Camogie side march on
League holders beat All-Ireland champions
WEXFORD’S QUEST to retain their National League Division 1 camogie title was stepped up a notch when they recorded an eight-point win over All-Ireland titleholders Cork in the semi-final held in O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on April 11, 2010.
And while the forwards had an eye for goal in a game that was won by 4-5 to 0-9, the players at the other end of the field really stole the show as the full-back trio of Claire O’Connor, Catherine O’Loughlin and the in-form Karen Atkinson all excelled.
Team manager J.J. Doyle – in his first year at the helm – duly paid tribute to his defence afterwards.
‘I thought the full-back and centre-back lines just gave them no space at all.
‘That’s an All-Ireland winning forward line and they got a few points at the end but they got no space, I just thought the backs were really on top of their game,’ he said.
The first-half performance had been full of sloppy play, but Doyle felt that nerves more than anything had played a part.
‘It’s a big day for them playing against the All-Ireland champions, no matter what you say to them they are going to be nervous and jittery, and still, having played poorly we went in leading by a point at half-time.’
It was 2-1 to 0-6 when Kildare referee Alan Lagrue brought play to a halt at the end of the opening period.
The first goal had arrived in the eleventh minute, with Mary Leacy launching a powerful free into the wind which her sister, Una, plucked from the sky before turning and blasting an unstoppable shot past Aoife Murray.
Fortune favoured Wexford for their second major, as Lenny Holohan sent in an under-hit point attempt that took an unexpected hop in front of the netminder and ended up in the net.
And they really got on top during the third quarter when, after early points from Kate Kelly (two frees) and Una Leacy, the latter added her second goal before substitute Fiona Kavanagh rattled the net with her first touch.
Wexford were ten points ahead at one stage and, even though Cork rallied somewhat, it was clear from a long way out that the final on April 24 would feature a local derby with Kilkenny.
Wexford: Mags D’Arcy; Claire O’Connor, Catherine O’Loughlin,
Karen Atkinson; Noeleen Lambert, Mary Leacy, Deirdre Codd; Josie Dwyer, Caroline Murphy; Katrina Parrock (0-1), Aine Codd, Michelle O’Leary; Kate Kelly (0-2 frees), Una Leacy (2-1), Lenny Holohan (1-0). Subs. - Ursula Jacob for Murphy, inj., Fiona Kavanagh (1-1) for Holohan, Ciara Storey for A. Codd, Aoife O’Connor for Parrock.