Campaign was revived with victory in Waterford

LOOKING DEAD and buried after losing their opening two All-Ireland Under-16 camogie championship Group 2 games, Wexford gave themselves hope of an unlikely semi-final place with victory over Waterford in Walsh Park recently.

The Slaneysiders came into the game relying on other results to go their way to keep their hopes alive, and this win, tied in with Clare’s victory over Tipperary, meant that Wexford went into the last group game with their destiny in their own hands.

After a tight opening, that saw points from Anais Curran (two) and Kate Kirwan cancelled out at the other end, Wexford hotshot Curran netted the opening goal to set her side on their way. In fact, they nearly added another when Eimear Byrne rattled the crossbar moments later.

Wexford continued to pressure their hosts and with Curran bringing her first-half tally to 1-4, and Ciara Walsh and Amy O’Leary both getting themselves on the scoresheet, the visitors opened up a 1-7 to 0-5 interval advantage.

Waterford had started the group stages with wins against Tipperary and Cork, teams that had beaten Wexford, so there was always likely to be a response.

They pulled a goal back within seconds of the re-start but Curran soon responded with her second goal after a fantastic team build-up.

With O’Connor playing deeper and dominating from centre-back, Laura Doran and Amy Cahill shutting down Waterford’s scoring threat, and Curran tormenting the hosts’ full-back, Wexford were motoring.

Substitute Emma Dempsey was next to net to make it 3-9 to 1-8.

The fiesty hosts didn’t sit back and accept defeat, as they hit back with their second goal. However, Wexford dominated the closing stages with Katie Smyth and Ciara O’Connor adding points to the visitors’ tally.

With the game heading into the final few minutes, Wexford critically got their score difference going in the right direction with Dempsey and Aisling Alouf both finding the net as their side eased out to a 13-point win.

Wexford: Aoife Mahon; Tara Doyle, Amy Cahill, Laura Doran; Amy Mitten, Róisín Parker, Lorna Fortune; Ciara Walsh (0-1), Kate Kirwan (0-1); Megan Cullen, Ciara O’Connor (0-1 ‘45), Amy O’Leary (0-1); Eimear Byrne, Anais Curran (2-8, 0-4 frees), Katie Smyth (0-1). Subs. - Emma Dempsey (2-0) for Mitten, Aisling Alouf (1-0) for Byrne, also Sophie Roche, Shauna O’Leary, Doireann Cullen, Aoife Dempsey, Siobhán Sinnott, Lauren Murphy, Eimear O’Connor, Leanne Rowe, Molly Somers, Amy Cousins, Kate Foley, Elena Kenny.