Minor girls reach final

WEXFORD KILKENNY 1-17 2-10 WEXFORD PUT a disappointing All-Ireland series behind them to shock Kilkenny in the Leinster Minor camogie championship semi-final at Thomastown on Friday.

The Slaneysiders won just one game in Group 2 of the All-Ireland championship but defied the form book to send semi-finalists Kilkenny packing, setting up a title decider with Offaly on August 28.

County Seniors Una Sinnott and Sarah O’Connor combined for 1-12 of Wexford’s total while Aoife Guiney and impressive substitute Róisín Kelly also got their names on the scoresheet in their county’s best performance of the season.

While Sinnott opened the scoring after good work by clubmate Aoife Curran, hosts Kilkenny hit back with the game’s opening goal moments later. Importantly, Wexford responded immediately when Orla Molloy created a chance that Sinnott took to give her side a 1-1 to 1-0 lead.

Mia Griffin equalised for the Kittens but Wexford soon got themselves on a strong run. Sarah O’Connor popped over a dead-ball after Guiney was impeded, and the St. Martin’s starlet followed it with another.

Una Sinnott brought her tally to 1-2 before Aoife Guiney opened her account to make it 1-5 to 1-1 after just nine minutes. When Craanford-Monaseed lynchpin Sinnott was upended, O’Connor notched her third free to give Wexford a five-point lead at the end of the opening quarter.

A goal and point from Blaithnaid Galway dragged her county back into the game but O’Connor halted their momentum with her fourth score.

Rathnure clubwoman Guiney picked off a superb score and Aoife Carroll responded, but Una Sinnott’s late point gave Wexford a 1-9 to 2-3 interval lead.

Sinnott started the second-half as she ended the first, with a score. However, Kilkenny were always likely to have a good spell and that manifested in the third quarter.

They scored five points but points from Sinnott and Róisín Kelly kept the Sleneysiders ahead.

Sarah O’Connor’s free made it 1-13 to 2-8 heading into the final quarter. Wexford missed a penalty after Orla Molloy was felled but Sinnott’s sixth point kept the scoreboard ticking over.

O’Connor added her final score in the 53rd minute and a couple of late Róisín Kelly scores were enough to wrap up a superb victory.

Wexford: Emma Kiely; Derbhla Doyle, Leanne Foley, Aine Ennis; Orla Crowe, Rachel Kelly, Róisín Cooney; Sarah O’Connor (0-6 frees), Clodagh Jackman; Aoife Curran, Aoife Guiney (0-2), Oonagh Doyle; Una Sinnott (1-6), Orla Molloy, Aoife Dunne. Subs. - Róisín Kelly (0-3) for Dunne, Shauna Kelly for O. Doyle, also Liza Bates, Amy Conroy, Emma Furlong, Emma O’Dowd, Emma Codd, Aoife McCrea.

Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Róisín Phelan, Hannah Scott, Ciara O’Shea; Nicole Garvey, Mairéad Kennedy, Aohba O’Gorman; Ella Moore, Mia Griffin (0-3); Ciara Phelan, Aoife Carroll (0-1), Blathnaid Galway (1-5, 1-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45); Aisling Morrissey (1-0), Hannah Irish, Helen Hoynes (0-1). Sub. - Eadaoin Murphy for Irish. Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow). Naomh Eanna 5-13 Cloughbawn 1-3: Naomh Eanna climbed to second place in the Intermediate camogie championship table following a comprehensive win over Cloughabwn on Saturday.

County Minor Orla Crowe was in scintillating form as she bagged an impressive 3-2 for the winners, with Ellen Roche also contributing to the total with an impressive 1-5.

Gorey now settle into the runners-up spot behind an impressive Bunclody side which maintains a perfect record. Oylegate-Glenbrien and Duffry Rovers, who both have two wins each, are tied in third spot, completing the top four as things stand at the moment.

Under-14 Roinn 1 play-off: water 1-2. Buffers Alley 6-7, Black-

TUES. AUG. 9 AT FARMLEIGH: Junior ‘A’ league final, St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier v. Rathnure, 7.30 p.m.

Junior ‘B’ championship (all 7.30 p.m.): Taghmon-Camross v. Fethard; Faythe Harriers v. Kilrush; Glynn-Barntown v. Marshalstown.

Junior ‘C’ championship (7.30 p.m.): Bunclody. Kilmore v.