White strikes winning goal
Wexford claim major scalp as strong Tyrone defeated
KATIE WHITE’S 52nd-minute goal proved decisive as Wexford picked up their first victory in ultra-competitive Division 2 of the Lidl Ladies’ National Football League in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday.
It was almost a perfect way for Anthony Masterson’s side to win this game. They wanted this one a little more than the All-Ireland Intermediate champions and got their rewards for a relentless 60 minutes of football.
And the goalscorer may not even have been on the pitch had Wexford their full complement of regulars for the clash. Fiona Rochford was unavailable, meaning White got her chance, and the trick was taking the opportunity when it arrived.
The Wexford boss will be delighted by what White offered throughout, not just with the classy winning goal eight minutes from time.
While six of their seven points did come from frees, 1-6 of the tally was scored by three players - White, Tara Doyle and Amy Wilson - who came into the game with a combined total of three starts at this level.
As well as the promise shown by the newbies in the attacking half of the field, Wexford defended superbly as a team yet again.
That’s twelve, eight and six points conceded, with a third clean sheet for the goalkeepers, a second for Mary Rose Kelly.
Despite the experience ahead of them, the full-back line deserves great credit for this one. Marica Cullen was a rock in the centre, Aoife Tormey continues to grow with every game, and Sadbh McCarthy was superb in the absence of the injured Niamh Mernagh.
Away games are tough in league play and Tyrone didn’t look anything like the side that won the Intermediate title last year. However, eleven of their starters did play some part in that final and two of the substitutes they used were in the first 15 in Croke Park.
They also came into this contest unbeaten, having dispatched Laois by eight points last time out, after drawing their opener with Cavan.
They had the help of a light breeze in the opening half and hit the front in the fourth minute when Niamh O’Neill tapped over in their first attack.
Wexford were already dominating possession at that stage and were soon on level terms with Tara Doyle’s first free.
Maria Byrne was winning inside on Christiane Hunter and, when she was fouled in the tenth minute, White tapped over the dead-ball to make it 0-2 to 0-1.
When Maria Canavan took her half-chance moments later it looked like one of those afternoons where the visitors would take their few opportunities and Wexford would toil in front of goal.
That was further emphasised when Emma Jane Gervin made it 0-3 to 0-2 in the 18th minute.
Bernie Breen took her own free after she was infringed upon in the 19th minute to level the scores. Byrne handpassed into the net when breaking through four minutes later but Wexford were soon let off the hook when O’Neill broke though and crashed her shot off the upright.
The hosts had the last opportunity of the period when Doyle’s free from distance fell short but, just as Maria Byrne grabbed the dropping ball, in the large rectangle, referee Kevin Phelan blew his whistle for half-time, 51 seconds over the 30 minutes (0-3 each).
Given the noise coming from their bench, Tyrone didn’t seem overly impressed by their own first-half effort levels and looked to up the tempo after the re-start.
That early pressure paid some dividends, with Caitlin Kelly and Gervan popping over to give them a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage.
Their impetus did not last, and Wexford ended it when Sarah Harding-Kenny burst forward, was fouled, and Doyle converted the dead-ball. The Ballygarrett player was successful again when she was fouled in the 36th minute.
Byrne broke towards goal and was tripped by Hunter in the 40th minute, and Doyle converted the free-kick without fuss to put Wexford 0-6 to 0-5 up.
Twelve scoreless minutes followed, both sides missed half-chances, and it seemed like the next score would prove vital.
Tyrone might have expected to kick on but they couldn’t lift their level. Instead, good work by Doyle picked out White and, while the Adamstown forward had plenty to do, she somehow found a gap in the bottom corner of Laura Kane’s net from fully 25 yards out to give Wexford breathing space.
Moments later Amy Wilson drifted in from the right and nailed the type of long distance point Wexford badly need more of to make it 1-7 to 0-5. The home side reverted into their shell a little and protected their lead in the last seven minutes.
There were a few nervy moments but nothing that Wexford couldn’t withstand. Niamh O’Neill missed a reasonably handy free before notching her next. Still, Tyrone couldn’t get closer than the four points as the Slaneysiders took the win.
Next up for Masterson’s side is a tough trip to face Bernie Breen’s native Kerry on Sunday (12 noon throw-in). They travel to Laois two weeks later in a game that could go a long way to determining whether Wexford are in a relegation fight or looking at a semi-final push.
Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Sadbh McCarthy, Marica Cullen, Aoife Tormey; Clara Donnelly, Shauna Murphy, Sarah Harding-Kenny; Kellie Kearney (capt.), Bernie Breen (0-1 free); Niamh Butler, Katie White (1-1, 0-1 free), Niamh Moore; Amy Wilson (0-1), Maria Byrne, Tara Doyle (0-4 frees).
Tyrone: Laura Kane; Caoileann Conway, Christiane Hunter, Aimee Daly; Sláine McCarroll, Neamh Woods (capt.), Emma Brennan; Emma Jane Gervin (0-2), Aoibhean McHugh; Niamh Hughes, Maria Canavan (01), Áine Canavan; Caitlin Kelly (0-1), Niamh O’Neill (0-2, 1 free), Emma Smyth. Subs. - Joanne Barrett for Hughes (46), Gráinne Rafferty for M. Canavan (50), Dearbhile Gallagher for Smyth (56).
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).