Despite a nervy finish, Clare recorded an opening round success, with Chloe Moloney and Fidelma Marrinan pulling the strings in the forward line, on route to a five point win.

Offaly scored 1-1 in a whirlwind 20 seconds that almost saw a calamity for theBanner, they looked home and hosed but by the 55th minute, their lead was cut to four and Offaly looked to stage a late turnaround.

But Clare steadied themselves and late points by Marrinan and  Cliodhna Blake gave them the mathematical edge, Moloney and Marrinan both were strong in the forward line, while Laura Griffey’s second half goal was crucial in putting them further ahead.

It was the hosts who worked the opening score inside the opening minute, Clare penalised for a foul and Roisin Cockram tapped over the free for a one point lead. Fidelma Marrinan steadied the Banner side with their first point inside two minutes.

Clare had the ball in the net as Marrinan shot goalbound, but the referee had blown the whistle for a push and Chloe Moloney tapped over the free on her left boot, a first lead of the game for Clare, Marrinan doubled the lead having created space she worked a point off her left boot.

Amy Lenihan saved well to deny Emily Bailey a goal chance in the sixth minute, Offaly recycled the ball well and Amy Gavin Mangan made it a one point game with a sweet strike from play.

Back to a one point game Moloney and Caoimhe Harvey added points to put three between the sides, 0-5 to 0-2 after nine minutes,  space opened for Harvey to go for goal but she opted for a point.

Emma Hand kept Offaly on the scoreboard after creating space to work a score, but Marrinan was again on form for Clare and added another point before Aisling Reidy pointed a monster score from over 35m out, Clare ahead 0-7 to 0-3.

Towards the end of the opening quarter Cockram pointed her second free to put three between them, but Clare had a free of their own which Marrinan converted, followed by Amy Sexton scoring after the referee played advantage.

Cockram pointed her third free of the afternoon after 20 minutes cutting the gap to four, but Clare had their sixth scorer of the afternoon as Aine Keane raced up from defence to pop over another score from play.

Sexton kicked her second of the afternoon, but Offaly battled back as Michelle Mann raced in to kick over the bar, before Saoirse McGuinness pointed from an acute angle, the gap back to four points, 0-11 to 0-7 as the half time break was getting closer.

Marrinan kicked her fifth point of the opening half in the third minute of injury time, play was halted earlier in the half as she and Mangan collided and needed treatment, the Clare forward pointing her second free, putting the Banner ahead 0-12 to 0-7 at the break. 

Clare kept the pressure on inside two minutes of the second half, Moloney kicking long into the full forward line, Laura Griffey gathered and got into space to kick over the blackspot and put six between the teams.

Mann got Offaly on the board a minute later, but Cockram failed to cut the gap further with a free from close range, it curled right and wide, Marrinan however had her third free converted at the other end as Clare restored their six point margin, but they soon would lose Marrinan for ten minutes with a yellow card.

Despite having 14 players on the field, Clare would further their lead, Reidy making a solid run through the Offaly half, the ball working toward Moloney, she hand passed for Griffey and she made no mistake hitting the back of the Offaly net with a low strike, 1-14 to 0-8 for Clare after 43 minutes.

Cockram replied once again to keep Offaly in the tie with a point, Eve Kelly had a goal chance inside the final ten minutes, but her effort was right and wide of the Clare goal, but the referee spotted a foul in the build up and Cockram pointed the resulting free.

Moloney added her third point to cancel that out but Offaly hit back to score 1-1 in a crazy 20 second spell, Emma Hand finishing to the net, with Eve Kelly pointing just after, a four point game after 55 minutes, 1-11 to 1-15.

Despite the pressure being on them, Clare kicked the next two scores, a vital change of momentum at the late stage as far as they were concerned, Blake and Marrinan putting them back to a six point cushion.

Offaly pressed late on to work another goal chance, they almost had the opportunity but another foul close to goal saw Cockram go for the point on offer, the lead five for Clare, they were happy to work the possession late on to secure an opening round win.

Wexford, Clare, Louth, Roscommon, Longford, Tyrone and Laois are confirmed TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-finalists.

BY DARAGH SMALL

As a result Down and Sligo are in relegation trouble following Sunday’s second round action. Despite their positions in the standings, Leitrim and Kildare are exempt from relegation as Connacht and Leinster champions respectively.

Wicklow hosted Wexford in the pivotal game at the top of Group A in Baltinglass, with the visitors securing a 1-12 to 0-11 victory. Catriona Murray scored the first half goal and the sides were level 1-5 to 0-8 at half-time.

But last year’s beaten finalists came with some sustained pressure late on and Aisling Murphy sealed the win.

The other game in that group saw Offaly get right back into contention thanks to a brilliant 3-11 to 1-10 success.

They beat Leitrim at Bretland Park with goals from Sarah Kehoe, Mairéad Daly and Sarah Doyle cancelling out the effort from Roisin McHugh.

In Group B, Louth got their campaign up and running with a 1-11 to 0-9 victory over Down in Dundalk. Seona Halligan grabbed the only goal of the game late on.

Roscommon saw off Kildare in a thriller at St Brigid’s in Group C. Grace Clifford and Aoife Rattigan found the net for Kildare but the strikes from Fiona Tully (two), Jenny Higgins and Róise Lennon were the difference, as Roscommon won by 4-10 to 2-14.

Tyrone advanced from Group D following their 4-12 to 1-12 success against Sligo in Killyclogher.

Emma Jane Gervin, Chloe McCafferty and Niamh Hughes were among the goals for the hosts.

In the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship, Carlow made a perfect start with a 1-9 to 1-5 victory over Fermanagh in Lannleire. Rachel Sawyer scored the crucial goal for Carlow.