All Stars visit Madrid
Wexford trio part of history in making
A WEXFORD trio were part of history in the making last week when Madrid in Spain was the destination for the first-ever camogie All Stars trip.
Veteran Kate Kelly of St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier, who was selected on the team in 2016, made the journey along with replacements Sarah O’Connor (St. Martin’s) and Shelley Kehoe (Oulart-The Ballagh).
And an old-fashion shoot-out unfolded in an exhibition game held in the XV Hortaleza Rugby Club on a chilly evening for camogie, with the 2016 All Stars beating their 2017 counterparts on a 10-13 to 7-8 scoreline.
The entertainment value was high for the fascinated onlookers as the sliothar rattled the net more often than usual, with the eventual victors ahead by 6-5 to 4-4 at half-time.
Kelly captained the 2016 team and was one of its stand-out performers in the eleven-a-side contest, while Shelley Kehoe joined her on the scoresheet and Sarah O’Connor was a stalwart in defence.
The exhibition game on Thursday was the main showpiece of a trip that lasted from Wednesday to Saturday and also included visits to the Irish Embassy in Madrid, the world-famous Bernabeu soccer stadium, and Atocha Railway Station.
Meanwhile, hot on the heels of the release of the All-Ireland championship draws came the announcement of the fixtures for the 2018 Littlewoods National Leagues.
There is an earlier start to Division 1, on January 14, when the Wexford Senior team will be away to Tipperary.
They will host Cork seven days later before travelling to Offaly for their third Group 1 fixture on February 4.
Wexford’s last game will be at home to Galway on February 25, with the top two qualifying for the semi-finals on March 11. A relegation play-off involving the bottom teams in Groups 1 and 2 will be held one week earlier.
The Intermediate campaign won’t start until February 18 with a trip to Antrim in Group 1, and Wexford are also away to Down one week later.
After a home tie against Cork on March 11, they will be on the road to Westmeath on March 25 before hosting Carlow on April 1.
Once again, the top two teams will contest the semi-finals.