U-16 seconds show promise
LAOIS 3-7 WEXFORD ‘B’ 1-5
THE WEXFORD Under-16 camogie second string put in a commendable display when losing to a decent Laois outfit in Group A of the Leinster ‘B’ championship at a sunny Coolgreany recently.
Considering the midlanders had the strongest selection of players within the county available to choose from, the hosts can be pleased with the hard work they put in over the hour, and there was no noticeable gulf in class apparent, all things considered.
Ultimately, the concession of two avoidable goals in the first-half was their undoing, while speedy Laois attacker Eireann Cole pounced for the third goal in an explosive start to the new half.
Otherwise, Wexford gave as good as they got and could well have been much closer at the end with a bit more luck up front.
Cole and centre-forward Fianna Byrne carried the bulk of the scoring power for the visitors, with the latter knocking over the opening point after a minute before bouncing low to the net on five minutes after some build-up work from Andrea Scully and Róisín Phelan.
And Byrne doubled her goal tally on 13 minutes when she received the knock-down off Shauna Dooley and her subsequent effort at the posts floated under the crossbar to nestle in the net.
Abbie Dagg got Wexford up and running with a neat point after 17 minutes, and they certainly finished the half in determined fashion with three late points to close to within 2-4 to 0-5 at the break.
There was some confusion surrounding the third point in that sequence, scored by Aine Tobin, with many spectators impeded by the low sun thinking she had rattled the net when indeed her shot flew just over the crossbar.
Eireann Cole resumed with a well-taken goal, while the victors registered three more points before the end.
But Wexford got the goal that their unquenchable enterprise deserved when Katie Codd flashed home from an acute angle with seven minutes remaining as they went down fighting on a final scoreline of 3-7 to 1-5.
Even in defeat they will derive great positives in the long run, particularly when noting that they have only been together as a group for two weeks.
Kildare and neighbours Carlow make up the remainder of the group, with Wexford due out in action again on Sunday, March 18.
Wexford: Tanya Kennedy; Maria O’Dowd (capt.), Oilve McGarry, Katelyn O’Connor; Eilish O’Rourke, Eleanor Hammel, Niamh Cogley; Katie Codd (1-0), Aine Murphy; Donna Delahunty, Ella Dalton (0-3, 2 ’45s, 1 free), Abbie Dagg (0-1); Rachel Kavanagh, Aine Doyle, Aine Tobin (0-1). Sub. - Niamh Cullen for Doyle (35).
Laois: Aédín Lowry (joint capt.); Méabh Deegan, Sarah Fleming, Lúisne Delaney; Fiona Scully, Jade Bergin, Muire Fitzpatrick; Andrea Scully, Aoife Carroll (joint capt.); Eireann Cole (1-3, 0-1 free), Fianna Byrne (2-3), Róisín Phelan; Rebecca Reddin, Shauna Dooley, Olivia Rigney. Subs. - Karla Whelan for Fitzpatrick (49), Emily Duggan for Rigney (49), Sinéad Murphy (0-1) for Reddin (49).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow).