Very Ireland Camogie League Division 1B 

Wexford 4-15 Offaly 2-7

Report by John Gavin

After last week's draw with Antrim, Offaly travelled to Wexford on Saturday for their 4th round match in this year's year's Very Ireland League. 

Wexford were a team in form having won three of their four matches in the league with their only defeat coming against Waterford. Noelle Kennedy made two changes to the team that lined out against Antrim last week with St Rynaghs duo, Ellen Gilligan and Aoife McLoughlin being replaced by Leah Gallagher in goals and Rachael O'Brien on the half forward line.  She was forced into an additional change shortly before throw-in with Alana Roddy being replaced in the starting line up by her Birr club mate Hannah Feenane.

Wexford was always going to prove to be a stiff challenge for Offaly but it got significantly greater after just two minutes when Wexford hit two goals and a point in the opening three minutes.  Three Mairead Teehan frees gave Offaly some short respite but they were quickly cancelled out as the Slaneysiders and with nineteen minutes on the clock the match was as good as over as a contest when Leah Walsh hit her team's third goal.  Credit to Teehan who quickly replied for Offaly when she fired past Laura Brennan in the Wexford goals.  Another free from the Moneygall woman was sandwiched by points by Ciara O'Connor to leave Wexford leading 3-8 to 1-5 at half time.

When play resumed, the home team showed little mercy to their visitors as they flexed their muscles and ran up an impressive 4-15 with Mairead Teehan hitting her second goal of the game and a point.  Rachel Brennan proved to be the only other scorer of the day for the Faithful girls when she hit over early in the second half.  Offaly's frustration reached boiling point with just minutes to go when Sarah Harding was shown a second yellow card for dissent to round off a dismal afternoon for her team. 

Next up for Offaly is their final match in the group when they face a crunch match against Limerick, who find themselves looking for their first point of this year's League.

Afterwards Noelle Kennedy bemoaned the toll that four matches in three weeks had on her panel with her squad hit with injuries.  She praised the work that her panel is putting in and while results may not be going their way they are learning from every game they play.  

As she looks forward to the Limerick match she was happy with the break for the forthcoming weekend as she and her team prepare for the trip to Limerick in what the Offaly Manager says is a must win game. 

Teams:

Offaly:    Leah Gallagher, Sinead Moore, Hannah Feenane, Aisling Feeney, Sarah Walsh, Orlagh Phelan, Orla Gorman, Grainne Dolan, Louise Mannion, Lisa Gorman, Rachel Brennan, Rachale O'Brien, Mairéad Teehan, Sarah Harding, Siobhan Flannery.

Subs:  Siobhan Killeen for Aisling Feeney, Rebecca Ryan for Orla Gorman, Caoimhe Darcy for Rachael O'Brien, Labhaoise Glynn for Siobhan Flannery.

Wexford:  Laura Brennan, Maeve Sinnott, Emma Walsh, Katie Roche, Orla Sinnott, Ciara Storey, Roisin Cooney, Sarah O'Connor Chloe Cashe, Katie Gallagher, Mag Byrne, Aine Leacy, Leah Walsh, Ciara O'Connor, Linda Bolger.

Offaly scorers:  Mairead Teehan 2-6 (5 frees), Rachel Brennan 0-1.

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