Offaly 2-13 Wexford 0-10

Report by John Gavin

In a repeat of last year's Leinster Under 18A Shield Final, holders Offaly travelled to Abbotstown on Sunday to take on Wexford.  With excellent surfaces on the pitches in the GAA National Games Development Centre and no breeze the conditions were as close to as ideal as you can get in early March.

When play got underway, Wexford got off to the better start hitting two quick points.  Their lead could have been greater had they availed of a goal opportunity but Sophie James saved in the Offaly goals.  The Faithful girls quickly equalised courtesy of Amy Sullivan and after that the teams traded points for the next few scores as they battled for supremacy.  

With 16 minutes gone it was Offaly that gained the upperhand when joint captain, Orla Kilmartin slotted the ball past Keeva Steadman in the Wexford goals to leave her team leading by four points.  A Roisin Kinsella point extended Offaly's lead but Chloe Whelan's placed balls kept the scoreboard ticking over for Wexford in the closing stages of the half to leave Kilmartin's goal between the teams at the break.

 

Offaly started the second half the stronger with points from Kinsella and a brace from Sullivan doubling their teams' lead.  Wexford fought back and hit three points without reply but any chance the Slaney girls had of getting back into the game was killed off when a ball in by Amy Sullivan was caught by Roisin Kinsella who made no mistake in finishing to the Wexford net.  

Offaly Manager, Paul Moloney then rang the changes and introduced a number of subs but despite the changes his team managed to add on a further three points before the final whistle sounded and Offaly won the Leinster Under 18A Shield for the second year in a row.

Teams:

Offaly:  Sophie James, Elizabeth Kilmartin, Aoife Liffey, Ciara Maher, Aoife O'Donovan, Grainne Kennedy, Katie Hennessy, Amy Sullivan, Caoimhe Quinn, Caoimhe O'Donovan, Fianait Dooley, Aoife Byrne, Molly Hogan, Roisin Kinsella, Orla Kilmartin

Subs:  Taylor Mahon for Caoimhe O'Donovan (54 mins), Aine Kennedy for Caoimhe Quinn (52 mins), Elizabeth Kilmartin for Emily Conlon (27 mins), Meabh Nolan for Emma Buggy (27 mins), Caoimhe Ginty for Katie Hennessy (29 mins)

Wexford:  Keeva Steadman, Kate Flood, Leagh Maddock, Sarah Walsh, Jane Murphy, Leah Morris, Sophie O'Leary, Nicola Corrigan, Sadhbh Buttle, Bronagh Kenny, Katie Bolger, Ellie Stafford, Chloe Whelan, Lauren Smyth, Karen Hayden 

Scorers:

Offaly:  Amy Sullivan 0-7 (5 frees), Roisin Kinsella 1-2, Orla Kilmartin 1-0, Fianait Dooley 0-2, Molly Hogan 0-2

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