Slim hopes are hit
KERRY 6-11 WEXFORD 2-11
WEXFORD’S SLIM hopes of a semi-final spot in the Lidl Ladies’ National Football League diminished further with a loss against Kerry in Mallow on Sunday.
Anthony Masterson’s side have been given some stern tests against Senior teams in this campaign, and this was the same as Kerry punished all the mistakes and clinically took the win.
The visitors did have chances, including a great opportunity that Chloe Foxe smacked off the crossbar that would have given Wexford a two-point lead in the first-half, but it was always likely to be a step too far on this learning curve for the Slaneysiders.
In ideal conditions for both teams, Kerry were quicker off the mark, registering the first 1-3.
However, they took the foot off the pedal and let Wexford back into it. Two Tara Doyle frees and a Chloe Foxe point from play brought them right back into the mix.
Former Kerry player Bernie Breen, now lining out for Wexford, played a significant part in the next score by running at the defence, with Maria Byrne on hand to finish to the back of the net.
Kerry were now only a point up (1-4 to 1-3), and the sides were level midway through the first-half when Tara Doyle converted her third free.
Kerry re-grouped and found their flow coming up to half-time as 1-1 from Sarah Houlihan gave them a four-point lead at the interval (2-7 to 1-6).
Houlihan opened the scoring for Kerry at the start of the second-half and while Wexford responded with a point from Maria Byrne, Kerry’s next two scores would ultimately prove to be a bridge too far.
Two quickfire goals from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Fiadhna Tagney on the re-start gave Kerry a commanding ten-point lead, and they kept Wexford at arm’s length thereafter.
In the final quarter Bernie Breen tagged on 1-1, with the goal coming after a long run and great layoff by the excellent Maria Byrne.
Wexford have one final league game away to Armagh this Sunday, which they need to win plus get plenty of help from elsewhere to make the last four. Should the improbable not come to fruition, Anthony Masterson’s side will be back in action in the Leinster championship in mid-June.
Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Niamh Mernagh, Marica Cullen, Aoife Tormey; Clara Donnelly, Shauna Murphy, Sarah Harding-Kenny; Kellie Kearney, Bernie Breen (1-1); Katie White, Fiona Rochford (0-2), Niamh Moore; Chloe Foxe (0-2), Maria Byrne (1-1), Tara Doyle (0-5, 3 frees). Subs. - Niamh Butler for Moore, Ailis Neville for Mernagh, Ciara Banville for White, Sadbh McCarthy for Cullen, Ciara Bridges for Doyle.
Kerry: Laura Fitzgerald; Tara Breen, Kayleigh Cronin, Aishling O’Connell; Sarah Murphy, Aislinn Desmond, Anna Galvin (0-1); Lorraine Scanlon, Amanda Brosnan; Niamh Carmody, Sarah Houlihan (2-3, 0-2 frees), Sophie Lynch; Miriam O’Keeffe (1-1), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (2-4, 0-2 frees), Hannah O’Donoghue. Subs. - Fiadhna Tagney (1-1) for O’Donoghue, Ciara Murphy for O’Keeffe, Kate Maher for Murphy, Megan O’Connor for Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Amy Foley (0-1) for Carmody, Ciara O’Brien for Lynch, Aoife O’Callaghan for Houlihan.
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).