No joy for Wicklow
Farrell the difference as O’Rourke’s side outgunned
LONGFORD 2-10 WICKLOW 1-08
DESPITE a spirited fightback, Wicklow came up just short in their bid to claim the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4 title in Clane on Sunday afternoon last.
It was, no doubt, a disappointing end to the campaign for Michael O’Rourke’s side but they can be delighted with the progress made so far this year and can look forward to their Leinster Intermediate championship campaign with some hope of a good run.
In truth, the Garden girls can have no quibbles about the outcome of this contest. Ace Longford attacker Michelle Farrell hit the woodwork on six separate occasions, including the crossbar five times, and only had 1-1 to show for it.
Her misfortune in front of goal aside, Farrell really was the big difference between the sides. Take her out of the champions squad and Wicklow are at least their equals, such is the fine line between success and failure at this level.
Several defenders tried to match-up to the exceptional Colmcille forward but Wicklow simply couldn’t come to terms with Farrell’s exceptional pace, direct running and trickery in possession.
Within five minutes Longford had three points on the board. Sarah Tierney nailed the opener and two more followed from Aisling Reynolds. Wicklow started a little nervously, kicking a pair of wides before Jackie Kinch hit the target after a Claire Walsh feed.
Farrell really should have scored when clanking the crossbar in the 7th minute, then rattled it again with Geraldine Norton beaten two minutes later. Tierney did point when the ball was worked back to her but Amy Murphy quickly replied at the other end from Laura Hogan’s supply.
Tierney added her third point to give Longford a 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the start of the second quarter but Wicklow were determined to stay in the game and Claire Walsh popped over a dead-ball after Ciara Byrne was fouled to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over.
Farrell finally got herself on the scorers list, via the top of the crossbar in the 20th minute. She added another pair of overs that sandwiched Amy Murphy’s second point as Wicklow went in double scores down (0-8 to 0-4).
Claire Walsh and Farrell exchanged frees early in the second half but the crucial opening goal went to Longford in the 38th minute when Farrell’s pass sent Aisling McCormack away, she picked out an open Tierney who could hardly miss.
Unlike their opponents, who seemed to get weaker with each substitution, the Wicklow interchanges started to add something different to proceedings. Katie Miley was unlucky not to net herself a major when she poked wide after robbing Michelle Kilkenny of possession.
Moments after Walsh popped over a free, O’Rourke’s side did get right back into the game when Clodagh Fox, who looked to be bottled up, released her pass perfectly for Miley on the run and the dangerous attacker drilled to the rigging.
A couple of wides didn’t help the Wicklow cause but they did narrow the gap to two when Laurie Ahern pointed after a nice one-two with Rachael Byrne.
Farrell immediately responded at the other end but Helena Dowling made it 1-10 to 1-8 with a fine point from the right of the posts with six minutes left.
Unfortunately, that proved to be Wicklow’s final score. Longford put the game to bed when Farrell bundled home at the second time of asking, after her initial shot cracked the crossbar and bounced back into her path.
The Wicklow ladies have a fourweek break now before they return to action in the Leinster Intermediate Championship on May 28.
They face the short but daunting trip south to in-form Wexford, who drew with All-Ireland favourites Tipperary in the Division 3 final on Sunday last.
Longford: Michelle Kilkenny; Sinead Hughes, Leanne Keegan, Mairead Moore; Emer Heaney, Lauren Farrell, Michelle Noonan; Jacinta Brady, Mairead Reynolds (capt.); Anna McDonnell, Aisling Reynolds (0-2), Aisling O’Hara; Aisling Greene, Sarah Tierney (1-3), Michelle Farrell (1-5, 0-2 frees). Subs. - Aoife Darcy for Greene (15), Aisling McCormack for O’Hara (39), Niamh Darcy for Moore, inj (39), Ann Duffy for McDonnell (44), Ailbhe McGowan for A. Reynolds (56), also, Monica Bannon, Ellie Columb, Aine O’Reilly, Aodhnait Casey, Megan Lynn, Catriona Moore, Aoife Connaughton, Aisling Cosgrove, Aine Barry, Lara O’Sullivan.
Wicklow: Geraldine Norton; Sarah Jane Winder, Sarah Hogan (capt), Shauna Byrne; Aoife Gillen, Niamh McGettigan, Jessie Nolan Byrne; Aoife Gorman, Jackie Kinch (0-1); Sarah Molly Cullen, Amy Murphy (0-2), Emily Mulhall; Claire Walsh (0-3 frees), Laura Hogan, Ciara Byrne. Subs. - Katie Miley (1-0) for L. Hogan (29), Clogagh Fox for S. Byrne (31), Laurie Ahern (0-1) for Gillen (39), Rachael Byrne for Mulhall (48), Helena Dowling (0-1) for Walsh (51), also, Kim Connors, Sarah Fennelly, Amy Ryan, Aoife Grace, Naoise Baker, Georgina Baker, Shauna Bermingham, Claire Grace, Tara Costello, Aisling McDonnell.
Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois)