Disappointing start for U-16 squad as Tipp on top

WEXFORD GOT off to a disappointing start in the All-Ireland Under-16 ‘A’ camogie championship against hosts Tipperary at The Ragg on Sunday.

Heading down with the second string, who were playing in the re- serve competition beforehand, the Slaneysiders set off to the Premier county at eight in the morning. The early start seemed to hinder Wexford as they played flat and couldn’t reach their potential in searing temperatures.

It was particularly disappointing for the girls themselves, as they came into the game on the back of a long winning run in warmup games, dating back to the Leinster shield final victory over Offaly in April.

Emma Tomkins scored a cracker of an early goal, Wexford’s best player on the day, Aoife O’Connor, racked up the points from deadballs, and Katie Codd got in on the act, but the Slaneysiders still went in at the break a point down (1-6 to 1-5).

Things didn’t go to plan in the second-half as Tipperary took control of the game and outscored Wexford by 3-5 to 0-1.

Because of the competition structure, the second game of the round-robin stage is huge for Brendan Tobin’s side.

They host Galway on Sunday week knowing that only a victory will keep their All-Ireland hopes alive.

That could prove to be a tough task, as the westerners mullered Limerick 10-26 to 0-4 in the group’s other game.

Meanwhile, the ‘B’ side fared much better in their early throwin but still came up short against a host team led by an inspired goalkeeper.

The Slaneysiders went down by 2-9 to 1-9 but all 18 players involved gave it absolutely everything and were excellent.

Wexford trailed at the interval but a goal from substitute Áine Doyle gave them hope.

Ella Dalton was scorer-in-chief with five points, while Laura Delaney, Naoise Hennessy, Eleanor Hammel and Grace Roche all got on the board.

They will face Galway on the same day as the ‘A’ team, and it will be their second and final game in the mini-group.

Wexford A: Eimear Goland; Alibeth Curran, Aoife Moran, Yvonne Kelly; Amy Mitten, Maria O’Dowd, Muireann Fitzpatrick; Aoife O’Connor (0-5 frees), Ciara Walsh; Katie Codd (0-1), Emma Dempsey, Siobhán Sinnott; Emma Tomkins (1-0), Loren Doyle, Andrea Fielding. Subs. - Sophie Roche, Lisa Kelly, Niamh Cogley, Eimear Doyle, Molly Crowdle, Eilish O’Reilly, Lorna Fortune, Amy Cahill.