ROUND-UP Seniors send big message
CAMOGIE All-Ireland champs beaten
THERE’S SOMETHING refreshing about Wexford when they see the black and amber. There’s certainly no fear, no standing back to admire.
A tame win against Waterford was nice but beating Kilkenny on Sunday was the real start to Division 1 of the Littlewoods National Camogie League.
Whenever something approaching double digits separates the sides when two of the big four meet - Wexford, Galway, Cork and Kilkenny - generally intensity of performance is a good place to start when looking for the biggest factor.
This was no different, as Wexford wanted this win more. They probably needed it more too. Apart from Cork, Kilkenny will blow the other sides in this group away, as Ann Downey’s team don’t do shambolic performances against mediocre sides.
The Slaneysiders tend to have a real stinker in them, sometimes more than one. Hence why this win was huge if Wexford want to make a return to the last four of the league and have a run at a title they last won in 2011.
From the platform of two wins in their first two games, a last four spot should be the least of their aspirations. However, it didn’t look to be going that way in the early stages as Kilkenny found points easier to come by.
Yet, Wexford got one score in the first 18 minutes and it was hugely important. Nicole Fortune was a livewire when introduced against Waterford, so much so that the Bunclody starlet earned herself a starting berth - the only change to the line-up.
With her side a point down, Fortune pressured Emma Kavanagh after the Kilkenny goalkeeper collected Bríd Gordon’s ball into the goalmouth, forced the error and kicked it over the line for the opening goal.
Michelle Quilty had three points, Julieann Malone and Miriam Walsh one each as the visitors moved 0-5 to 1-0 ahead. Seventeen minutes in. Linda Bolger nailed a free after Kilkenny were done for over-carrying and then made the most of more strong Fortune work to point and level the scores.
Walsh’s second point pushed Kilkenny 0-6 to 1-2 ahead. The wind, while still a factor, had dropped significantly since the Intermediate game. However, the pitch, taking its third match of the day, was cutting up and heavy.
It might have played some part as Kavanagh made a meal of Chloe Foxe’s ball into the goalmouth, allowing Bríd Gordon to nip in and net. Kilkenny responded with their final point of the half – an Anne Dalton long-range free.
Wexford weren’t finished. When Shelley Kehoe was fouled tight to the left corner, Bolger nailed the free. She added another two minutes before the interval after Gordon was clattered in front of the posts to make it 2-4 to 0-7 at the break.
With the breeze helping, Wexford pressed on after the changearound. Shelley Kehoe took less than 60 seconds to increase the lead to four. When Linda Bolger added two more dead-balls, the hosts eased six clear.
Probably score of the game came in the 44th minute and again it was Bolger. The St. Martin’s clubwoman robbed possession way out in the right corner, took aim and nailed a superb point to make it 2-8 to 0-7.
Kilkenny scored their first point of the half right at the start of the final quarter, with Quilty nailling a free. The Mullinavat hotshot added another in the 51st minute and was promptly withdrawn with her side five down.
A string of changes helped Wexford initially, breaking up the momentum, but eventually led to almost six minutes of added-time. John Kelly and Matty Flynn-O’Connor’s side wrapped up the win with three points in quick succession from the 53rd minute.
Bolger brought her tally for the afternoon to nine with a pair of frees before Shelley Kehoe picked off a second score from 25 metres out. Kilkenny won a late free on the ‘20 but Dalton’s effort was stopped on the line by Ciara Storey as the visitors went home frustrated.
Wexford can take another big step towards the semi-final if they can find another win in two weeks’ time when they host Tipperary. Games against Cork and Dublin follow to round out the group stages.
Wexford: Niamh Potter; Ciara Storey, Síona Nolan, Louise O’Leary; Sarah O’Connor, Aine Lacey, Katie O’Connor; Amy Cardiff, Emma Walsh; Shelley Kehoe (0-2), Chloe Foxe, Bríd Gordon (capt., 1-0); Leah Walsh, Linda Bolger (0-9, 7 frees), Nicole Fortune (1-0). Subs. - Una Sinnott for E. Walsh (39), Stacey Kehoe for Foxe, temp. (49-50), Shauna Sinnott for K. O’Connor (51), Stacey Kehoe for L. Walsh (53), Aoife Cousins for Fortune (59), Joanne Dillon for Shelley Kehoe (60+4), also Margaret Byrne, Karen Atkinson, Mags D’Arcy.
Kilkenny: Emma Kavanagh; Sarah Crowley, Collette Dormer, Laura Murphy; Edwina Keane, Claire Phelan, Davina Tobin; Aisling Dunphy, Anne Dalton (0-1 free); Kellyann Doyle, Miriam Walsh (capt., 0-2), Grace Walsh; Jenny Clifford, Julieann Malone (0-1), Michelle Quilty (0-5, 3 frees, 1 ‘45). Subs. - Stacey Quirke for G. Walsh (31), Anna Farrell for Keane (31), Shelly Farrell for Clifford (36), Grace O’Donnell for Quilty (51), Jenny Reddy for A. Farrell, inj. (58), Aisling Nolan for Dunphy (58).
Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork).