U-12s just miss out on semi-final spot

OUR UNDER-12 Inter-League squad travelled to Nenagh on Sunday to participate in the southern qualifying section ,and after a long day’s football played in glorious sunshine, our girls finished third in a very competitive group, just missing out on a place in the national semi-finals.

The girls started off with a win when they proved too strong for near neighbours Waterford and ran out 3-0 victors thanks to goals from Katie Law, Bobbie Culleton and Sasha Greene.

A horrible start in the second game against Cork saw the Rebel county race into a 2-0 lead, but Wexford then showed great character and goals from Katie Law and Hannah Redmond brought the sides level, only for Cork to snatch a late winner to take all three points.

Eventual group winners South Tipperary were up next and the host county got the ideal start when they scored a free-kick after just two minutes. They then had to defend strongly for the remainder of the game before Katie Law eventually managed to score and earn a point for Wexford.

The final game of the day saw Wexford prove much too strong for Kerry, and they ran out comfortable 5-1 winners thanks to four goals from Rebecca Fanning and one from Bobbie Culleton.

Hosts South Tipperary topped the group with Cork second, while Wexford just missed out on a place in the semi-finals by finishing third in a tournament where our girls were definitely good enough to top the group.

Manager Barry Dempsey was delighted with the efforts of his squad and was of course disappointed to miss out on a place in the last four. SQUAD: Charlie Kennedy (St. Joseph’s), Grace Harding-Kenny (Curracloe United), Niamh Bates (New Ross Town), Katelyn Tomkins (Courtown Hibs), Tara Roche (New Ross Town), Abigail Clarke (Rosslare Rangers), Hannah Redmond (Courtown Hibs), Sasha Greene (Courtown Hibs), Katie Law (North End United), Bobbie Culleton (Rosslare Rangers), Rebecca Fanning (Curracloe United), Katie Moynihan (Bunclody AFC), Aoibh Thomas (New Ross Town), Lucy Fitzgerald (North End United), Melissa Smith (Kilmore United), Aoife Devereux (All Blacks). Manager: Barry Dempsey. Coach: Paula Saunders-Foley.