Wonderful Wexford recovery
Nine-point deficit against Laois turned into five-point win
WEXFORD CAME from nine points down early in the second-half to defeat Laois and advance to the Leinster ladies’ football Minor ‘B’ championship final in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Saturday.
Coming one year and a day after Wexford were thumped by 27 points by the O’Moore County in the same competition, things have clearly progressed for the Slaneysiders as they dominated this game without it telling on the scoreboard.
It was frankly incredible that they were nine points down after 32 minutes, having had more of the play. Credit to Laois, as they defended well in numbers and made it hard for an adventurous Wexford, but the pressure did finally tell.
Last year when the Minor teams of the two counties met, the gulf in class was evident, but here Wexford were doing all the right things in possession. It was their work off the ball, their running off the shoulder, and their inter-play, it was all superior.
This result and performance are massive for ladies’ football in this county. Mixing it with perennial challengers in the top tier is a must to keep progressing at adult level, and with Dublin to play in the final it will be another huge challenge.
The girls from the capital defeated Westmeath by just seven points, a team Wexford beat in the group stages.
The Slaneysiders have come on since then so while they will go into the game as underdogs, they aren’t without a fighting chance of securing one of the biggest results in memory for an under-age side in this county.
This win means the respective Under-16 and Minor teams have a combined six wins and a single loss from seven games this campaign, with the younger age-group in last four action this coming weekend.
Everyone played their part here for Wexford, and it was notable that management not only trusted their substitutions to make an impact, but also that the girls who came from the bench fitted right in and did themselves proud.
They came onto a playing arena - the new back pitches at McCauley Park, Bellefield - in perfect condition considering the recent weather. However, the wind was whipping across the field, making execution all the more difficult.
Wexford started on the front foot, taking the lead with an Aoife Fortune free, but they missed several chances to add to their tally in the opening quarter.
At the other end Laois were less profligate, levelling up through Aishling Cawley before taking the lead with an Ellen O’Byrne major.
Laois were 1-2 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the first quarter after the impressive Aoibhe Byron pointed.
The talented kicker had been one of the main dangers when these sides met at Under-16 level two years ago, a four-point Laois win.
After Bébhinn McDonald pulled a point back, Byron added a second goal, a ball that Laura Kehoe misjudged in the Wexford goalmouth, with the wind taking it to the net.
The hosts might have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be their day, but they kept battling and points from Kaylee Doyle and Amelia Furlong matched a Byron brace late in the period to leave six between them at the interval (2-4 to 0-4).
Another opportunity to throw in the towel arose two minutes into the second-half when Cawley drifted behind the Wexford defence unmarked and fired home from Julie Ann Bennett’s assist to increase the gap to nine.
However, the Wexford response was outstanding, with Emma Rossiter kicking a point before Sarah Bennett lashed home a half-volley from Amelia Furlong’s assist to cut the gap to five.
The visitors maintained that lead, with Fortune and Bennett points countered at the other end to make it 3-6 to 1-7 with a quarter to play.
The pressure amped up as the minutes ticked away, and when Fortune dipped in a fantastic goal in the 47th minute it was game on.
In their next attack Edie Byrne matched her team-mate’s finish to give Wexford the lead (3-7 to 3-6).
Laois managed a mini-response as Wexford had a quick breather, and Byron levelled the game from a free. Wexford survived a Cawley shot that whistled wide in the 54th minute, but a big finish was on the horizon.
The way Wexford took the lead with three minutes remaining was interesting. When Sarah Bennett took the shot cutting in from the left, the home crowd cheered it over, only to see the umpire wave it wide.
Play restarted for a phase but when it stopped again, linesman Matty Kinnaird called referee Ian Culbert to the side of the field.
After discussion, the referee went in to his umpire and after a few words a white flag was raised.
However, the score that broke Laois came in the 60th minute. It was an outstanding team move, with Fortune and substitute Milly Sutton combining to send Rossiter away for the clinching goal.
There was still time for Fortune to add another point from a free, leaving Wexford five clear at the end.
Dublin will be the opposition in the final on Sunday, a tough test but one these girls should relish and approach with no fear.
Wexford: Laura Kehoe (Clonee); Heather Bolton-Lee (Baile Dubh Tíre), Ella Furlong (Adamstown), Eimear Porter (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown); Eilis Roche (Adamstown), Éabha Guinan (Clonee), Caragh McDonald (Adamstown); Bébhinn McDonald (Kilanerin, 0-1), Kaylee Doyle (Baile Dubh Tíre, 0-1); Amelia Furlong (Starlights, 0-1), Aoife Fortune (Ballyhogue, 1-3, 0-2 frees), Sarah Bennett (Clongeen, 1-2); Edie Byrne (Kilanerin, 1-0), Emma Rossiter (Gusserane, 1-1), Orla O’Rourke (Clonee). Subs. - Milly Sutton (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown) for O’Rourke (31), Katie Whelan (Gusserane) for C. McDonald (31), Ellie Roche (Shelmalier) for Porter (44), Síofra Fenlon (Starlights) for Guinan (44), Caoimhe Ryan (Clonee) for Byrne (60+1).
Laois: Ava Shanahan (capt.); Ella Murphy, Clodagh Gee, Áine Nolan; Ciara Malone (0-1), Aoife Gorman, Caoimhe Fitzpatrick; Grace Cunningham, Evanna Ryle; Anna Mulligan, Lucy Conroy, Aoibhe Byron (1-5, 0-4 frees); Aishling Cawley (1-1), Julie Ann Bennett, Ellen O’Byrne (1-0). Subs. - Stefanie Abrama for Nolan (44), Katie McGrath for Ryle (56).
Referee: Ian Culbert (Wicklow).