Fiona strikes on the double in fourth Wexford win

WEXFORD 2-7 ROSCOMMON 1-6

A FIONA Bennett major double propelled Wexford to their fourth straight victory in Division 3 of the Lidl Ladies’ National Football League in St. Patrick’s Park recently.

The St. Anne’s attacker, who has looked sharp in the early stages of this campaign, found the net twice in less than 60 seconds early in the first-half to help move Anthony Masterson’s side a little closer to a semi-final spot.

All the early-season talk in Division 3 has been about Meath, but the Royal county were smacked in the chops by a heavy dose of reality when Roscommon handed them a first defeat of the year in round three.

It left Wexford, who are more than happy to quietly move along under the radar, as the only unbeaten team in a competitive division.

To remain that way, they needed to dispatch a confident Rossies outfit.

They did just that, inflicting most of the damage in a clinical first 20 minutes. The hosts played with the breeze and set about making their superiority tell.

Caitríona Murray and Bernie Breen kicked early points to get the hosts on the board in the first two minutes.

Bennett fired home a rebound for her opener in the sixth minute after visiting goalkeeper Helena Cummins fumbled Murray’s shot into her path.

Then, from the next kick-out, she gained possession and succulently sent a lob over the Roscommon shot stopper to the net.

Trailing by 2-2 to nil, Rebecca Finan got a couple of frees on the board, however, they were soon dealt a blow when Louise Brady was sin-binned.

Wexford added further points from Murray, the impressive Chloe Foxe, and Kellie Kearney but were guilty of taking their foot off the gas.

That, mixed with the introduction of a Roscommon sweeper and a few missed goal chances, gave the Connacht side hope.

Foxe was denied by a fine save for one of those chances while Chantelle Martin took the umpire’s flag out of the ground when firing narrowly wide.

Wexford led by 2-5 to 0-4 at the break and were solid after halftime as their opponents continued to play defensively.

Breen and Martin scored points in the first ten minutes while Bennett was denied a hat-trick when Cummins saved in a one-on-one opportunity.

As well as the excellent Breen, Róisín Murphy and the inexperienced Shauna Murphy, Wexford got solid performances from the bench in the second-half from Fiona Rochford, Niamh Moore and Marguerite Doyle.

Roscommon did get a couple of points but went into the last moments 2-7 to 0-6 down. Jenny Downey scored a cracking late goal but it made no difference to the outcome, with the hosts taking the spoils.

Wexford are back in action on St. Patrick’s weekend when they make the trip up to face Offaly. A fifth win will likely be enough to secure a spot in the last four with two games, against Down and Meath, still to play.

Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Niamh Mernagh, Maria Byrne, Shauna Murphy; Clara Donnelly, Róisín Murphy, Cathy O’Brien; Kellie Kearney (0-1), Bernie Breen (0-2); Chloe Foxe (0-1), Caitríona Murray (0-2, 1 free), Niamh Butler; Aoife Sheil, Fiona Bennett (20), Chantelle Martin (0-1 free). Subs. - Fiona Rochford for Sheil, Niamh Moore for O’Brien, Marguerite Doyle for Donnelly, also Sinéad Whelan, Aoife Drennan, Ciara Ryan, Amy Wilson, Cailín Fitzpatrick, Rachel Bennett, Georgina Hearn, Lauren Cousins, Sarah Harding-Kenny, Ann Byrne, Ellen O’Brien, Aishling Murphy.

Roscommon: Helena Cummins; Honor Ennis, Rochelle Mullaney, Róisín Wynne; Niamh Feeney, Amanda McLoone, Sinéad Kenny; Jenny Higgins (0-1), Joanne Cregg; Laura Fleming, Jenny Downey (1-1, 0-1 free), Sheila Brady; Rachel Fitzmaurice, Rebecca Finan (0-4 frees), Louise Brady. Subs. - Sasha Lavin, Shannon Dowd, Colleen Cauneen, Niamh Fleming, Aishling McAuliffe, Feena Beirne, Aoife Gavin, Rachel Brady, Alice Kelly, Mikaela McHugh.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois).