Curran in superb scoring form
A REMARKABLE scoring performance by Oulart-The Ballagh youngster Anais Curran propelled Wexford to victory in their opening encounter in the Leinster Under-16 ‘A’ camogie championship in the Halo Tiles and Bathrooms Ferns Centre of Excellence.
Curran netted a hat-trick of majors and flighted over eight points for good measure as the dynamic focal point of a dangerous Wexford attack.
However, it was an all-round superb team performance that was the secret to the hosts’ success.
Right from back to front everyone put in a shift. Wexford played against the breeze in the opening half, meaning Ciara O’Connor was needed in the sweeper role. The St. Martin’s youngster was excellent and a big reason why her side were in touch at the break.
The dangerous Katie Smyth got Wexford on the board early but it was the visitors, who arrived in Ferns two hours before throwin, who got off to the better start. Thanks to Emma Mulrooney’s goal, the Faithful led by 1-2 to 0-1 after the opening quarter.
Wexford slowly got to grips with the conditions and began chipping away at their opponents.
Curran grabbed her first two points before Megan Cullen completed the first-half scoring to leave the hosts 1-3 to 0-4 behind at the interval.
Determined to make use of the elements, Wexford powered on after the re-start. After Curran got her side within a point, the Oulart-The Ballagh clubwoman rattled the net for the first of her three majors. Wexford never looked back.
Aisling Alouf made an impression soon after her introduction with a point, and Curran then added her second goal to put Wexford 2-7 to 1-4 ahead.
Ciara O’Connor was next to net, grabbing the major her performance richly deserved.
By now Offaly were struggling to escape their own half.
Curran and Smyth shared five points between them before substitute Kate Foley came on to raise a white flag.
It was fitting that the scoring ended with Curran completing her treble in the last few minutes.
Next up for Wexford is a trip up the M11 to the capital to face Dublin on April 2.
A game against Kilkenny will follow as the Slaneysiders go in search of a Leinster championship final place.
Wexford: Aoife Mahon; Doireann Cullen, Eimear O’Connor, Amy Cahill; Laura Doran, Lauren Murphy, Amy Mitten; Ciara Walsh, Megan Cullen (01); Ciara O’Connor (1-0), Katie Smyth (0-3), Kate Kirwan; Amy O’Leary, Anais Curran (3-8), Molly Somers. Subs. - Kate Foley (0-1) for O’Leary, Aisling Alouf (0-1) for Somers, Shauna O’Leary for Mitten, also Róisín Parker.
Offaly: Ellen Regan; Brooke Whelahan, Ellen Bracken, Michelle Carroll; Emma Harding, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Eilish Gleeson; Jane Lowry (02), Sharon Shanahan; Aine Doorley, Orla Maher, Maria Guinan; Sionnan Glynn, Emma Mulrooney (1-3), Michelle Mann.