All the latest news from Wicklow

Latest news from Wicklow

WICKLOW 2-2. OFFALY 2-5.

Wicklow’s under twelve girls travelled to Carlow on Monday last
to take part in the Leinster U12 blitz, and were very unlucky not
to bring home the spoils.The Garden county’s first game of the day
was against the home side Carlow, the visitors went in to an early
lead courtesy of two excellent strikes on goal by Jessie McElheron
within the first five minutes,and a further three goals from the
boot of Aife Kavanagh, from there on the Wicklow girls were in the
driving seat and never took their foot off the gas, running out
6-3 to 0-2 point winners at the end.

The Wicklow sides second match was against the girls from the wee
county (Louth), As in the first game it was the combination of the
two Arklow ger/Ballymoney girls that sealed the fate of the Louth
side, McElheron rattling the back of the louth net early in the
half followed by three accurate points from the Wicklow captain
Aife Kavanagh with no reply from the Louth side.

Wicklow continued to press in the second half, with scores from
Ellen Hall and Maeve Deeney to ensure victory and a place in the
final, with a score line of 3-5 to no score. Wicklow’s opponents
in the final were Offaly, (a county close to the last whistles heart
I believe), and having watched their games during the day, Wicklow’s
supremo Bernard Kavanagh knew that his side needed to pull out all
the stops if they were to be the victors on the day.

Down 1-2 to 0-2 points at the break. Offaly had the Wicklow girls
on the back foot, however the Wicklow girls rallied in the second
half with superb interchanges of play between Jackie Kinch, Lucia
O Grady,and Rachel Cunningham to ensure that the forwards were kept
supplied with quality ball, the teams hard working keeper Rebecca
Condren also played her part, pulling off a number of important
saves at crucial times in the match, Wicklow’s Nicole Hickey Kavanagh
shadowed Offaly’s sharp shooter Saelene Nagle and kept her scoreless
through out the game.

The Garden counties determination paid dividends, Alisha Lodan Doyle
firing home to draw the sides level with five minutes on the clock
and Wicklow dominating play. Alas it was not to be, Offaly’s Kelly
Cunningham found a chink in the Wicklow defence and slipped the
ball past Condren to give her side the lead and victory as referee
Martin Seery blew the final whistle and called for the ball. Offaly
claiming the first prize on the day.

The Wicklow girls and their mentors at county and club level can
take a pat on the back for what they have achieved, to stand on
the side line and watch these girl perform its hard to believe that
they are under twelve years of age, their ability to control the
ball and read the game, has to be seen to be believed. Hopefully
it will continue well into the future and Wicklow ladies football
can only to go from strength to strength.

Wicklow scorers: Aife Kavanagh 3-7. Jesse McElheron(Arklow
Gers/Ballymoney)4-0. Maeve Deeney(Eire Og Greystones)1-1.Ellen Hall
(Bray Emmets)1-0.Alisha Doyle(Bray Emmets)1-1. Jackie Kinch (Knockananna)1-0.

The senior Wicklow ladies played Dublin (B) in a challenge match
on Monday evening last in Greystones, The under strenght Wicklow
side were no match for a very experienced Dublin outfit, and with
Carlow waiting in the wings in the next round of the TG4 championship,Wicklow
are capable of adding the Leinster championship trophy to the NFL
div 4 title they won earlier this year, but the senior ladies all
need to knuckle down in training over the next couple of weeks if
they are to build on this years success.
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Important notice to all clubs The annual Alison Davis, Wicklow Ladies
7 a side football blitz will take place in the Presentation College
Bray on Sunday next, All teams are asked to register at 10.30 on
Sunday morning sharp,the entry fee is 80 euro’s, the presentation
of prizes and a BBQ will take place after the competitions are finished.

All support is welcome on the day.contact Aoife Heffernan, Aisling
O’hAnnaidh or myself for further information. Michael Forde. PRO,
Wicklow Ladies football.
10 Lamberton Heights. Arklow. Co. Wicklow.
0402-39457(H). 087-6422658(M)
email: wicklowladiesfootball@eircom.net