Wicklow beat Kilkenny with impressive display

Bord Gáis Energy round 3.

National football league

(Mick Forde Leinster PRO)

Kilkenny 1-6  Wicklow 2-9

Wicklow and Kilkenny went head to head in Jenkinstown on Sunday last, and it was the Wicklow side that had the cutting edge through out the game. while both teams have great respect for each other, This was always going to be a competitive game, and once referee Pat Keogh threw in the ball, both teams gave an excellent display of ladies football.

Kilkenny, playing with a strong breeze, got off to a dream start when Catriona Grace rattled the back of Emer Mileys net in the third minute, that sent a slight shiver down the backs of the Wicklow mentors.

Wicklow responded when Chrissie Shortt and Geraldine Norton Combined to open their account with a well taken point. Kilkennys Marie Ryan cancelled the Wicklow score to put three between the sides (1-1 to 0-1).

Over the past number of years both teams have rubbed shoulders with lady luck, and on Sunday last she seem to favour the girls from the garden county, as Geraldine Nortons shot was deflected into the back of Aine Sheehys net to draw the sides level at the end of the first quarter (1-1 to 1-1).

Kilkenny continued to press the Wicklow back line, with Miriam O’Keefe adding three points in quick succession to extend the cats lead. With the half time break looming the visitors needed to reduce the deficit and in the twenty seventh minute Caoilfhionn Deeney stepped up to take a free, to the right of Aine Sheehy posts, Deeny’s lobbed shot dropped under the Kilkenny crossbar to leave the score board reading 1-4 to 2-1 at the break.

So, it was all to play for in the second half as both sides went up a gear in an attempt seal victory, Wicklow’s decision to play against the wind in the first period, prove to be the right one, and the garden county took full advantage, with a point apiece from Chrissie Shortt, Niamh Coleman, Julie Fitzmaurice, Lizzie Brophy and their top scorer Caoilfhionn Deeney tagging on four,  Kilkenny could only manage to add two points to their half time score.

Kilkenny will be disappointed with the score line, they had a number of chances to reel in the Wicklow side, but there are days when plans do not fall into place, Wicklow, however will be delighted with the way they went about their business, in particular  their work rate and support play through out the game that gave them the winning edge on the day.

Wicklow scorers: Caoilfhionn Deeney 1-4, Geraldine Norton 1-1, Chrissie Shortt 0-1, Julie Fitzmaurice 0-1, Niamh Coleman 0-1, Lizzie Brophy 0-1.

Kilkenny scorers: Catriona Grace 1-0, Marie Ryan 0-1, Miriam O’Keefe 0-3, Marie Dargan 0-2.

Wicklow: Emer Miley (Blessington)Lorna Fuisciardi (Eire Og), Aisling O’hAnnaidh (Bray Emmets), Aoife Heffernan (Bray Emmets), Julie Fitzmaurice (Baltinglass), Caitriona McKeon ( Capt. Kilbride), Niamh Kelly(Eire Og), Monica Lynch (An Tochar), Caoilfhionn Deeney (Eire Og), Eadaoine Lenihan (Bray Emmets), Jill Heatley (Blessington), Orla Redmond (St. Pats), Chrissie Shortt (An Tochar), Geraldine Norton (Baltinglass), Niamh Coleman (Bray Emmets), Subs: Chrissie Doyle(Clontarf) for Orla Redmond, Janet Miley (Valleymount) for Lorna Fuisciardi, Amie Byrne (An Tochar) for Jill Heatley, Lizzie Brophy (Valleymount) for Niamh Coleman, Rebecca Fuisciardi (Eire Og) for Aoife Heffernan.

Kilkenny: Aine Sheehy(Thomastown), Emer Roantree (Callan), Andrea Murphy (Railyard), Niamh Whelan (Thomastown), ), Lydia Phelan (Carrickshock), Angela Kenneally (Mullinavat), Martina Maher (Muckalee), Catriona Grace, capt (Railyard),  April Purcell (Railyard),Sarah Hennessey, Marie Ryan (Tullogher), Marie Dargan(Railyard), Shauna Daly, Miriam O Keeffe(Railyard), Helen Murphy (Mullinavat). Subs:Katie Foley for  Sarah Hennessey, Michelle Dowd (Railyard) for Marie Ryan.

Referee: Pat Keogh (Carlow).