A GALLANT EFFORT!
Wicklow’s under-16s come close to All-Ireland crown
MAYO WICKLOW 2-06 2-03
WICKLOW’S under-16 camogie team made the long journey down to Longford on Sunday last to compete in the ‘Progress to Success’ All-Ireland final against Mayo.
A great crowd of vocal supporters also travelled to support the team who are showing some real promise for the future.
Wicklow got off to a dream start when Sive Byrne sent a high ball into the Mayo goal where Hollie Eve Cullen Dunne batted the sliotar down to the on rushing Amy Switzer who brilliantly doubled on the sliotar to rock the back of the Mayo net.
Eleanor Carroll Hayes was picking up a lot of dirty ball early on but Wicklow could not convert it into scores.
Leah Carroll took the paint off the wrong side of the post from a free as Wicklow were winning the early exchanges.
Mollie McCormack and Emer O’Toole were defending well.
The Mayo full-forward Mary McLoughlan was very dangerous at times when she got possession, but some excellent defending by Amy Barrett and Sarah Doyle kept her at arms length.
However, from the next attack, Mary McLoughlan laid off an excellent pass to Niamh Kennedy who fired to the net to level the game in the seventh minute.
Briana Burton put the west girls in front with a long range point in the next attack.
Mayo started to apply a lot off pressure but centre back Rachel Rice was in fine form, breaking down this Mayo pressure.
Wicklow made an early positional change swapping around the centre and full-forward.
Hannah Tener had a shot on goal brilliantly saved by Sara Davis in the Wicklow goal.
Lucy Rooney had a goal chance for Wicklow but somehow Anna Durkan cleared off her line as the play was up and down the field at this stage.
Sive Byrne caught the ball after a long puck-out and dropped it into the Mayo goals again but no forward was in to finish it for a score.
Again Mayo replied with great ball into their half-forward line but Rachel Rice cleared three times.
Meabh Delaney hit a wide from a Mayo free.
In the 22nd minute Leah Carroll levelled the game from a long range free.
Mayo’s Saoirse O’Brien made a great run down the wing and laid off to Mary McLoughlan who handpassed onto Briana Burton who restored the lead with a point.
Casey Kelly and Mia O’Connor were causing problems for the Mayo back line.
Wicklow brought on Katie Ann O’Neill into the fray. O’Neill was harshly blown -up for over-carrying and Saoirse O’Brien tapped over the free.
Sive Byrne who was involved in everything again won the ball and laid off to Hollie Eve who fed Katie Ann who flicked onto Lucy Rooney, who sublimely rocked the Mayo net for Wicklow’s second major to take the lead in the 27th minute to the roars of approval from the Wicklow contingent.
Before we could catch our breath, Mayo drove up the field and won a penalty.
Three on the goal-line faced Saoirse O’Brien penalty whose shot was low and hard, heading for the bottom right hand corner but that girl again, Rachel Rice, sensationally gets a block on the sliotar to prevent the green flag been raised.
Mayo did though raise a green flag in the next attack from a Briana Burton shot as we went into injury time in the opening half.
Mayo added another point before the half-time whistle sounded to leave it Wicklow 2-01 to Mayo’s 2-04.
Mayo started the second half where they left off in the first but some great defending by full-back Jenny Tyrell cleared all around her. Rachel Rice and Sive Byrne were linking up well, but crucially Wicklow could not convert into badly needed scores.
Leah Carroll landed a brace of pointed frees for the Wicklow girls as they fought back to leave the minimum in going into the final quarter.
Hannah Tener steadied the Mayo ship with a point.
Katie Ann was in for a goal chance but a brilliant hook by the corner-back cleared the danger. Erin Murray landed an inspirational point to put Mayo three up for what would be their last score of the game. It was all Mayo at this stage but time after time Rice, Tyrell and Sara Davis put their bodies on the line with some brilliant defending.
Wicklow won a 40m free in, in the 50th minute and the management brought up Rachel Rice to have a go.
Rachel went for goal with a piledriver which was saved on the goal line not once but twice and cleared.
Mayo hit two wides before Wicklow won another free. Up stepped Rachel Rice again and another pile-driver was somehow cleared again.
“Take your points” was the roars from the stand as Wicklow cursed their luck.
Two points from these frees could have changed the dynamic’s off the game, but a goal could have also won it. It’s always easier in hindsight.
Back came Mayo and Mary McLoughlan had a shot on goal brilliantly saved by Sara Davis as Wicklow would not throw in the towel as we went into injury time.
Battling as hard as they could this Wicklow side left everything, and more, on the field but, alas, the could not find that crucial goal to draw the game as the final whistle sounded.
Scorers - Wicklow: Amy Switzer 1-00, Lucy Rooney 1-00, Leah Carroll 0-03 (3f).
Mayo: Briana Burton 1-02, Niamh Kennedy 1-00, Saoirse O’Brien 0-01, Meabh Delaney 0-01, Hannah Tener 0-01, Erin Murray 0-01.
Wicklow: Sara Davis (Bray),Mol- lie McCormack (Donard), Jenny Tyrrell (Donard), Emer O’Toole (Aughrim); Amy Barrett (Donard), Rachel Rice (Bray), Sarah Doyle (Carnew); Leah Carroll (Bray), Sive Byrne (Donard); Lucy Rooney (Kilcoole), Amy Switzer (Donard) (Joint Capt.), Eleanor Carroll-Hayes(Bray) (Joint Capt.); Casey Kelly (Donard), Hollie Eve Cullen Dunne (Donard),Mia O Connor (Aughrim). Subs: Niamh Byrne (Knockanna), Katie Ann O’Neill (Donard), Erin O’Toole (Aughrim), Ava Whelan (Aughrim), Kaely Kavangh (Carnew), Doireann O’Brien (Aughrim), Katie Byrne (Aughrim), Isabel Keenaghan (Donard), Molly Walker (Kilcoole),Erin Byrne (Knockananna)
Mayo: Anna Durkin ; Elizeabth Jordan, Dearbhla Glavey, Brona Joyce; Meagan Henry, Ava Lambert, Róisín Cassidy; Gráinne Dealaney, Meabh Dealney; Briana Bruton, Hannah Tener, Saoirse O’Brien; Niamh Kennedy, Mary Mc Loughlin, Amy Hastings. Subs: Aoife Doherty, Erin Murray.