Solid effort comes up short
Galway advance to semi-finals despite four-goal haul
GALWAY WEXFORD 2-16 4-8
DESPITE GIVING it a good crack, Wexford came up a little short in their bid to make the Littlewoods National Camogie League Division 1 semi-finals at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday.
Martin Carey’s side needed victory against Galway to book an unlikely spot in the last four. Given how they came into this campaign, manager-less until early January, being within one strike of a ball of advancing in added-time in the final game was no mean feat for these women.
They had their chances after the clock clicked past the 60 too. Stacey Kehoe flashed a pulled effort wide from the right of goal, while Joanne Dillon saw her shot blocked by full-back Sarah Dervan with ‘keeper Catríona Daly struggling, but the hosts just couldn’t get the breaks when they needed them.
What had to be disappointing was the mass exodus of the Park after the hurling, in fact it was nothing short of embarrassing. In their heyday, the camogie side drew crowds of two or three times the amount that stayed, on their own.
Now there seems to be a disconnect between the public and their Senior women’s team. Whether that’s partly self-inflicted through off the field matters or just a simple malaise because of recent performances, it’s hard to quantify.
What wasn’t difficult to miss was the lack of atmosphere. After the men almost took the roof off the main stand, barely a semi-muffled cheer greeted the four Wexford goals in this game. The sparse crowd didn’t even have to wait long for the opener.
It was 0-1 each when Aoife Guiney made the most of some loose goalkeeping and pulled to the net from close range.
Yet Galway, playing with the breeze, looked to be in stride with a brace each from Catríona Cormican and Rebecca Hennelly to move 0-5 to 1-1 ahead.
That wasn’t counting on an outstanding Una Leacy goal. She looked a little isolated when Emma Walsh picked her out with a crisp diagonal pass, however, the Oulart-The Ballagh forward backed herself, sauntered past Sarah Dervan and handpassed to the net.
Walsh picked off a classy point herself to make it 2-2 to 0-5, but Hennelly scored two picture perfect points to cut the deficit to one. A Linda Bolger free and Shelley Kehoe’s minor left the hosts three points ahead in the 21st minute.
Galway certainly didn’t want to head in at the break trailing and they knuckled down. Hennelly scored three frees in the time remaining but it was Ailish O’Reilly’s handpassed goal in the 28th minute that ensured that the westerners took an interval lead (1-10 to 2-4).
Now backed by the elements, Wexford set about pushing on after the break. Shelley Kehoe’s two points sandwiched a Ciara Murphy effort at the other end, but better was soon to follow.
The Slaneysiders’ third goal was a little peculiar. Guiney tried to pull the ball across goal from way out on the left but missed the sliothar. It worked out for the best as she picked up the ball, took on her marker and barrelled her way in for her second goal.
When Una Sinnott pointed after being picked out by the excellent Amy Cardiff, Wexford held a 3-7 to 1-11 lead in the 40th minute. Then things went south as the hosts endured 16 minutes without a score.
Meanwhile, Galway took control. O’Reilly netted again with a close range handpass after being picked out by Niamh Hanniffy. The corner-forward ended with 2-1 but the inexperienced Derbhla Doyle actually did a very respectable job on Galway’s most potent inside attacker.
Aoife Donohoe moved Galway two ahead and that lead was doubled when Hennelly picked off another double. Joanne Dillon pulled a point back but when O’Reilly pointed Wexford still trailed by four with three minutes left (2-15 to 3-8).
Cutting in from the right, Una Sinnott found Leacy alone and she pulled home to make it a onepoint game.
However, any momentum that was threatening to build was wiped out by Hennelly’s eleventh point as Galway hung on to book a semi-final spot opposite Kilkenny.
There’s a long break now for Wexford as they build towards the Leinster championship and All-Ireland series.
They host Meath in the provincial quarter-finals on April 29, and the winners will be at home to Dublin in the semi-final.
Wexford: Laura Brennan; Eimear O’Connor, Shauna Sinnott, Derbhla Doyle; Amy Cardiff, Sarah O’Connor, Ciara Storey; Emma Walsh (0-1), Shelley Kehoe (0-3); Linda Bolger (02, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Jackie Quigley, Una Sinnott (0-1); Joanne Dillon (0-1 free), Una Leacy (capt., 2-0), Aoife Guiney (2-0). Subs. - Stacey Kehoe for Bolger (44), Leah Walsh for Quigley (47).
Galway: Catríona Daly; Emma Helebert, Sarah Dervan (capt.), Heather Cooney; Róisín Black, Shauna Healy, Lorraine Ryan; Ann Marie Starr, Finola Keeley; Aoife Donohue (0-1), Rebecca Hennelly (0-11, 8 frees, 1 ‘45), Catríona Cormican (0-2); Ailish O’Reilly (2-1), Niamh Hanniffy, Ciara Murphy (0-1). Subs. - Leanne Freaney for Murphy (47), Carrie Dolan for Donohue (60+2).
Referee: Eamon Cassidy (Derry).