Amy Byrne hoping Offaly can make impact in senior camogie

Michael Bolton

After winning the intermediate All-Ireland camogie championship last August, Offaly are looking to make their mark in the senior Championship.

After relegation in 2023 and semi-final heartache in 2024, Offaly defeated Kerry in Croke Park to get back among the best teams in the country.

This season has seen them finish fifth in Division 1B, and their Leinster championship ended at the quarter-final against Dublin.

With Wexford next up this weekend in the All-Ireland group stage, captain Amy Byrne is confident it will bring out the best in Offaly.

"This year with seniors, every game is a tough game. You can't take any game for granted; there is no easy games.

"It is a big step up in physicality; the speed is much more difficult. It is where we want to be; we have a big turnover in players this year.

"A few of the girls didn't come back from last year's panel for a few different reasons. We have had a lot of new, different players come in, we have used the league and Leinster championship for building."

The format for this season will see the four semi-finalists from last season, Cork, Galway, Waterford, and Tipperary, in one group, while the other six teams will be in another.

Joining Offaly will be Dublin, Clare, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Limerick, with two teams coming out of this group to the quarter-finals.

As the team is newly promoted, Offaly will be seen as one of the favourites to be relegated back to intermediate.

However, Byrne is determined for Offaly to make an impact in senior camogie.

"People are probably think Offaly are happy to just stay up this year, but that is not our overall goal.

"Our goal is to make it out of our group games and make it to a quarter-final. We have five tough matches ahead of us, but we are looking forward to them, and hopefully we can make it out of our group.

"There is a belief in our team that we can do that. Anything less than that, and we will be disappointed.

"It is a very competitive group. The six teams in our group, we are all going to give great matches to each other.

"Top two coming out, and bottom two in relegation. You have no room for mistakes. For our group, you really have to give it your all in every match.

"I think it makes it more competitive, leaving the top four in their own group and giving us a chance to come out of our group."