First blood to ladies
Wexford win semi-final rehearsal
WEXFORD WARMED up for a Lidl Ladies’ National Football League Division 3 semi-final with Roscommon by beating them in their own back yard in the final round-robin game on Sunday.
Manager Anthony Masterson was able to switch things up again, making several changes from the side that destroyed Down. The Castletown clubman seems to have the midas touch, with his side now on a six-match winning run.
Wexford captain Fiona Rochford won the toss in Kiltoom and chose to take the aiding breeze in the first-half. Catríona Murray, Down’s tormentor one week earlier, got her side off to the perfect start with a classy opening point.
The hosts responded with points from Joanne Cregg and Jenny Higgins but wasted several other chances by kicking poor wides. Fiona Rochford levelled the game at 0-2 each and was unlucky not to add another when her next shot caromed out off the post.
Wexford went ahead again when Fiona Rowe pointed. Things soon got better when Siobhán Cloake forced Carol Manning into a kicking error and Fiona Rochford was in the right place to benefit, intercepting the ball before firing to the net.
Catríona Murray put Wexford 1-4 to 0-2 in front but they only managed one more point before the break, a well-taken Ellen O’Brien score following a key assist by Georgina Hearn. Roscommon added points from Rebecca Finan and Martina Frayne (two) to leave three between them at the interval (1-5 to 0-5).
It was all change in the third quarter as the ace up the sleeve, Sheila Brady, kicked two points, while Laura Fleming and Alice Kelly picked off one each, meaning Roscommon took their second lead at 0-9 to 1-5.
Wexford were a little fortuitous to regain the lead when Bernie Breen’s 30-metre free found the net with ten minutes remaining. Youngster Rachel Bennett was then denied a first Senior goal for her county by the Roscommon netminder.
Despite a pair of late Brady points, Wexford scores from Breen and Murray ensured the Slaneysiders go into the semi-final match-up between the counties on a sixmatch winning run. That last four clash is scheduled for April 16 at a neutral venue.
Wexford: Sarah Merrigan; Niamh Mernagh, Brídín Doyle, Sarah Harding-Kenny; Róisín Murphy, Marica Cullen, Georgina Hearn; Bernie Breen (1-1, 1-0 free), Kellie Kearney; Ellen O’Brien (0-1), Fiona Rowe (0-1), Niamh Butler; Siobhán Cloake, Fiona Rochford (capt., 1-1, 0-1 free), Catríona Murray (0-3, 1 free). Subs. - Rachel Bennett for Rowe, Emer Cahill for Butler, also Mary Rose Kelly, Marguerite Doyle, Ann Byrne, Chantelle Martin, Clara Donnelly, Aisling Murphy, Elaine McCabe, Lorraine Breen, Ciara Corrigan, Eleanor Neville, Maeve Quill, Maria Byrne, Trina Sinnott.
Roscommon: Carol Manning; Honor Ennis, Amanda McLoone (capt.), Aisling MacAuliffe; Sinéad Kenny, Caroline Gunning, Gillian Dufficy; Joanne Cregg (0-1), Tara Taylor; Alice Kelly (0-1), Laura Fleming (0-1), Jenny Higgins (0-1); Rebecca Finan (0-1), Rachel Fitzmaurice, Martina Freyne (0-2). Subs. - Karin Roddy for Manning, Rachel Corcoran for Taylor, Sheila Brady (0-4) for Finan, Caroline Bernie for Freyne, Aoife Beades for Kelly, Eilish Fannon for Higgins, Rochelle Mullaney for Kenny, Jenny Downey for Fleming. Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo). RESULTS AND FIXTURES Leinster Under-16 championship: Wexford 4-8, Wicklow 2-6 (‘C’ semi-final on April 29-30).
Under-16 Division 1: HWH-Bunclody 5-13, Shelmalier 4-3; Clonard/ Volunteers 4-12, Crossabeg-Ballymurn 2-6.
Under-16 Division 2: Baile Dubh Tíre 5-13, Clonee 0-5; Starlights 1-12, Castletown 3-6.
Under-16 Division 3: Bannow-Ballymitty 5-8, St. Fintan’s 0-8; Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 6-11, Kilanerin 2-0; Ballygarrett-Réalt na Mara 4-6, Naomh Eanna 4-1.
Under-16 Division 4: Ballyhogue 6-9, Sarsfields 3-0; Rathgarogue-Cushinstown 10-15, Shamrocks 1-0.
SAT. APRIL 8 HOME VENUE TBC: Leinster Under-14 championship, Wexford v. Westmeath, time TBC.
MON. APRIL 10 Under-14 Féile ‘A’ semi-finals: Glynn-Barntown v. Crossabeg-Ballymurn; Clonee v. Gusserane.
Under-14 Féile shield semi-finals: Baile Dubh Tíre v. St. James’; St. Martin’s v. HWH-Bunclody.