No stopping Wicklow women in Division 4
Jackie runs amok as Wicklow maintain unbeaten run
THE Wicklow ladies footballers are sitting proudly at the summit of the Lidl National Football League Division 4 this week following their comprehensive victory over Antrim in Roundwood last Sunday morning.
Jackie Kinch continued her superb run of form by bagging 2-08 on the day as Mick O’Rourke’s women nothced their fourth win from four games.
This game was played on a sun drenched firm sod at the An Tochar GAA ground in Roundwood andWicklow elected to play away from the clubhouse end in the first half, facing into a slight breeze and also a strong sun creating difficulties for the defence.
However, this was to prove of little consequence as the Wicklow forward line got into their stride right away with the half-forwards Georgina Canavan, Jackie Kinch and Maedbh Deeney being particularly effective straight from the throw in.
Jackie Kinch got Wicklow on the scoreboard with a pointed free in the second minute.
Full-forward Katie Miley, Maedbh Deeney, midfielder Niamh McGettigan and Jackie Kinch added points in quick succession to leave the Garden County girls ahead by 0-5 to no score after 10 minutes.
Midfielder Kathy Carey got the northern side off the mark from a free after 13 minutes.
Jackie Kinch added another point for the home side but then Antrim got a break that offered them some hope when they netted the game’s first goal.
A half block by a Wicklow defender wrong footed full-back Sarah Jane Winders with the ball breaking to strong full-forward Anna Finnegan who scored with a hard shot to the roof of the net.
With 15 minutes gone, Wicklow now led by 0-6 to 1-1, which was hardly a fair reflection of the level of dominance Wicklow held up to that point.
However, the home side made a decisive response to the Antrim goal five minutes later when Georgina Canavan and Jackie Kinch combined to put Katie Miley through for Wicklow’s first goal with a shot that the Antrim goal keeper was unable to keep out,
Two further points from Jackie Kinch (one from a free) left Wicklow leading by 1-8 to 1-2 at the break.
Antrim corner-forward Aoife Taggart had scored her side’s second point just before the half- time whistle.
The Garden County girls turned over to play with the advantage of breeze and incline.
This was to prove too much for the visiting northern side who found a Wicklow team growing in confidence throughout the second period.
Points followed from Jackie Kinch, Maedbh Deeney, Clodagh Fox and Marie Kealy with Kinch also netting two goals, both scored in remarkably similar circumstances.
The first, scored after 10 minutes, came when Maedbh Deeney floated a free kicked off the sod across the goal. Kinch plucked the ball out of the air, turned and scored a great goal into the roof of the net and just inside the left post.
Ten minutes later Deeney float- ed in another free. This time Kinch met the ball in the air and punched home another fine goal.
Antrim were unable to stay with Wicklow in this half and their only response came with a point from substitute Bronagh Devlin with six minutes left.
They were unable to stay with the constant running game of the home side and Jackie Kinch, who finished with that personal tally of 2-8 and was a huge thorn in their side throughout.
Wicklow now find themselves with eight league points following four outings. They played extremely well in this game but they will meet stronger as the league progresses with Louth, Fermanagh and Carlow still to come.
Scorers - Wicklow: Jackie Kinch 2-8, Maedbh Deeney 0-4, Katie Miley 1-1, Niamh McGettigan 0-1, Clodagh Fox, 0-1, Marie Kealy 0-1.
Antrim: Kathy Carey 0-1, Anna Finnegan 1-0, Aoife Taggart 0-1, Bronagh Devlin 0-1.
Wicklow: Kim Connor; Aoife Gillen, Sarah Jane Winders, Emily Mulhall; Rose Fagan, Sarah Hogan, Lorna Fasciardi; Allanadh Conroy, Niamh McGettigan; Georgina Canavan, Jackie Kinch, Maedbh Deeney; Clodagh Fox, Katie Miley, Marie Kealy. Subs: Aoife Gorman, Helen Dowling, Lau-
ra Hogan, Saoirse O’Reilly, Sarah Fennelly.
Antrim: Anne McCann; Sarah Hawley, Emma Kelly, Nicole McKeown; Niamh McIntyre, Stephanie Cochrane, Caoimhe Stewart; Kathy Carey, Deirdre O’Kane; Aine Devlin, Aislinn McFarlainn, Niamh Enright; Caitlin Taggart, Anna Finnegan, Aoife Taggart. Subs: Orla Corr for Niamh Enright, Natasha O’Neill for Deirdre O’Kane, Katie Rafferty. Eimear Galligan.
Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).