Camogie team lucky to dismiss Tipperary
Survival instinct kicks in as lucky Wexford break hearts of brave Tipp team
SURVIVAL INSTINCTS. Pure guts and know-how in the headiest of moments; that was the difference. For a long time Wexford strangled the life out of their own challenge, but sometimes luck shines just at the right time.
Kate Kelly’s moment of inspiration, not a clash filled with Wexford consternation, is what will be remembered from this Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior camogie championship quarter-final clash for years to come.
Yet sometimes fortune doesn’t favour the brave. Tipperary should have won this game, as they were superb. They had the chances to put it away in the middle of the second-half, with Wexford open and brittle, but some bad fortune and a little Mags D’Arcy brilliance kept the Slaneysiders alive.
At that point in proceedings, trailing by 0-16 to 1-6 in the final quarter, Wexford looked a beaten team. Passing was beyond sloppy, while minds looked inhibited, unable to make clear, intelligent decisions in possession, and there was an air of desperation creeping into everything they did.
Kelly’s 49th-minute point didn’t change the Wexford mindset, and neither did her successful ‘45 two minutes later, but when Emma Walsh swept home after Una Leacy delicately flicked Shelley Kehoe’s long ball into her path, the switch was clicked.
Suddenly Wexford found the reserve of energy they needed. Finally they reached a tempo worthy of an All Ireland quarter-final. Unrestrained, it was the Slaneysiders who ploughed on as a previously free Tipperary got tangled in the shackles of a famous victory that was slipping away.
Maybe the biggest moment that will never be remember was when, at 0-16 to 2-8 ahead, Nicole Walsh stood up to a free, in front of the posts, 50 metres out and did something she hadn’t previously, drove it wide. The pressure of Wexford’s favouritism had flipped to pressure for a team with suddenly something to lose.
Kelly narrowed the gap to one after she was fouled, her earlier miscues eradicated just in time. There was one point between the sides when Katrina Parrock drove wide. Another chance for Tipp. to compose themselves came and went when Megan Ryan missed the target.
Two minutes into injury time, Chloe Foxe repaid the faith of the management team when she got away on the right from Mary Leacy’s pass, forced the handpass across to Parrock and she sweeppulled the bouncing pass over to bar to tie the game (0-16 to 2-10).
Parrock missed a chance to give Wexford the lead from longrange but, after a couple of stoppages, her side won a line ball. Louise O’Leary picked out Kate Kelly and, under pressure, the veteran nailed the finish from way out on the right wing.
Wexford almost got caught in the celebrations. Tipp. broke immediately and worked the ball into scoring position quickly, but their composure was long gone. They got boxed out, their opponents won possession, and that was it. A stunning finish and a scarcely deserved win.
It’s pretty clear now that Wexford have issues that have to be patched up as best as possible. Defensively, when they play a little open, they struggle. This was a poor performance at the back, and scores came way too easily for the Premier girls.
Louise Sinnott was a convenient scapegoat, banished from starter to ninth in the pecking order after the Offaly game, but have Wexford actually improved because of that change? It’s hard to see how after a mediocre Tipperary scored twelve points from play and had multiple good goal chances on Saturday.
The Slaneysiders are okay when they set up, against good teams, to defend. They can leave Kate Kelly, Katrina Parrock and Una Leacy in their opponents’ half, getting just enough scores to see them over the line while defending in numbers.
That’s realistically the only way they will beat Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. Paudie Murray and his management team were in Walsh Park, watching their next opponents struggle and probably wondering how they lost in Innovate Wexford Park three weeks earlier.
Only a full-bore, maximum intensity effort will be enough to do Cork again. There will be no time to ‘get up to speed’ or allow your opponent to wear themselves out; this is the shot, probably the last shot for a lot of these players, to make an All-Ireland final.
It didn’t look like they would get that chance as they started nervously. Tipp. went one up through Nicole Walsh and doubled their lead when Orla O’Dwyer registered. Linda Bolger pulled a point back but O’Dwyer’s second made it 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes.
An excellent Emma Walsh ball into Una Leacy was won by the Oulart-The Ballagh forward. She was fouled and Kelly converted. Despite going 0-4 to 0-2 behind, Wexford levelled in the 16th minute after points from a Kelly ‘45 and a Leacy effort from Parrock’s pass.
However, Wexford would add just
one more point in the half, from a Kelly free after Walsh was hit from behind. Meanwhile. Tipperary made the most of the breeze at their backs with six second quarter points, including three from Megan Ryan, to take a 0-10 to 0-5 lead at the break.
Similar to the balls-up in Birr, Wex-ford conceded three points in as many minutes at the start of the second-half as they came out without a spark. The third came from Mairead Teehan, the result of a ridiculous short puck-out that put Ciara Storey under pressure.
Yet, in Una Leacy they have a forward in the form of her life. She somehow flicked Sarah O'Connor's ball over the head of her marker and,latching onto it and now back in goal scoring position, she unleashed a typically powerful finish past Sabrina Larkin to again pull Wexford within five (0-13 to 1-6).
However, it didn't spell a change of fortunes. Tipp. scored three of the next four points as Kelly missed a few for Wexford.
Mags D'Arcy also made superb saves from O'Dwyer and Teehan to keep her side in the contest.
But the monumental effort Tipper-ary had put into the game began to take its toll after Walsh netted. Wexford might have won this contest with ten good minutes but they won't need to be told that more will be needed when they face Cork in the final four in two weeks' time.
Wexford: Mags D'Arcy; Ciara Storey, Siona Nolan (capt), Karen Atkinson; Sarah O'Connor, Mary Leacy. Jackie Quigley; Emma Walsh (1-0), Deirdre Codd; Shelley Kehoe, Katrina Parrock (0-1). Una Sinnott; Una Leacy (1-1), Kate Kelly (0-8, 5 frees, 2 '45$), Linda Bolger (0-1). Subs. - Stacey Kehoe for Codd (31), Chloe Foxe for Sinnott (40). Louise O'Leary for Storey (50). Clara Donohoe for Quigley. inj. (56). also Laura Brennan, Louise Sinnott, Marie Morrissey, Amy Cardiff. Margaret Byrne. Leah Walsh, Joanne Dillon, Michelle Martin, Shauna Kelly, Doireann Kavanagh, Shauna Sinnott.
Tipperary: Sabrina Larkin: Julie Anne Bourke. Gemma Grace, Cainnait Walsh; Aoife McGrath. Caoimhe Maher. Ereena Fryday Teresa Ryan, Mary Ryan; Mairead Teehan (0-4), Megan Ryan (0-3), Nicole Walsh (0-4. 3 trees, 1 '45): Roisin Howard (0-1). Miriam Campion. Orla O'Dwyer (0-4). Sub. - Jenny Grace for Campion (59).
Referee: Eamon Cassidy (Deny).