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You are > Home > Seniors maintain solid start to title-defence
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
Seniors maintain solid start to title-defence
Wexford 1-17 Galway 2-6
WITH THE exception of a shaky start, the Wexford senior camogie crew maintained their solid start to the defence of the National League Division 1 silverware as they pulled off a commanding win over Galway at blustery St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday afternoon.
The only spanners that the Tribeswomen managed to throw in the Wexford works were goals in the third and thirty-fifth minutes, with the latter blow serving to cut the gap to a meager 1-9 to 25.
But the greater all-round ability of the home crew was reflected in the manner in which they immediately asserted control to finish with something to spare.
The margin mightn’t have been anything like their opening round success over Dublin (2-17 to 0-5), but once Wexford got themselves in gear following a difficult start they were just as comfortable on this occasion. Indeed, the management made some astute calls throughout the hour, with a number of personnel changes during the interval certainly having the desired effect.
The right flank of the Wexford attack caused Galway endless problems, with Katriona Parrock and Kate Kelly being in devastating form, although after Parrock had broken the ice with a second-minute point the locals found themselves in plenty of bother at the back.
Indeed, alarm bells were sounding after Veronica Curtin slipped inside the Wexford cover very easily to collect a delivery from Aisling Connolly and rattle the country-end net in the third-minute. A point quickly followed from Emma Kilkelly as the visitors stated real intent.
But, with Noeleen Lambert excelling at right corner-back and netminder Helena Jacob easing any lingering nerves through her very sound ‘keeping, the purple-and-gold finally began to settle.
Parrock and Kelly combined in the eighth minute for Kelly to ram in an equalising goal after a darting run from her St. Ibar’s club-mate.
That duo then shared four points as Wexford pulled clear by 1-5 to 1-1 after nineteen minutes. However, Galway then almost wreaked havoc but for the vigilance of Helena Jacob.
The visitors did manage to grab some late points through substitute Niamh McGrath and Curtin, both of which were negated by Kate Kelly (play and a free) as she helped to maintain Wexford’s four point advantage at the change-of-ends (1-7 to 1-3).
Wexford boss JJ Doyle and his fellow selectors then made those wise calls as they replaced the untypically subdued midfielder Caroline Murphy and full-forward Evelyn Quigley with Michelle O’Leary and Lenny Holohan respectively (the latter coming in at left wing-forward as captain Una Leacy switched to the edge-of-the-square).
The changes worked a treat, although Galway again posed Wexford some problems at the outset of the new half, with a goal from Cathy Bowes after 35 minutes reducing the deficit to 1-9 to 2-4 after a couple of quick Áine Codd points had momentarily improved Wexford’s position.
But, with Mary Leacy coming into her own at the back, Wexford quickly thwarted whatever else Galway had to offer while Michelle O’Leary helped to swing things very much the home-side’s way, and points from Kelly (2 frees and a ‘45) and Una Leacy established a 1-13 to 2-5 lead before Wexford went agonisingly close with a goaling chance – as Áine Codd forced a fine save before Kate Kelly was unfortunate to flash the breaking-ball wide.
The hosts continued to press home their advantage as Ursula Jacob swung over three quick points while Michelle O’Leary weighed in with one and Ciara Storey was twice unlucky with goaling attempts as the side eased into the new season displaying real potential.
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