Antrim v Offaly Eir All Ireland U16 ‘A’ Shield 19th April 2025
Antrim 1-10 Offaly 3-06
Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran in Portglenone
Antrim’s dream of an All-Ireland final came to an end when a determined Offaly side fired in their third goal in the eleventh minute of the second half, leaving the Saffrons with an uphill battle to close a six-point gap, despite Offaly unable to score for the remainder of the game.
A Cliodhna Thompson goal in the twenty sixth minute found the roof of the net from a free, despite the line packed with Offaly players. This gave Antrim hope, but as they say, goals win games, and an eventual two points difference would see Offaly over the line for their final.
Portglenone were the hosts for today’s All-Ireland game and worries regarding the status of the pitch were unnecessary as the turf weathered the recent deluge of rain remarkably well.
Today’s referee, Karol Collins, got proceedings underway, with a coin toss that allowed Antrim to choose playing into the wind in the first half, and at the top of the hour at 3 o’clock, it would be Antrim’s JoJo Darragh that would press into Offaly’s territory in just under thirty seconds from the throw-in but the sliotar would drift wide of the post.
Antrim’s Anna Smyth would register the first score with a fine point following a period of intense play for the sliotar and Eimear Ward would make that two points on the board following a skillful solo run and with six minutes gone, Cliodhna Thompson tidied up a pass that gave Antrim three points.
Offaly’s Laura Foley had Collins chalking up The Faithful County’s first point after a pass from teammate Keeva Davey, but Antrim’s first pain point would come sixteen minutes in from a free awarded to Offaly that dropped dangerously into Antrim’s square from Keeva Davey. An instinctive reaction from keeper, Maeve Scullion was to block the sliotar, but an unmarked and alert Siofra Ginty would pull on the loose ball for Offaly’s first of three green flags.
Antrim would respond to that goal with a fine solo and point from Cliodhna Thompson, but Offaly would reply with a punishing point from Ginty after a puck out dropped short into the wind, followed by Ginty’s 45. Antrim’s Caoimhe McErlain kept the scoreboard alive when she won a hard-earned ruck with a fine finishing point but just as the Saffron’s were making progress, Offaly replied with another two points, one from a free by Ginty and a second after Antrim’s Amy Gault swept back to the goal line to save a certain goal but the puck out went straight into the hands of a receptive Keeva Davey.
With only three points the difference at the twenty fifth minute, amidst a cluster of players in Antrim’s square, Siofra Ginty managed to find the net for her second goal and topped that with a point in less than a minute. Antrim would claw back one of those whenever Cliodhna Thompson was fouled and made good of the opportunity for her point just before the half time whistle, scores on the board Antrim 0-06 Offaly 2-06.
Offaly made good of the wind advantage in the first half and carried the sliotar far into Antrim’s half from their puck outs, negating the need and risk of working the sliotar out and up the pitch. Offaly made the most of those and worked their opportunities into unmarked players to create goal opportunities. It would be Antrim’s turn to see if the elements would deliver similar opportunities.
The second half started well for Antrim, Thompson and McErlain both pointing early but Offaly turned up the heat on the eleventh minute and a tidy sequence of play seeing Caragh Brophy hand pass at speed to a running Annie Mulhare, offloading to a nearby and unmarked Laura Foley for Offaly’s third and final green flag.
Six points adrift, Antrim started their move on the board as Tamara Black cleverly intercepted a free out from Offaly, and solo ran the sliotar close enough to carry the bar. The game now entered a period of physical intensity, reflecting Offaly’s determination to preserve their lead and Antrim’s need to gain more ground on the board. Offaly had their chance at another goal thwarted by Antrim’s Maeve Scullion after a brilliant save to keep the Saffrons in the game and Antrim’s perseverance was rewarded as Cliodhna Thompson found the net from a packed goal line from a free outside of the 13m line.
Despite several attempts to gain ground to deliver the sliotar over Offaly’s bar, Antrim weren’t able to find a break and Collins blew for full time, much to the relief of the Offaly fans who were weathering an intense period of play from a pressing Antrim.
Final score on the board, Antrim 1-10 Offaly 3-06. Offaly now progress to the final, playing Waterford, who managed to win by two points from Derry today.
Antrim starters and scorers
Maeve Scullion, Kiera McLaughlin, Laoise McCollam, Isabelle Martin, Orla Munce, Fiadh Sands, Amy Gault, Caoimhe McErlain 0-01, Anna Smyth 0-01, Tamara Black 0-01, Eimear Ward 0-02, JoJo Darragh 0-01, Adria McAllister, Aedin Vallely, Cliodhna Thompson 1-04 (1f)
Offaly starters and scorers
Aoibhinn Slattery, Elodie Loonam, Tara Moran, Moya Cummins, Ailbhe Martin, Ruby Oakley, Rachel Cunningham, Siobhán Ryan, Ali Smyth, Caragh Brophy, Laura Foley 1-01, Keeva Davey 0-01, Holly Sexton, Siofra Ginty 2-04 (1f, 1×45), Annie Mulhare
Photos from today’s game can be found in the album here…
https://myalbum.com/album/FfGm5TbBTa8m4F/?invite=27f3fda6-988a-440c-b7ef-3b43439950ff