Ladies reach the last four
Comfortable win over Down
A MUCH-CHANGED Wexford outfit had way too much quality for Down as they qualified for the Division 3 semi-finals of the Lidl Ladies’ National Football League at Bellefield on Sunday.
Against weaker opposition, Wexford boss Anthony Masterson took the opportunity to alter his starting line-up, giving some of the fringe players a chance to show their qualities ahead of a long summer. It proved to be the ideal type of game to give someone like talented youngster Sarah Harding-Kenny her first competitive start.
Yet many of the key components remained in place and that allowed the hosts to get off to a fast start. The passing was slick, while the inter-change, by and large, was solid. Energy wasn’t wasted, and running off the ball was more in-sync than earlier in the season.
It all bodes well. This side seems to be morphing into one that is not only Leinster favourites, but also a team which can seriously challenge for the All-Ireland Intermediate title come the summer months.
Down weren’t your typical cannon-fodder. They were well drilled, tried to do the right things and have a few nice footballers but are some way off their opponents’ level, and that was fully reflected on the scoreboard.
Emer Cahill opened the scoring in the second minute, one of only two points from the inside-forwards. In fairness to the trio, Down defended deep, cutting off goal chances and close-range shots, but it cost them with an array of Wexford scores coming from around the 30-metre mark.
Bernie Breen popped over the second from Kellie Kearney’s pass outside. Catríona Murray registered the first of her nine scores from in front of the posts and Kearney took a nice point in the seventh minute to make it 0-4 to nil.
A one-two with Fiona Rowe ended with Ellen O’Brien hitting the target. Murray made it six before two more scores from the red-hot O’Brien left Wexford coasting at the start of the second quarter, leading by 0-8 to nil.
If Wexford are to go all the way in the summer, Mary Rose Kelly will be a key figure. Her quality was clearly shown in the 20th minute when she stuck out a foot to brilliantly save a low, goalbound Ciara Mulvenna strike.
It came in the middle of an eight-minute spell without a Wexford score, when Róisín Murphy was off receiving treatment on the sideline. The hosts did kick back into gear to end the half with a string of scores.
Murray popped over another brace, Kearney added a tidy point, and Ciara Donnelly scored a lovely point with the outside of her left boot from full 35 metres out to leave Wexford 0-12 to nil ahead at the interval.
Wexford continued where they left off, into the breeze. Ann Byrne’s powerful run forward allowed Rowe to find space and score. Murray added her fifth, and third free, after Ellen O’Brien was dragged back.
Four more Murray points in succession, the final three from frees for indiscretions committed on herself, Aisling Murphy and then the lively Elaine McCabe, saw Wexford motor 0-18 to nil ahead at the end of the third quarter.
Down simply were not bad enough to finish scoreless and were going to have a spell. While the game was over as a contest, and substitutions really hampered the flow, they did deserve their handful of scores in the final quarter.
There were few better points scored than Aisling Cull’s that broke their duck in the 46th minute. Laoise Duffy picked off another minor that was countered at the other end by Breen’s second.
Lauren Cunningham popped the perfect pass to release Colleen Lennon in the 51st minute, and her shot across Kelly few past the Wexford stopper to the net. The Down captain ended the contest with a point herself as the hosts went the final ten minutes without scoring.
The result means that Wexford are assured of a semi-final place against Roscommon with one round of matches left. In a dress rehearsal, the Slaneysiders travel to their last four opponents in round seven on Sunday afternoon to close out the group stages.
Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Maeve Quill, Marica Cullen, Sarah Harding-Kenny; Ann Byrne, Kellie Kearney (0-2), Clara Donnelly (0-1); Bernie Breen (0-2), Róisín Murphy; Ellen O’Brien (0-3), Catríona Murray (0-9, 6 frees), Eleanor Neville; Fiona Rowe (0-1), Aisling Murphy, Emer Cahill (0-1). Subs. - Fiona Rochford for R. Murphy, temp. (18-21), Elaine McCabe for O’Brien (37), Lorraine Breen for R. Murphy (46), Fiona Rochford (capt.) for Kearney (49), Rachel Bennett for Rowe (53), Niamh Mernagh for Harding-Kenny (55), also Sarah Merrigan, Marguerite Doyle, Brídín Doyle, Chantelle Martin, Siobhán Cloake, Ciara Corrigan, Niamh Butler, Maria Byrne, Trina Sinnott.
Down: Christina McCarthy; Laura Morgan, Orla Boyle, Morgan Shannon; Adair Traynor, Chara Laverty, Nuala Carville; Aoife Keown, Kate McKay; Natalie McKibbin, Lauren Cunningham (capt., 0-1), Laoise Duffy (0-1); Ella Durkan, Ciara Mulvenna, Cushla Savage. Subs. - Aishling Cull (0-1) for McKibbin (24), Kyla Trainor for Savage (31), Aimee Greene for Shannon (36), Kiera Turley for McKay (43), Colleen Lennon (1-0) for Mulvenna (46), Leanne Taylor for Carville (51), Sinéad FItzsimons for Laverty (54), Erin McGinn for Keown (57), Ann Marie Magee for Durkan (57).
Referee: Paul Burke (Longford).