WICKLOW LADIES THROUGH TO NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINAL

Garden County side to face Louth in decider

WICKLOW ANTRIM 7-13 0-9

A great day in sunny but windy Iniskeen Grattan’s GAA in Monaghan saw the Wicklow ladies qualify for the Lidl NFL Division 4 final by defeating Antrim on a scoreline of 7-13 to 0-09.

Antrim were first to settle and held a two-point lead in the opening minutes as the impressive Cathy Carey (with 2) and Aoife Taggart pointed to give the Saffrons a 0-3 to 0-0 lead.

In part the fact that Antrim settled early could have been put down to the late replacement of Laurie Ahern for Aoife Gillan, Sarah Miley for captain Sarah Hogan and Clodagh Fox for Katie Miley.

However, following two points by Tinahely’s Laura Hogan, Wicklow started to move through the cogs.

Then in the 10th minute, Wicklow’s number 10 Georgina Canavan turned heavily resulting in an ankle injury which necessitated her replacement by Meadhbh Deeney.

The Éire Óg player proved an able replacement for Canavan and her constant probing started to yield dividends as Wicklow turned the screw.

Laura Hogan buried the ball to the net following good work by Niamh McGettigan around the centre of the field and when the same player again struck the Antrim net Wicklow led 2-02 to 0-03 with only 15 minutes gone. Wicklow’s midfield by this stage were well on top and the plentiful supply of ball meant further scores for first Marie Kealy (2) before Deeney found her way through to place a great goal to the left of the oncoming Antim keeper Anna McCann.

Antrim had two points from first Carey and then Aislinn McFarland. The score was looking well for Wicklow and right on the stroke of half time things got even better when, following a heavy foul within the large rectangle, referee Declan Carolan form Down had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and the referee also sin binned the Antrim corner back.

Deeney buried the resultant penalty to the net and the half time score read Wicklow 4-05 to 0-05.

The half-time score was probably a fair reflection on the play and Antrim knew in order to make a game of it they would have to up the ante in the second half. However the second half continued in a similar vain as Clodagh Fox goaled and then Jackie Kinch, Laura Hogan (2) and Meadhbh Deeney pointed the these scores quashed any thoughts of an Antrim fightback.

Then, in a move started deep in defence, the ball passed swiftly through the hands of Deeney, McGettigan, Hogan and Lorna Fusciardi found herself on the end of the move.

The Foxrock Cabinteely halfback showed the class of a forward with a magnificent finish to the Antrim net – a rare goal for the Wicklow defender. Although Antrim, through Taggart and Carey, tried valiantly to fight back but Wicklow were out of sight at this stage.

It really only remained for Jackie Kinch, Naoise Baker and Deeney to point before the coup de gras was provide by Laura Hogan who finished to the net for a well-deserved hat-trick.

Wicklow were a team on a mission and part of this mission is now complete and they move on to the next portion of the mission.

In qualifying for the Lidl NFL final they now play Louth – a team whom Wicklow have played many times previously and who will certainly provide tough opposition in the final which will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7, at a venue to be confirmed – a match which will be shown live on TG4.

Scorers for Wicklow were: Laura Hogan (3-04), Meadhbh Deeney (2-02), Lorna Fusciardi (1-0), Marie Kealy (0-03), Clodagh Fox(1-00), Jackie Kinch (0-03), Naoise Baker (0-01) while in reply Antrim’s scorers were Cathy Carey (0-4), Aoife Taggart (0-3) and Aislinn McPartland.

We certainly wish Georgina well and trust her injury will heal quickly – she since had an operation on her ankle which had been broken.

Wicklow throughout the game were well served by all the squad as can be seen by the final score of 7-13 to 0-8 – Midfield were particularly strong with McGettigan and the youthful Aoife Gorman held sway while the miserly defence was well marshalled by Sarah Jane Winder with help from all her backs while Kim Connors had a quiet but efficient game in goal.

The forwards were flying and certainly while the plaudits go to both Meadhbh Deeney and Laura Hogan they were aided and abetted by Clodagh Fox, Marie Kealy and the veteran Jackie Kinch.

While winning facilely, the entire squad, together with the Wicklow management of Mick O’Rourke, Mick Kavanagh, Emer Miley and Caitriona McKeon, know that despite today’s victory, Louth in the final will be a much more difficult hurdle to overcome but one which certainly is within their compass.

It was very pleasing to see so many supporters make the journey to support the team and certainly the expectation is a major influx of fans to roar the team on in the upcoming final.

This is one Wicklow team that deserve the support so let’s get the bunting and flags out to show our support in the build up to the final. It was also great to see Bill Walsh looking on – he looked very proud of the team his company, Aspire Technology Solutions, are sponsoring.

Wicklow: Kim Connors (Blessington), Emily Mulhall (Tinahely), Laurie Ahern (Foxrock |Cabinteely), Alanna Conroy (Bray Emmett’s), Sarah Miley (Clara), Lorna Fusciardi (Foxrock Cabinteely), Niamh McGettigan (St Patrick’s), Aoife Gorman (Tinahely), Georgina Canavan (AGB), Jackie Kinch (Tinahely), Amy Murphy (An Tochar), Laura Hogan (Tinahely), Clodagh Fox (St Patrick’s), Marie Kealy (Baltinglass), Meadhbh Deeney (Eire Og), Shauna Bermingham (Tinahely), Rose Fagan (St Patrick’s), Naoise Baker (Clara), Shona O’Connor (Blessington), Helena Dowling (Baltinglass), Katie Miley (Clara), Sarah Hogan (Tinahely), Aoife Gillen (Bray Emmett’s), Sarah Fennelly (Baltinglass).