Only 13 players travel for crushing loss in Galway

THERE’S 13 women who deserve sympathy after this, there’s not really any other way of looking at a 45-point defeat to Galway in Division 1 of the Littlewoods National Camogie League in Gort on Sunday.

The 13 players who did give up their day battled right to the end in heavy conditions.

Most of them would have been willing to travel to Cork a week earlier, and the majority of them played against Waterford in the opening week loss.

The fact that there were only 13 shouldn’t be ignored, anywhere. Yet, it is important to first acknowledge that when the going is this tough, 13 women still had the heart and pride to answer the Wexford call.

There’s a camaraderie that comes in such situations, an us against the world mentality, a chance to make the best of a remarkable experience.

They are the 13 who turned up when nobody else would, and each of them will always be one of the 13.

Some will point at last week’s walkover as rock bottom for Wexford camogie, while others might believe turning up two light is even worse.

One way or another it’s ugly, it’s optically outrageous, but sometimes things have to get this bad before they can get better.

It had been hoped that it would start to improve this week with the appointment of a new manager.

Four candidates were interviewed last Wednesday, and they expected to know their fate by today (Tuesday), but that is set to be delayed with others showing interest.

While the names of the candidates weren’t released, we can confirm that former Kerry under-age footballer Niall Hobbert was interviewed.

Joint manager of St. Peregrine’s in the capital last season with ex-Dublin footballer Vinnie Murphy, Hobbert would bring just the type of influence and attention to detail that Wexford camogie needs.

After the mess made of the last appointment, it is understandable that Wexford camogie are taking their time over the appointment.

However, the negative press nationally of the last two weeks is starting to latch on like a bad smell that only progress can mask.

On the field, Ailish O’Reilly had an early goal on the board as Galway ripped into a quick advantage.

It was 3-5 to nil after nine minutes following a brace of goals from hosts’ attacker Catherine Finnerty.

Wexford did get on the board with a Joanne Dillon point from play, but further damage was inflicted by O’Reilly as the lead swelled to 5-6 to 0-1.

When Sarah Spellman netted twice, Galway led by 7-7 to 0-1 after 19 minutes.

Niamh Kilkenny scored her side’s eighth goal but Mairéad Sheehan did pop over a fine point for the visitors.

Leading by 8-10 to 0-2 at the break, Galway removed two players of their own to even the numbers at 13-a-side.

The Connacht team added 1-13 in the second-half but Wexford did find the net too, with Joanne Dillon’s powerful 30-metre low free deflected in for a consolation goal.

The Slaneysiders are back in action on Sunday week when they host Tipperary in the final group game.

Wexford: Emma Kiely, Clodagh Jackman, Ciara Storey, Shauna Sinnott (capt.), Tara Doyle, Joanne Dillon (1-1, 1-0 free), Lauren Murphy, Leah Walsh, Mairéad Sheehan (0-1), Muireann Nic Corcráin, Shauna Kelly, Katie Kenny, Clodagh Roche.

Galway: Sarah Healy; Ciara Donohue, Sarah Dervan (capt.), Heather Cooney; Lorraine Ryan, Emma Helebert, Dervla Higgins; Niamh Kilkenny, Anne Marie Starr; Aoife Donohue, Sarah Spellman, Ciara Murphy; Carrie Dolan, Ailish O’Reilly, Catherine Finnerty.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork).