Lots of Wexford involvement as Carnew claim shield crown
COLÁISTE BHRÍDE (Carnew) ruled the roost in the Wexford ladies’ football first year shield final, defeating a gallant Coláiste Bríde (Enniscorthy) in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.
The south Wicklow school, who boast a sprinkling of Wexford girls from Craanford-Monaseed and Clonee, were put under serious pressure by Enniscorthy in the opening half but managed to pull away after the break.
The champions were superb all over the park, with no weakness in their lineups. They were led in the scoring stakes by Craanford-Monaseed’s Grace Doyle, who picked up the player of the match award, but also saw outstanding performances from Emily Wafer, Niamh Wafer, Georgina Horan and Keily Kavanagh.
Enniscorthy battled relentlessly, with goalkeeper Anna Ruth outstanding. They also got top-quality performances from full-back Amber Clarke-O’Connor and Ella Furlong but they just came up against a side in tip-top form.
The first-half was a real battle, with no score in the game until Keily Kavanagh put Carnew ahead with a point in the 15th minute.
Sophie O’Loughlin added another but Enniscorthy responded with points from Furlong and Ciara Redmond.
Two Grace Doyle goals in the space of a minute towards the end of the period proved huge for Carnew, but Enniscorthy did respond with a Furlong point that was followed by a goal from a Ciara Redmond penalty on the stroke of half-time (2-2 to 1-3 to Carnew).
Unfortunately for Enniscorthy, they were unable to build on that, with Carnew dominating with the breeze.
Niamh Tomkins got the scoring going with a point before Doyle completed her hat-trick three minutes later.
Scores continued to flow, with Sophie O’Loughlin and Georgina Horan adding goals for Carnew, while Emily Wafer kicked two nice points.
To their credit, Enniscorthy battled right to the final whistle and they goal consolation goals from Redmond and Nikki Fortune to round out an exciting game of football.
Coláiste Bhríde (Carnew): Ruby Dixon (Craanford-Monaseed); Zara Logue, Abbie Finnerty (Carnew Emmets), Mya Tobin (Craanford-Monaseed); Tara Byrne (Craanford-Monaseed), Emily Wafer (Carnew Emmets, 0-2), Aoibhe Doran (Carnew Emmets); Kate Healy (Annacurra), Niamh Wafer (Carnew Emmets); Sophie O’Loughlin (Tinahely, 1-1), Georgia Horan (Annacurra, 1-1), Róisín Doyle (Craanford-Monaseed); Keily Kavanagh (Clonee, 0-1), Grace Doyle (Craanford-Monaseed, 3-1), Niamh Tomkins (Clonee, 0-1). Subs. - Emma McCormack (Craanford-Monaseed), Ava Murphy-Bowes (Clonee), Sadhbh Agnew (Annacurra), Muireann Doyle (Carnew Emmets), Sophie Kavanagh (Carnew Emmets), Ameerah Avbara (Carnew Emmets), Grace Molloy (Carnew Emmets), Rochelle Ryan (Carnew Emmets), Madison Myler (Carnew Emmets), Aibhinn Kinsella (Carnew Emmets), Ruby Wallace (Carnew Emmets), Caitlin O’Keeffe (Carnew Emmets), Neasa O’Neill (Annacurra), Aimme Jordan (Annacurra), Clodagh Bolger (Carnew Emmets), Ruth Kelly, Chloe Doran.
Coláiste Bríde (Enniscorthy): Anna Ruth (Monageer-Boolavogue); Sarah Finn (Ballyhogue), Amber Clarke-O’Connor (Blackwater), Orlaith Matthews (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy); Laura Kehoe (Starlights), May Cummins (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Chloe Doyle (Ballyhogue); Ciara Redmond (Crossabeg-Ballymurn, 2-1, 2-0 pens.), Roise Frazer (Ballyhogue); Grace Byrne (Ballyhogue), Laura Furlong (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, jointcapt.), Ella Furlong (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, 0-2); Sofia Furlong (Starlights), Hazel Breen (Ballyhogue), Chelsea Doyle (Starlights). Subs. - Helena Doyle (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy), Kayla Davitt (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Lucy Gahan (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy), Ailishe Doyle (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Anne O’Brien (Ballyhogue), Kaiya Dobbs (Starlights), Nikki Fortune (Crossabeg-Ballymurn, 1-0), Annie Morris (Ballyhogue), Maisie Thorpe (Shamrocks), Katie Murphy (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Amber O’Connor (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Anna Lacey (Monageer-Boolavogue), Sophie Kehoe (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy), Saoirse Doolan (Rathnure), Aoibhe Howlin (Baile Dubh Tíre), Mary Kelly (Shamrocks), Rachel Doyle (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Sadie Doyle (Starlights), Amy Carty (Starlights), Leilah Morrissey-Lopes (Starlights), Jackie Breslin (Shamrocks).
Referee: Matty Kinnaird (Starlights).