Daly’s brace proves crucial as Faithful end famine

TG4 LADIES JFC FINAL:

Daly struck twice in the second-half as the Faithful County won an All-Ireland title for the first time since their 1981 senior success.

Offaly had beaten Leinster rivals Wexford twice already in this year’s championship, but Greg Farrelly’s charges had to work incredibly hard for a third win against spirited opponents.

Daly, who was named player of the match, scored her first goal in the 38th minute, after Wexford had moved to within a point but Offaly could never relax until the St Rynagh’s player netted again in the final minute.

Offaly’s team also contained Treasa McManus (sister of former county footballer Ciarán), who won an intermediate title in 2008 with Tipperary. And the Leinster and All-Ireland champions will now make the step up to the intermediate grade for the 2014 campaign.

Scorers for Offaly: M Daly 2-1, L Sullivan 0-4, O Heavey 0-3f, L Keena, A Kerrigan & K Furey (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: K Redmond 0-4 (3f), L Tector, C Donnelly, S Kehoe, E O’Brien, F Rochford, L Evered & C Martin, A Murphy 0-1 each.

OFFALY: L Devery; A Byrne, E Dalton, M Guinan; E Corcoran, H McMahon, C McDonnell; T McManus, S Flannery; E Sullivan, M Daly, O Heavey; L Keena, L Sullivan, A Kerrigan.

Subs: K Furey for Keena (18), A Norris for E Sullivan (45), C Bennett for Guinan (60).

WEXFORD: M Kelly; L Tector, A Fitzpatrick, C Donnelly; S Kehoe, C McCabe, M Doyle; R Murphy, A Murphy; A Evered, E O’Brien, K Kearney; F Rochford, L Evered, K Redmond.

Subs: R Lawlor for A Murphy (39), L Casey for Fitzpatrick (39), C Martin for A Evered (55), M Quill for Kearney (49), L Casey for R Murphy (55).