Second string bow out
WEXFORD’S SECOND string slipped out of the Leinster Intermediate camogie championship by losing to Westmeath in Killurin on Saturday.
The Slaneysiders scored just 1-1 in a tight second-half as the visitors did enough to take the win and book a spot opposite Kilkenny in the provincial semi-final.
It was a brisk start to the game with the sides sharing eight points evenly in the first ten minutes.
Glynn-Barntown’s Aoife Sheil had two for Wexford, with Mags Byrne and Róisín Kelly also on target.
A great team build-up, involving Mairéad McCormack and Méabhe Scully, ended with Pamela Greville netting the first Westmeath major.
However, a couple of Deirdre McMahon points left Wexford just 1-5 to 0-7 down after 24 minutes.
Things took a turn for the worse for the home side when the ball broke to Greville close to goal in the 25th minute and she swept it past Liza Bates between the Wexford posts.
Yet, after McMahon pointed, Aisling Cronin found the net from distance to drag her side level at the interval (1-8 to 2-5).
Wexford just weren’t the same team after the break and failed to score in the second quarter. At the other end Westmeath did just enough to edge their way clear, with Dinah Loughlin and substitute Ciara Corcoran on target.
Desperate for a response, Róisín Kelly dropped a free into the goalmouth which broke to Mags Byrne, and the Kilrush attacker whipped to the net to level the game again (2-8 each).
The hosts failed to push on and two Loughlin frees put Westmeath ahead with six minutes left.
Byrne pulled a late score back but Wexford couldn’t find the leveller again and their opponents held on to advance to the last four.
Wexford have a five-week break before they are back in action on June 10, when they begin their All-Ireland Intermediate campaign with a home tie against champions Kilkenny.
Wexford: Liza Bates; Michelle Harding, Marie Claire Morrissey, Farren Byrne; Katie O’Connor, Aideen Brennan, Chloe Cashe; Leah Walsh, Róisín Kelly (0-2 frees); Aisling Cronin (1-0), Mags Byrne (1-2), Shauna Kelly; Deirdre McMahon (0-3), Aoife Sheil (capt., 0-2), Nicole Fortune. Subs. - Mairéad Sheehan for Cashe, Orla Molloy for Walsh, Mary Cummins for Fortune.
Westmeath: Fiona Keating; Sarah King, Edel McCormack, Julie McLoughlin; Katie Layde, Fiona Leavy, Laura Doherty; Joanne McCormack, Muireann Scally; Mairéad McCormack, Hannah Core (0-1), Méabhe Scally; Dinah Loughlin (0-7, 4 frees), Pamela Greville (2-0), Caoimhe McCrossan (0-1). Subs. - Clara Corcoran (0-1) for M. McCormack, Denise McGrath for McCrossan.
Referee: Alan Doheny (Laois).