Minors concede six goals

WEXFORD BEGAN their All-Ireland Under-16 camogie championship campaign in disappointing fashion, losing by eight points to Galway in St. Peregrine’s, Blakestown, on Sunday.

The Slaneysiders had a mediocre Leinster campaign but gradually improved over the course of the provincial championship, eventually beating Offaly in the shield final, so it was hoped that they could get a good start in a tricky group.

However, Galway are one of the powerhouses at this level and their goal-hungry forwards proved too elusive for Wexford to handle. The first-half was a close-run affair with the westerners taking a 2-5 to 0-8 lead in at the interval.

Lettie Whelan was well on her way to the Slaneysiders’ top scorer in the half. There was little to choose between the sides on the field but the ability of the Galway girls to hit the net when the opportunities arose proved key.

Unfortunately for the Leinster side, things got away from them in the second-half with both Sarah Healy and Ciara Helebert completing hat-tricks for the Tribeswomen. Indeed, St. Thomas’ clubwoman Healy registered 3-8 in the tie as she tormented the Wexford defence.

At the other end Whelan, Anais Curran and Ciara O’Connor all found the net as Wexford battled away. The 3-13 is comfortably more than Wexford managed in any of the Leinster games, which bodes well going forward.

There were several strong performances around the field. Nora Higgins excelled in midfield, Lara Conran was solid at centre-back, and there were powerful showings from Sarah Harding-Kenny and Ella O’Connor.

Next week Wexford face Offaly and they will fancy their chances of backing up their Leinster shield success with three Group 2 points.

With games to follow against Cork and Tipperary, the Slaneysiders will likely need to win all three to have a realistic chance of reaching the last four.

Wexford: Mikaela Lanigan; Kaitlynn Whelan-Kinsella, Anna Hennessy, Alannah Davis; Máire O’Rourke, Lara Conran, Hannah Keating; Nora Higgins (0-2), Sarah Harding-Kenny; Ella O’Connor (02), Lettie Whelan (1-7), Anais Curran (1-1), Ciara O’Connor (1-0); Orla Fortune (0-1), Ciara Bridges. Subs. - Orla Fitzgerald for Fortune, Saoirse Dunne for O’Rourke.

Galway: Yvonne Lyons; Mary Larkin, Leah Burke, Erica Leslie; Sarah Slevin, Lauren Gilligan, Muireann Flaherty; Kate Screen, Niamh Horan; Siobhán McGrath (0-3), Mairéad Dillon, Emma Reynolds (0-1); Sarah Healy (3-8), Ciara Helebert (3-0), Chloe Quinn-Reilly.

Referee: Eamon Cassidy (Derry).