Firsts full of potential
SHOULD THE Wexford Under-16s be able to get onto the field this weekend and start their All-Ireland ‘A’ camogie championship, John O’Rourke’s side will host Waterford on Sunday (venue and time TBC).
It will be the first contest for this young group, after their Leinster ‘A’ campaign was abandoned at the start of the pandemic back in March.
It will be the first of three games in Group 2, with a trip to Dublin to follow on November 1, before the group stages are completed a week later at home to Kilkenny.
It’s such a huge pity that this group of players hasn’t had the chance to have an uninterrupted campaign. Of course, it is the same for every county, but this group showed huge potential, winning the All-Ireland blitz at Under-14 level while advancing their quality in development groups, and lots was expected from them.
Regardless of whether they get to finish this season or not, the positives are that they have been back training for the last while and are still a super group of players.
They will also have a Minor championship in a couple of years, giving them a chance to prove their readiness for adult camogie.
Luckily preparations have been aided by the vast majority of this squad completing their club championship campaigns.
There is just one game outstanding, the ‘A’ final between Kilrush and Glynn-Barntown, with those two contributing ten players combined. There are five county champions at other grades in the squad, with Ballynastragh Gaels and Craanford-Monaseed represented.
Under-16 boss O’Rourke is able to boast a fairly clean bill of health heading into the Waterford game, with just Kilrush’s Niamh O’Rourke and Cloughbawn’s Lizzie Dempsey ruled out because of injury.
Wexford squad: Amy Tobin-Cosgrave (Kilrush), Zoe Tobin-Cosgrave (Kilrush), Aoibhe MacSweeney (Kilrush), Aoibhinn Mernagh (St. Martin’s), Annie Davis (Oulart-The Ballagh), Bronagh Kenny (Oylegate-Glenbrien), Ciara Butler (Glynn-Barntown), Cora McGrath (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown), Caoimhe Byrne (Rathnure), Chloe Murphy (Oylegate-Glenbrien), Chloe McGrath (Marshalstown), Demi Byrne (St. Martin’s), Dara O’Leary (Monageer-Boolavogue), Lizzie Dempsey (Cloughbawn), Jane Sinnott (St. Martin’s), Jacqui Kehoe (Bunclody), Kennedy Cullen (Kilmore), Keeva Steadman (Craanford-Monaseed), Karen Tomkins (Kilrush), Leah Furlong (Cloughbawn), Melissa Doran (Craanford-Monaseed), Martha Kavanagh (Castletown-Liam Mellows), Nicole Gillen (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier), Niamh O’Rourke (Kilrush), Niamh Hearne (St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier), Nicola Corrigan (Kilrush), Róisín Hughes (Ballynastragh Gaels), Robyn O’Connor (Glynn-Barntown), Rebecca Ogilvie (Cloughbawn), Sophie O’Leary (Glynn-Barntown), Sal Doyle (Craanford-Monaseed), Sadbh Buttle (Kilrush), Sarah Walsh (Oulart-The Ballagh), Sophie Kirwan (Monageer-Boolavogue), Tara O’Connor (Ballynastragh Gaels). Manager: John O’Rourke. Coaches: Bryan Davis, Anthony Dunne. Mentor: Sarah Butler.