Carton steals the show as Déise get off the mark

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1

Waterford 1-13 Wexford 1-5

Tomás McCarthy

Nine points from 2018 All Star Beth Carton (six frees and three from play) led Waterford to a comfortable first round win over Wexford at bitterly cold St Patrick’s Park on Sunday

Helped by a fortuitous goal from captain Niamh Rockett, the visitors went eight points up after 28 minutes but the home side rallied in the second half and a stunning strike from Anais Curran cut the deficit to two. A wonder point by Carton where she held off two Wexford defenders and got a shot away off her right side settled the leaders. Waterford drove on from there with the last six points (four from Carton) to run away with this South East derby.

Donal O’Rourke looks to have strengthened his squad this season. League debutant Sarah Lacey caught the eye in the corner with two points. Ladies football star Caoimhe McGrath has committed to both codes and donned the number seven shirt here while Lismore’s Shona Curran started her first inter county game since the 2015 All Ireland intermediate final at centre forward.

Wexford are still without a manager following the departure of Martin Carey (brother of Kilkenny legend DJ) and only sixteen players togged out on Sunday. Even without nine Gailltir squad members, who are preparing for the All Ireland club semi final, O’Rourke had 25 players at his disposal.

Playing against the wind, Waterford registered 1-7 by half time to Wexford’s 0-3 but it could have been 5-7 given the goalscoring chances they created. Lacey marked her first start with the opening point of the afternoon. The Dungarvan attacker then fed Carton but she was smothered by busy Wexford stopper Emma Kiely. Carton then rifled over a free. Wexford levelled by the eighth minute through dead balls from Chloe Cash and Anais Curran.

A foul on Niamh Rockett allowed Carton to regain the lead for the away side as they scored 1-5 without reply. Two more goal opportunities also went abegging. Carton hit the side net before Kiely thwarted the lively Lacey from close range. Carton needed treatment for her knee after she was fouled but got back up to convert the free. She then dummied before unleashing a point off her left side. At this stage, Waterford were carving Wexford open with accurate hand and stick passes. Aine Power laid off the ball for Shona Curran to rampage through the middle and strike a point. Carton finished another defence splitting move which involved Rockett and Bray. On 28 minutes, Kiely attempted to take down Rockett’s point effort but only managed to divert the sliotar into the net (1-7 to 0-2). Anais Curran replied with Wexford’s first score in all of 21 minutes. On the stroke of half time, Kiely denied Kaiesha Tobin after Carton found her team mate with a precise hand pass.

Wexford decided to stay out on the field during the interval while Waterford returned to the dressing rooms. On the resumption, Curran landed her third free before Emma Walsh was on target from an awkward angle. At the other end, three Carton frees dropped short. On 40 minutes, WIT student Curran sped past three Waterford defenders and buried a shot to the top corner of the net (1-7 to 1-5).

Carton’s switch to centre forward and that moment of magic got the Déise back on track. The sliotar hopped into the net from a Carton free but referee John Dermody ruled that Kaiesha Tobin was in the square. Waterford finished with a flourish. Carton and Bray spurred them on as five more white flags were raised. Mairead Power supplied Lacey with her second point before she left the field. Dungarvan team mate Orla Hickey made a big impression off the bench and Bray set up a late point for her.  

Waterford are on the road again on February 3 when All Ireland champions Cork provide the opposition.

Scorers for Waterford: Beth Carton 0-9 (6fs), Niamh Rockett 1-0, Sarah Lacey 0-2, Shona Curran, Orla Hickey 0-1 each

Scorers for Wexford: Anais Curran 1-3 (3fs), Chloe Cash (45), Emma Walsh 0-1 each.

Waterford: Brianna O'Regan; Sibeal Harney, Iona Heffernan, Sadie Mai Rowe; Mairead Power, Aoife Landers, Caoimhe McGrath; Lorraine Bray, Clara Griffin; Aine Power, Shona Curran, Niamh Rockett; Kaiesha Tobin, Beth Carton, Sarah Lacey.

Subs: Keeley Corbett-Barry for Rowe, Orla Hickey for Curran, Niamh Ahearne for Aine Power, Sally Kelly for Lacey.

Wexford: Emma Kiely; Chloe Cash, Siona Nolan, Derbhla Doyle; Shauna Sinnott, Ciara Storey, Leah Walsh; Sorcha Foley, Clodagh Jackman; Emma Walsh, Mairead Sheehan, Anais Curran; Lauren Murphy, Joanne Dillon, Orla Molloy.

Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath)

Ursuline too Strong For Doon to Claim their Maiden Senior ‘A’ Munster Title

Venue:           Cappamore

Date:   12^th January 2019

St Angela’s Ursuline            1-11

Scoil Na Tríonóide Naofa Doon    0-05

St Angela’s Ursuline had a busy Saturday ahead of them as they travelled to Cappamore Limerick for their Senior ‘A’ Munster Final and afterwards heading back home for the Granville Hotel GAA Award’s Gala Dinner after their Double All Ireland success last year leading to them being nominated.

Ursuline lined up for the start of the game with two changes from the team listed with Alisha Flynn coming in at full forward in place of Aoife Fitzgerald and Laoise McLoughlin making way for Jodie Touhy to start at midfield with Kate Lynch partnering her in the engine room.

From the throw in the Ursuline showed their dominance over a physically strong Doon outfit with Jodie Touhy driving at the heart of the Limerick side’s defence working the ball to Abby Flynn for the opening point of the game after just under a minute on the clock.

Within the first six minutes the Waterford city based school had raced into a four point lead with the next three points coming from the hurl of captain Annie Fitzgerald, two coming from play and one from a placed ball. The attacking threat of St. Angela’s continued to cause the Doon defence issues early on, however the under par finishing allowed the Limerick side a reprieve.

After ten minutes Doon had their first attack with Ann Hayes dropping a shot wide, and soon after at the other end Annie Fitzgerald had a shot at goal saved by Gemma Fox in the Doon goal, the ball breaking to Abby Flynn who took the point with aplomb. 

The next eight minutes saw some frantic scenes with Doon registering their first score of the game through a place ball from the stick of Leah Heffernan and soon after the Ursuline attacked once more with Annie Fitz being pulled down to receive a penalty and the wing back receiving a yellow card.  Up stepped De La Salle’s Abby Flynn but the balled went the wrong side of the post.  The game continued at a fast pace with the hard working duo of Clodagh Carroll and Kate Lynch continuing to link the defence and attack with great skill and composure as the half wore on.

After 20 minutes St Angela’s led 0-05 to 0-01.  In another two minute spell, Ursuline laid siege to the Doon goal but could not raise a green flag leaving with only a white flag to show from their efforts through Abby Flynn.  Doon however finished the stronger towards half time with Eva O Dwyer producing a shot on goal that Leah O Donoghue got a hurl to.  Shortly after that Karen Cunningham got Doon’s second point of the game, once again from a placed ball to leave the score 0-06 to 0-02 in favour of the Waterford outfit at half time.

The Second half saw an early free converted by Gailltír’s Annie Fitzgerald but Doon soon kicked into life with the Limerick side dominating the next ten minutes coming away with two points inside this period and a goal chance of their own from Lisa Meehan.  Leah O Donoghue once more got a hurl to it but it bounced up and hit the crossbar falling away from the goal much to the relief of the large Ursuline following.

The next 5 minutes saw both team’s trade points with Annie and Abby both raising white flags while Doon’s Leah Heffernan raising the white flag again through placed a placed ball.  This proved to be Doon’s final score of the game with the Ursuline defence marshalled by Lucy Hogan at full back and Leah Sheridan centre back controlling matters.  The next ten minutes saw the Ursuline tag on two more points from Abby Flynn and the decisive goal coming through a great ball from Ciara O Sullivan to the unmarked Annie Fitzgerald to finish to the net expertly leaving the score line at 1-11 to 0-05 with eight minutes remaining.  Doon’s never say die attitude showed and they threw everything at the Ursuline defence with them too be awarded a penalty of their own.  Full forward Eva O’ Dwyer took it but again Leah O Donoghue was equal to the shot. On the follow up Doon full back put in a high challenge on Lucy Hogan receiving a red card to compound the heartache for the Limerick side. Doon failing to score in the last fifteen minutes, and failing to score from play from start to finish showed the resolve of this Ursuline team.  The full time score reading 1-11 to 0-05. 

The Ursuline machine rolls on after being crowned Munster Senior ‘A’ Champions with captain Annie Fitzgerald accepting the trophy on behalf of her teammates for the first time in their schools history.  Up next for the prolific school is an All-Ireland Semi Final with their opponents to be confirmed.

Scorers for St Angela’s Ursuline: Annie Fitzgerald 1-05 (0-02fs), Abby Flynn 0-06. 

Scorers for STN Doon: Karen Cunningham 0-03(f), Leah Heffernan 0-02(f).

St Angela’s Ursuline: Leah O’Donoghue (Gailltír); Sorcha Cantwell (Gailltír), Lucy Hogan (De La Salle), Emma Flynn (Gailltír), Shauna Farrell (Butlerstown), Leah Sheridan (Gailltír), Hannah Flynn (Gailltír), Jodie Touhy (Gailltír), Kate Lynch (Gailltír), Clodagh Carroll (Gailltír), Ciara O’Sullivan (Gailltir), Rachael Walsh (Butlerstown), Abby Flynn (De La Salle), Alisha Flynn (Gailltír), Annie Fitzgerald (Gailltir) (Capt).

Subs: Sarah Maher for Emma Flynn (45 Mins), Laoise McLoughlin for Alisha Flynn (57 Mins), Holly Ryan for Shauna Farrell (59 Mins).

STN Doon: Gemma Fox (Annacarthy), Ellen Gantley (Annacarthy), Roseanna O’ Donnell (Annacarthy), Laurie Quaid (Murroe Boher), Andrea Ryan (Doon), Laura Heffernan (Annacarthy), Sarah Burke (Annacarthy), Aoife Ryan (Murroe Boher), Kathleen Bradshaw (Doon), Ann Hayes (Doon), Rachel O Dwyer (Annacarthy), Karen Cunningham (Murroe Boher), Leah Heffernan (Annacarthy), Eva O’ Dwyer (Annacarthy), Lisa Meehan (Murroe Boher).

Referee: John O' Leary (Cork)