ciara Burgess (0-1), Danielle Smith, Aoife Kelly (1-1), Louise O'Hara (0-3, 2f), Emer McCarthy, Aine Fanning (1-0), Amy Murphy, Aisling Carolan (0-1)

Subs: Elaine Gallery; Kate McCarry, Sinead O'Toole, Fiona Hayes, Miriam Twomey (0-1)

Offaly Scorers:  Arlene Watkins (3-3, 0-3f); Siobhan Flanner (1-4); Michaela Morkan (1-1), Jean Brady (0-1), Tina Hannon (0-1) and Orlagh Kirwan (0-1)