Success for goal-hungry U-16s
WEXFORD ‘B’ 5-5 MEATH 1-11
THE WEXFORD ‘B’ team got their Leinster Under-16 camogie championship campaign off to the perfect start with a goal-hungry victory over hosts Meath in Dunganny on Sunday.
It took most of the first-half for the Slaneysiders to get to grips with the 3G surface, and they were trailing Meath’s first team at the interval. However, there was no stopping them in the second period as goal after goal put the Royals to the sword.
Despite the difficulties adjusting, Chloe Murphy registered an early goal to get Wexford on their way.
Yet points were coming at regular intervals at the other end as Meath started to build a lead. St. Martin’s powerhouse Aoibheann Mernagh fired three points, but her side still trailed by 0-9 to 1-3 at the interval.
By the end of the third quarter, Wexford were back on terms. Gráinne O’Neill knocked over an early point, and when Bronagh Kenny rattled in her first major it was 0-10 to 2-4.
With confidence flowing, the eventual victors breezed clear.
Mernagh put Wexford ahead with a free before Nicole GIllen found the net to ease her side four ahead.
The game was up for the hosts when Bronagh Kenny netted twice in four minutes to complete her hat-trick, meaning a late 1-1 from Meath made no significant difference to the end result.
Wexford will be back in action on March 8 when they host Kildare and, after a bye week, they will finish their round-robin campaign with a visit to Carlow and a home contest against Westmeath. The ‘A’ team start their campaign away to Dublin on March 22.
Wexford: Keeva Redmond (Craanford-Monaseed); Kennedy Cullen (Kilmore), Megan Murray-Byrne (St. Martin’s), Nicola Corrigan (Kilrush); Sophie O’Leary (Glynn-Barntown), Niamh Crowe (Ballygarrett), Jacqui Kehoe (Bunclody); Bronagh Kenny (Oylegate-Glenbrien, 3-0), Demi Byrne (St. Martin’s); Chloe Murphy (Oylegate-Glenbrien, 1-0), Aoibheann Mernagh (St. Martin’s, 0-4, 3 frees), Rebecca Codd (Duffry Rovers); Aoife Farrell (Bunclody), Gráinne O’Neill (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, 0-1), Leah Furlong (Cloughbawn). Subs. - Nicole Gillen (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier, 1-0), Chloe McGrath (Marshalstown), Niamh Hearne (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier), Ciara Butler (Glynn-Barntown), Cliona McCarthy (Ballynastragh Gaels), also Emma Atkins-Quigley (Buffers Alley), Theodora Lande (Castletown-Liam Mellows), Mollie Doran (Naomh Eanna), Katie Kearns (Marshalstown), Emily Reilly (Buffers Alley), Aisling Goggins (St. Martin’s), Annie Davis (Oulart-The Ballagh).
Meath: Keesha Ging; Nora-Jean Lenehan, Leah Dixon, Claudia Durkan; Chloe Duignan, Laura O’Sullivan, Aoife Nolan; Olivia O’Halloran, Sarah McCormack; Leah Doherty, Sarah Gilhooly, Isabel O’Connor; Robyn Dunne, Ellen Birmingham, Moya Bird.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow).