Hockey glory for Wexford
WEXFORD FIRSTS hockey team travelled to Kilkenny College to play Kilkenny in the South East Cup final recently.
After a season of mixed fortunes, this was Wexford’s last chance to get their hands on some hard-earned silverware but they knew they had a hard task ahead of them to beat the league champions who had registered two league victories over the Wexford outfit this season.
Kilkenny versus Wexford games have always been played at ferocious pace, and the final was no exception. It was end to end play with both sides refusing to give an inch.
With Ruth Kennedy between the posts for Wexford keeping her back line in order, Kilkenny couldn’t penetrate the solid Wexford defence of Sinéad McDonnell, Alannah Davis, Leonie Grant and Avril Jones.
Wexford’s forwards clocked up the mileage as the side opted to play two forwards, leaving the midfield with an extra player. This tactic stopped the quick breaking ball from Kilkenny’s Catríona Carey and Sinéad Connery, as Ciara O’Leary and Miriam Joyce worked the midfield area for Wexford.
Wexford were unlucky not to score in the first-half as Sharon Kenny slipped past the defence and came agonisingly close to put- ting them in front, but the Kilkenny ‘keeper and captain Searlait Doyle just did enough to tip the ball wide.
Liz Doyle, Miriam Lambert, Ella O’Connor and Muireann McCarthy worked tirelessly up and down the flanks. The teams went in at half-time 0-0.
The second-half started with the same blistering pace as the first, with both sides working up and down the pitch looking for the slightest opportunity to capitalise on. This opportunity landed to the feet of Miriam Lambert from a perfectly-timed pass from Avril Jones. Lambert ran on to it and continued into the circle before drilling it past the Kilkenny ‘keeper to put Wexford 1-0 up.
In typical fashion, Kilkenny refused to throw in the towel and they upped their intensity and put Wexford into defence mode. Wexford absorbed this pressure and tried to push up the field in search of another score. Unfortunately though Wexford were caught on the counter attack and Kilkenny hit Wexfords circle and won themselves a short corner which they neatly converted. The game ended 1.1 which meant extra time for both sides where the silver goal rule would apply.
Neither Wexford nor Kilkenny showed any sign of tiredness as both desperately wanted to secure the win. The first period of extra-time slipped past with neither side breaking the deadlock, so into the second period of extra-time the game went.
As penalty strokes looked imminent, Muireann McCarthy had other ideas as she skipped past the Kilkenny defence and got on the the end of a cross-goal pass which she neatly struck across the Kilkenny goal-line. The goal delighted her Wexford team-mates and travelling supporters.
Kilkenny had one more attack at Wexford and got themselves in for a short corner. It was heart in mouth stuff but Wexford’s defensive line remained strong and they covered their line. As the ball travelled down the pitch the final whistle blew, much to the delight of the Wexford team and coach Noel Bailey.
The Wexford panel featured Ruth Kennedy, Sinéad McDonnell, Leonie Grant, Avril Jones, Alannah Davis, Miriam Joyce, Ciara O’Leary, Muireann McCarthy, Ella O’Connor, Liz Doyle, Miriam Lambert, Sharon Kenny, Joanne Grant, Anna Hayes, Ciara McGrath, Sally Shortle and Sinéad Dempsey with Noel Bailey as coach.
Wexford would like to thank the travelling supporters who encouraged the team right to the end, the Leinster Hockey Association, South East committee, and umpires Paul Martin and Alan Smith.