U-14 girls collect first win of season
WEXFORD WESTMEATH 3-13 2-4 WEXFORD PICKED up their first win of the campaign in the Leinster ladies’ football Under-14 ‘B’ championship against Westmeath in Clonee on Saturday.
With losses against Offaly and Longford previously, Wexford were looking to leapfrog their opponents with victory and move into the ‘C’ championship semi-finals with a bit of confidence. They were able to do just that with their finest performance of the season to date.
An Aoife Cullen point had the hosts level in the early stage. However, the Slaneysiders took their first lead when Cullen and Lauren Roban combined to find Grace Donovan who hit the net with a tidy finish.
Erin Core hit back with a major at the other end but Wexford refused to roll over and Orlagh Kehoe replied with a classy minor after cleanly taking a Westmeath kick-out. Emma Tomkins flighted over to put her side two up, only for Kacey Burslem-Rotheroe to reply with the visitors’ second goal.
Westmeath added only a solitary Katie Killian point in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Wexford kicked some fine scores with Grace Donovan (two), Roban and Kehoe all on target to help the home county into a 1-7 to 2-2 interval advantage.
Wexford dominated the first ten minutes of the second-half but kicked a succession of wides. When the first score finally came it was at the other end as Eleanor Murphy pulled the visitors within a point.
When Orlagh Kehoe broke the string of Wexford wides in the 42nd minute, it began a succession of fine scores. Katie Breen-Sherlock raised a white flag before Grace Donovan’s point attempt from the left wing dipped into the Westmeath net.
After Leah Kidd and Lauren Roban added points, Aoife Weafer caught a kick-out, drove in on goal and smashed low to the net to put Wexford 3-11 to 2-3 ahead. Caoimhe Monaghan pulled a rare point back for Westmeath but late scores from impressive substitute Kidd and Breen-Sherlock wrapped up the win.
The Slaneysiders now have a three-week break before returning with their ‘C’ championship semi-final on the weekend of April 28-29. Their opponents and the venue is still to be determined.
Wexford: Nicole Gillen; Eilish O’Rourke, Emer Hunt, Karen Tomkins; Donna Delahunty, Aisling Comiskey, Anna Roche; Katie Breen-Sherlock (02), Orlagh Kehoe (0-3, 1 free); Emma Tomkins (0-1), Aoife Waters (joint capt., 1-0), Aoife Cullen (0-1); Grace Donovan (2-2, 0-1 free), Sinéad Kirwan (joint capt.), Lauren Roban (0-2). Subs. - Leah Kidd (0-2) for Kirwan, Polly Frost for Comiskey, Ciara Shannon for Roche, Laura Banville for Roban, Tara Murphy for Donovan, also Kate O’Reilly, Grace Roche, Laura Byrne, Leah O’Rourke, Cora McGrath, Emma Lynch, Tracey Furlong, Olive Curtis.
Westmeath: Aoife O’Donnell; Rachel Darby (capt.), Tara Gunning, Cliona McCormack; Anna Sheerin, Ellen Shaw (0-1), Cathy Doyle; Maria Farrell, Patricia Odunja; Elaine McGovern, Erin Core (1-0), Kacey Burslem-Rotheroe (1-0); Eleanor Murphy (0-1), Saoirse McGee, Katie Killane (0-1). Subs. - Aisling Keogh for Farrell, inj., Sarah Carter for Keogh, Caoimhe Monaghan (0-1) for McGee, Caoimhe McDonnell for Killane, Franchesca Walshe for Burslem-Rotheroe, Sinéad Seery for Sheerin, Eva Coughlin for Doyle, Kate Murphy for McDonnell, Hazel Kelly for Murphy, Eimear O’Neill for McGovern, Gemma Falkner for McCormack.
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow). FIXTURES
WEDS. APRIL 12 Under-12 Division 1 (6.30 p.m.): St. James’ v. HWH-Bunclody.
Under-12 Division 3 North (6.30 p.m.): St. Brigid’s v. Crossabeg-Ballymurn.
THURS. APRIL 13 Under-12 Division 1 (6.15 p.m.): Glynn-Barntown ‘A’ v. St. Martin’s
FRI. APRIL 14 AT FARMLEIGH: Leinster Minor ‘C’ shield final, Wexford v. Kilkenny, 5 p.m.
Under-16 Division 1 (4.45 p.m.): Crossabeg-Ballymurn v. Shelmalier.
SAT. APRIL 15 Under-12 Division 3 South (10 a.m.): Gusserane v. Rathgarogue-Cushinstown.
SUN. APRIL 16 AT CLANE: Lidl NFL Division 3 semi-finals - Tipperary v. Offaly, 12.30 p.m. (Jason Mullins); Wexford v. Roscommon, 2.15 p.m. (Gavin Corrigan).
MON. APRIL 24 Under-12 Division 3 South (7 p.m.): St. Fintan’s v. Horeswood.