Minor girls on scoring spree
Carlow crushed in mis-match
WHATEVER HAPPENS in their future careers, it’s doubtful that anyone part of this Wexford Minor ladies’ football panel will be involved in such a one-sided game again as they completely swatted aside the feeble challenge of neighbours Carlow in the preliminary round of the Leinster championship at the O’Hanrahan’s club grounds on Sunday.
The eye-watering 12-11 to 2-4 final scoreline in no way flatters the rampant visitors, who had compiled five of their goals within the first quarter, while their last six scores of the opening half were of the green flag variety as well as what should have been a competitive outing quickly descended into target practice.
Indeed, full-forward Amy Wilson kick-started the procession with a goal after only 90 seconds, and the Castletown starlet’s converted penalty on eleven minutes was the first of three goals scored within the space of 90 seconds.
Ciara Bridges followed suit with a low finish from the next attack, while Jane Rossiter tucked home immediately after to make it 5-3 to no score with scarcely 13 minutes gone.
Captain Rachel Bennett compiled a quickfire brace of goals by the 23rd minute, although wingback Rosie McGuckin’s excellently-taken goal after 25 minutes was arguably the pick of the bunch.
Such was Wexford’s dominance that netminder Doireann Cullen got her first touch of the ball in the 24th minute in the kick-out that followed Carlow’s sole score of the half from Shauna O’Neill.
But there was still time for Ciara Banville to finish drop-kick style to the net, while Rossiter ended the half with four goals to her name to bring up the lop-sided interval gap of 11-5 to 0-1.
No less than seven changes were made by Wexford at the break, and the full panel eventually saw some game-time as the mentors made use of the unlimited substitutes ruling.
The leaders’ scoring rate understandably diminished on the resumption, with Lara O’Shea, Molly Bates and Eve Hession sharing 1-4 between them to stake their claims for a starting berth against Meath the next day.
It had became a pride-saving exercise for the hosts well before then, and they struck for a couple of consolation goals from Louise Colgan and Niamh Murphy.
Wexford: Doireann Cullen (Castletown); Aisling Halligan (Clonard/ Volunteers), Orla Fortune (Kilmore), Lauren Roche (Clonard/Volunteers); Ciara O’Connor (Gusserane), Niamh Dunne (St. Martin’s), Rosie McGuckin (Naomh Eanna, 1-0); Sarah Harding-Kenny (Shelmalier), Shereene Hamilton (Ballygarrett); Ciara Banville (Taghmon-Camross, 1-0), Rachel Bennett (St. Anne’s, capt., 2-3, 0-1 free), Ciara Bridges (St. Martin’s, 1-3); Emily Coakley (St. Fintan’s, 0-1), Amy Wilson (Castletown, 2-0, 1 pen.), Jane Rossiter (Bannow-Ballymitty, 4-0). Subs. Geri-Rose O’Connor (Baile Dubh Tíre) for Roche (HT), Michelle Carty (Taghmon-Camross) for O’Connor (HT), Julia Dempsey (Clonard/Volunteers) for McGuckin (HT), Eve Hession (Clonard/ Volunteers, 0-1) for Banville (HT), Lara O’Shea (Glynn-Barntown, 1-1, 1-0 pen.) for Bennett (HT), Cliodhna O’Connell (Kilanerin) for Wilson (HT), Molly Bates (Kilmore, 0-2) for Rossiter (HT), Grace Cloney (Adamstown) for Halligan (38), Emer O’Hagan (Castletown) for Hamilton (39), Mairéad Creane (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy) for Dunne (39), Emily Rochford (St. Anne’s) for Harding-Kenny (40), Sally Walker (Clonard/Volunteers) for Cullen (41), McGuckin for Fortune (48), Banville for Bridges (50), Dunne for Coakley (50).
Carlow: Andrea Dooley; Orla Sawyer, Róisín Ryan, Béibhinn O’Brien; Louise Colgan (1-0), Violetta Nolan, Ciara Farrell; Jasmine Brennan-Dowling, Amy Hanley (capt.); Shauna O’Neill (0-1 free), Eimear Cawley (0-1), Aoibhe Kiernan; Kayleigh Bracken, Aoife Hayden, Megan Cooney. Subs. Maggie Forde for Nolan, inj. (22), Kate O’Sullivan for Farrell (27), Sarah Doyle (0-1) for Kiernan (HT), Laura Kearney for Cawley (HT), Niamh Murphy (1-1) for O’Neill (42).
Referee: Jason Corcoran (Kildare).
FIXTURES
FRI. MARCH 16 Division 3 league (8.30 p.m.): Fethard v. Castletown.
SAT. MARCH 17 Division 1 league (10.30 a.m.): Clonard/Volunteers v. Clonee.
Division 2 league (12 noon): St. James’ v. Clongeen.
Division 4 league: St. Martin’s v. Bannow-Ballymitty (10 a.m.); St. Brigid’s v. Davidstown-Courtnacuddy (11 a.m.).
SUN. MARCH 18 AT AWAY VENUE: Lidl National League Division 3, Wexford v. Offaly, 2 p.m.
DATE TBC: Leinster Minor championship, Wexford home to Meath, 2 p.m.