Perfect start for Inters
LITTLEWOODS NATIONAL LEAGUES DIVISIONS 1 AND 2
WEXFORD MADE the perfect start to their Littlewoods National Camogie League Division 2 campaign, beating Laois in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Sunday.
Twice last year the O’Moore county played the Wexford Intermediates off the park, first in a 13-point league win and then four months later with a seven-point championship success.
Just three Wexford players started both those games. Some have disappeared, others have made the step up to Senior, but by and large this was a new group of girls. Perhaps the memories of past defeats are easier to replace than erase.
There was no defeatism about the Slaneysiders this time around. A young, hungry and organised group took the game to Laois and thoroughly deserved the three winning points, even if it did get tight at the end.
In many ways that made the win all the most impressive. Not content with a solid performance and a gallant loss, when Laois threw everything at their hosts in the final quarter, Wexford refused to buckle.
It’s also important that Wexford have players ready to step-up. The Intermediate team in recent seasons had too many players in the squad with very little to offer, but all 24 on the teamlist below add something.
A case in point is Anna Whitty. The Craanford-Monaseed clubwoman came on in the last minute of normal time but tied down her corner and made a telling intervention to deny Laois the chance of an equalising score.
It certainly wasn’t the quickest start Wexford have ever produced, as they fell 0-3 to 0-1 down in the first twelve minutes before settling into the task. They needed a shot of confidence and it came when Shauna Kelly beat her marker and fired at goal.
Goalkeeper Laura Dunne got her hurl to the ball but it flew behind, and Aoife Sheil ensured that the sliothar had crossed the line. The Glynn-Barntown forward got a goal to call her own in the 19th minute, drilling high to the Laois net after being picked out by Mary Cummins.
That 2-2 to 0-4 lead swelled further when Róisín Kelly’s long ball into Sheil found its way to Deirdre McMahon. Under pressure the former county footballer revisited her past, kicking to the visitors’ net.
After Aisling Cronin pointed, Wexford led by 3-3 to 0-4. Just when it looked like the hosts would take a comfortable lead in at the break, Laois responded when Joan Dollard hauled in Sarah Ann Fitzgerald’s long ball and rattled it past Liza Bates (3-3 to 1-5 at half-time).
Despite the setback, Wexford started the second-half brightly and eased eight points ahead again shortly after McMahon pulled to an empty net after being picked out by Shauna Kelly. However, the leaders had to endure a 22-minute spell without a score.
In the middle of that time Fitzgerald drilled a penalty high off Bates’ hurl to the net. When Aisling O’Dea registered her second point in the 51st minute, Laois were within one (2-9 to 4-4) and on a roll.
However, Wexford halted the rolling tide of pressure and two late Róisín Kelly frees, which sandwiched a Fitzgerald point, were enough to get her side over the finish line.
Next up for the Slaneysiders is a home game against Down this Sunday.
Wexford: Liza Bates; Nancy Dunphy, Marie Claire Morrissey, Aoife McCrea; Michelle Harding, Niamh Walsh, Chloe Cashe; Eimear Nolan, Aisling Cronin (0-1); Katie Gallagher, Mary Cummins, Róisín Kelly (0-3, 2 frees); Aideen Brennan (capt.), Aoife Sheil (1-2), Shauna Kelly (1-0). Subs. - Deirdre McMahon (2-0) for Gallagher, inj. (6), Farren Byrne for McCrea (38), Derbhla Doyle for Nolan (46), Orla Molloy for Brennan (46), Anna Whitty for Dunphy (59), also Emma Kiely, Louise Stafford, Mairéad Sheehan, Clodagh Jackman.
Laois: Laura Dunne; Aoife Collier, Rose Marie Birmingham (capt.), Niamh Coss; Maggie Hogan, Sarah Ann Fitzgerald (1-6, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen.), Aoife Hyland; Casey Conroy, Lizzie Ryan; Sarah Cuddy, Sarah Creagh, Rebecca Williams; Aisling O’Dea (02), Joan Dollard (1-1), Holly Kilcare. Subs. - Laura Peake for Cuddy (31), Mary Keating (0-1) for Kilcare (31), Linda Hayes for Williams (52), Liddan C. Fennell for Hogan (52), Rachel Walsh for Hyland (59).
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).