Offaly were rewarded for reaching the All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final for the first time by drawing champions Wexford.
That game will be part of an appetising double-header at Nowlan Park on August 18, that will also include league champions Cork’s encounter with Galway.
Elaine Dermody was in typically high-scoring form as Offaly continued their amazing rise through the ranks to reach the last four for the first time.
John Troy’s charges were still plying their trade at junior level three years ago but under Joachim Kelly’s stewardship, they won the championship that season and followed up with intermediate honours the following season.
After a year of consolidation at senior level, they have flourished through the knockout stages and showed great courage to edge out a valiant Dublin in a terrific match played in front of a good crowd at Parnell Park.
They looked in trouble approaching half time, trailing the hosts by seven points at 1-8 to 0-4. Mairi Moynihan’s sixth minute goal was the perfect start for the Dubs but Offaly struck for seven successive scores, with Dermody’s 38th minute penalty goal putting them in front for the first time.
The Drumcullen sharpshooter finished with 1-7, and with Michaela Morkan (0-3) and Siobhán Flannery (0-2) providing ample support, Offaly had built up a vital four-point cushion when Moynihan struck for her second goal deep in injury time to leave it 1-13 to 2-9.
Cork and Clare have been involved in some titanic tussles this year and Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosted another, with the home team prevailing 1-10 to 0-10.
There was never very much between the teams as Chloe Morey tagged on six points for Clare, with Fiona Lafferty and Claire McMahon also getting on the mark.
The key score though was Katrina Mackey’s goal early in the second half and she added two points in a consummate display. Jenny O’Leary notched up four points as Cork kept their noses in front all the way to the finish, despite the gallant attempts of their opponents in the final quarter.
Elsewhere, Dublin won the All-Ireland U16A championship for the first time in 30 years when coming out on top of a titanic tussle against Galway at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday, on a 4-10 to 2-8 scoreline.
Galway had been the victims in 1982 as well and the Dubs got off to a good start and Tara O’Flaherty’s goal helped them establish a three-point interval lead, even though Erica Coen responded in kind for Galway.
Orla Beagan found the net for Dublin early in the second half but the turning point came when full-forward Aisling O’Leary pounced for a brace of goals within a minute at the beginning of the final quarter.
Galway continued to fight hard and Amy Caulfield struck for a goal but there was too much ground to make up.
Offaly beat Antrim 4-11 to 0-6 to reach the final of the U16B championship, and they will face Derry, who accounted for Wexford in a tight encounter by 2-8 to 1-7. Wesmeath and Armagh progressed to the U16C final.
Meanwhile, the strongest field yet might have been assembled for the Poc Fada at Annaverna, Co Louth but it made no difference to Trish Jackman.
The 21-year-old Waterford and Gaultier ace made light of the testing conditions to retain the title and annex an historic fourth in succession. She completed the course in 29 pucks.
