Wexford struggled for scores
Just 1-1 recorded from play as Cork claim both points
CORK WEXFORD
APART FROM a mini-revival before half-time, the Wexford Senior camogie team otherwise put in a below-par performance in Division 1 of the Littlewoods Ireland National League as All-Ireland champions Cork edged the verdict by 0-15 to 1-10 in Saturday’s re-scheduled round two encounter at a showery St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
While it’s worth remembering that Martin Carey’s tenancy as manager is still in its infancy, with the players gradually familiarising themselves with a new gameplan, at the same time it’s hard to gauge quite where Wexford currently lie on the spectrum between contenders and also-rans.
Okay, a two-point loss against a team playing with the contentment that an All-Ireland win brings is an admirable result. However, a more forensic look at the statistics shows that only one of Wexford’s ten points came from open play - none in the second-half.
And they also missed two frees that should be bread and butter at this level at a critical juncture when worry appeared to be brewing among the Rebelettes.
It must be acknowledged, too, that Cork arrived in Enniscorthy without a string of top names, including regular netminder Aoife Murray, player of the year Rena Buckley and scorer of the dramatic late winning point in the All-Ireland final, Julia White.
One noticeable ploy from the winners saw Orla Cotter drift out from her left corner-forward spot to take up a free role around midfield, and with Eimear O’Connor detailed to follow her every move, it led to a congested middle-third that contributed to the rather pedestrian fare.
Two Linda Bolger frees inside the opening five minutes, the first arriving immediately after the throw-in when Una Leacy was tugged, gave the hosts the lead twice.
But they were out-scored 8-2 between then and the 22nd minute as Cork built a head of steam, with the prominent Amy O’Connor hitting a neat brace from play, Hannah Looney easily pointing after good work from Libby Coppinger, and Cotter supplying four frees.
Cotter’s last score in that sequence was immediately preceded by a half-goal chance for Wexford on 20 minutes when Chloe Foxe’s delivery was spilled, and while Leacy and Emma Walsh lingered around the loose ball, Cork were awarded a free-out in the melee.
However, the locals sprung back into life on 26 minutes when they were rewarded a contentious free for an illegal pick-up much to the chagrin of Cork connections.
Nonetheless, Bolger’s subsequent free dropped short but was well gathered by Walsh, and while her handpass at goal was batted away by stand-in goalkeeper Amy Lee, Jackie Quigley reacted quickest to swipe to the far bottom corner and reduce the arrears to 0-9 to 1-3.
The Rathnure clubwoman thankfully looks to have put previous injury woes behind her and was one of Wexford’s stand-out performers throughout.
Leacy popped up in space to point from a tricky angle in the very next attack, while Bolger converted a ‘45 to make it 0-9 to 1-5 and enliven Wexford’s challenge at the interval.
But Cork had the next three points after the re-start, including one from Orla Cronin after working some space for herself, and although Bolger pegged a free back for Wexford on 38 minutes, she also missed an identical effort soon after as the sloppiness began to seep in.
The only mistake in an otherwise satisfactory debut from Oylegate-Glenbrien’s Derbhla Doyle saw the young corner-back concede a penalty on 41 minutes after hauling Niamh McCarthy down by her collar, but Cotter was content to settle for a point to spread the gap to 0-13 to 1-6.
A rare moment of creativity saw Shelley Kehoe pick out Walsh with a fantastic crossfield pass, with Bolger scoring from the free that arose.
But she was off-cue from two more scoreable chances as Wexford’s wide tally finished on six (Cork had seven).
Cronin’s final involvement saw her make it 0-15 to 1-9, with Bolger tapping over her eighth free for the last score of a mediocre game.
Cork sit atop of Group 1 with two wins from two games, with Wexford and Tipperary on a victory apiece. Next up for the Model county is an away trip to Offaly on February 4.
Wexford: Emma Kiely (Glynn-Barntown); Eimear O’Connor (Rathnure), Shauna Sinnott (Oulart-The Ballagh), Derbhla Doyle (Oylegate-Glenbrien); Amy Cardiff (St. Martin’s), Sarah O’Connor (St. Martin’s), Katie O’Connor (St. Martin’s); Shelley Kehoe (Oulart-The Ballagh), Chloe Foxe (St. Martin’s); Linda Bolger (St. Martin’s, 0-9, 8 frees, 1 ‘45), Jackie Quigley (Rathnure, 1-0), Emma Walsh (Glynn-Barntown); Joanne Dillon (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown), Una Leacy (Oulart-The Ballagh, 0-1), Aoife Guiney (Rathnure). Subs. - Leah Walsh (Rapparees) for Doyle (53), Stacey Kehoe (Oulart-The Ballagh) for Guiney (56).
Cork: Amy Lee; Leanne O’Sullivan, Laura Treacy, Méabh Cahalane; Aileen Sheehan, Libby Coppinger (capt.), Chloe Sigerson; Hannah Looney (0-1), Ashling Thompson; Lauren Homan, Orla Cronin (0-2), Amy O’Connor (0-2); Linda Collins, Niamh McCarthy, Orla Cotter (0-10, 8 frees, 1 pen.). Subs. - Maeve McCarthy for Cronin (56), Katie McCarthy for Sheehan (60).
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).