ROUND-UP Inters pass the test
GAA Unbeaten after second solid display
IN THE worst of Sunday’s weather, Wexford battened down the hatches in defence and moved top of the Littlewoods National Camogie League Division 2 Group 1 table with another solid display, this time against Down in windy Gorey.
This Intermediate side definitely has something. Gone are the lost souls spraying balls all over the place, aimlessly meandering around the field hoping they’re not the next unfortunate Wexford player to be burdened by possession of the ball.
Instead there’s a cohesion, and a rugged, rough around the edges wont for confrontation. The hit is relished, doing the donkey work means the opponent doesn’t have clean possession, and breaking away, head up, looking downfield is suddenly not a foreign feeling.
It’s an attractive side to watch. Speed kills and Wexford are loaded with it in the forwards. Good passes are only as useful as those on the end of them, and the Slaneysiders are meshing well into a smoother and quick-attacking outfit.
The changes, enforced or otherwise, made this second string stronger. Anna Whitty, Mairéad Sheehan and Margaret Byrne all came into the side, all experienced club players, and all perfect fits for the way this side is playing.
Within two minutes Sheehan had made an impact. The Kilrush clubwoman is a handful to stop running with the sliothar, as Down found out when she set off through the heart of the defence before firing towards the posts from distance and finding the top of the net.
Byrne plays in the mould of a Lenny Holohan: speedy, so tough to stop but not super consistent. A defender’s nightmare, she won a free that Aideen Brennan converted in the seventh minute to make it 1-1 to nil.
A Byrne pass from the right looked overhit in the 15th minute but Aoife Sheil kept it in play. The Glynn-Barntown forward forced the ball back to Róisín Kelly who handpassed swiftly to the net, past Gráinne Savage.
The visiting goalkeeper had problems dealing with Kelly’s long ball into the square three minutes later, allowing Aideen Brennan to pounce and force the ball over the line to make it 3-1 to nil.
She added a point from a free in the 24th minute after Shiel was poleaxed.
Down were rarely a danger but when they were it was typically the experienced Niamh Mallon at the heart of it. She opened their account from a free in the 25th minute to leave her side 3-2 to 0-1 behind.
The width of the crossbar prevented Brennan from notching her second goal three minutes before the interval, but points from Kelly and an injury time effort from Mags Byrne did leave the gap at twelve at the change of ends (3-4 to 0-1).
Down came out with a partially aiding breeze and were allowed back into the game when some hesitant defending saw Cassie Fitzpatrick win a penalty that Mallon blasted high past Liza Bates. When Mallon added a point in the 36th minute Down were suddenly within eight.
After good work from Sheehan and Sheil, Wexford won a ‘45 that Kelly converted in the 40th minute, which somehow turned out to be their only score in the first 24 minutes of the half, despite ample opportunities.
Megan O’Reilly kicked home after more good work by Mallon to make it 3-5 to 2-2 with twelve minutes left, but Down did not score again. Aoife Sheil saw her shot deflected over in the 55th minute and she added another after great work from substitute Orla Molloy three minutes later.
That was enough to see Wexford over the line and into top spot ahead of All-Ireland Intermediate champions Kilkenny.
The sides meet in the next game, scheduled for March 12 in enemy territory.
Wexford: Liza Bates; Nancy Dunphy, Marie Claire Morrissey, Aoife McCrea; Anna Whitty, Niamh Walsh, Chloe Cash; Eimear Nolan, Aisling Cronin; Aideen Brennan (capt., 1-2, 0-2 frees), Shauna Kelly, Róisín Kelly (1-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 ‘45); Margaret Byrne (0-1), Aoife Sheil (0-2), Mairéad Sheehan (1-0). Subs. - Farren Byrne for Dunphy (51), Orla Molloy for R. Kelly (54), also Emma Kiely, Derbhla Doyle, Róisín Cooney, Katie Gallagher, Mary Cummins.
Down: Gráinne Savage; Claire McGilligan, Caoimhe Byrne, Rhea Smyth; Grace Gallagher, Dearbhla Magee, Nichola O’Hagan; Méabh O’Hare, Amanda Wood; Niamh Mallon (capt., 1-2, 1-0 pen., 0-1 free); Neisha McCullough, Aimee McAleenan; Cassie Fitzpatrick, Megan O’Reilly (0-1), Lisa Devlin. Subs. - Orla Gribben for Devlin (31), Nicola McCabe for O’Reilly (51), Aoibhin Gormley for Wood (54), Gemma Lenaghan for Fitzpatrick (54).
Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork).