Clarke Inspires Historic Victory for New York

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Junior Football Semi-final

New York 0-10

Wexford 0-5

By Jackie Cahill at St Brendan’s Park, Birr

EMMA Clarke inspired New York to an historic victory in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies junior football championship semi-final against Wexford at St Brendan’s Park, Birr, on Saturday evening.

The Cavan native, 23, scored seven points, including five in the second half, as New York booked their place in a first junior final since 1999.

Philip Sheridan’s team will play Wicklow in the Croke Park decider on September 25, looking to make up for the final defeat against Tyrone twelve years ago.

New York trailed by 0-2 to 0-3 at half-time but were outscored by 0-8 to 0-2 in the second half as the Exiles played extremely well with the wind at their backs.

But Wexford will look back ruefully on a tally of 16 wides, including nine after half-time, with New York extremely accurate in the second half.

They did hit five wides before half-time but their sheet was blank after the break as corner forward Clarke, aided by captain and full-forward Mary O’Rourke, tormented the Wexford defence.

In the first half, both teams managed to register just a point from play each, with neither side threatening to score a goal.

Wexford did have a goal disallowed for a square ball early in the second half and sub Dawn Bergin would later strike the base of the upright.

But New York were far more clinical in possession and after drawing level at 0-4 apiece in the 38th minute, they went on to claim a comfortable win.

Wexford endured a barren 15-minute spell without a score in the second half before Fiona Rochford’s 48th minute score and by then, New York were well on their way to claiming a famous win.

Scorers for New York: E Clarke 0-7 (4f), M O’Rourke 0-2, A O’Dwyer 0-1.

Scorers for Wexford: T Maloney 0-2f, L Evered 0-2, F Rochford 0-1.

NEW YORK: A Leyden; L Lilly, T.A. McCullagh, I Mullarkey; J.K. Garcia, C Brady, J Monaghan; L McKeon, A O’Dwyer; M O’Rourke, K Roche, C Traynor; E Clarke, F O’Dwyer, M De Búrca.

Subs: C McBrien for Monaghan (42), M.T. O’Rourke for Roche (59), M McVann for F O’Dwyer (60+3), M Brennan for McKeon (60+5).

WEXFORD: M.R. Kelly; M Quill, N Scallan, L Tector; J Kelly, N Cullen, C Donnelly; N Crosbie, D Fox; S Kehoe, F Rochford, A Evered; T Maloney, L Goff, L Evered.

Subs: D Bergin for Goff (42), M Doyle for Scallan (43), K Kearney for Crosbie (47), M Cullen for Kehoe (56).

Referee: M Duffy (Tipperary).