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)