18 July 2006 TG4 Leinster Championship 2006 Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! TG4 LEINSTER CHAMPIONSHIP 2006 WICKLOW 1-6 LAOIS 3-7. The Wicklow senior Ladies football team bowed out of the TG4 Leinster championship at the quarter finals stage when they were beaten By Laois in Stratford on Friday evening last. This game was fixed for the 21st of May however that game was cancelled due to very poor weather conditions. On Friday evening last weather and playing conditions were excellent for this well contested game of ladies football. Wicklow went in at the break down three points (1-5 to 2-5 ), and were unable to close that gap through out the second period, Laois on the other hand were more accurate in front of goal, running out the eventual winners. The number seven seemed to dominate this game, Wicklow were five points up in the seventh minute, then Laois drew level in the fourteenth and were three points clear in the twenty first, and they added their second goal in the twenty eight, While Wicklow’s number seven had her penalty kick saved in the fourteenth minute of the second half, and finally Laois had seven points to spare at full time. Wicklow got off to a blistering start Niamh Carroll raising the white flag after forty five seconds, Laois’s number ten cancelled that score a minute later. Wicklow’s first free of the game came in the third minute, Chrissie Shortt finding her range to put the home side back in the driving seat and Monica Lynch capitalised on Wicklow’s possession, the Newtown girl ripped through the Laois defence to find the top corner of Carol Browns net to give the Garden County a four point lead. In the fifth minute Chrissie Shortt had a second opportunity from a free to open the gap further, but on this occasion the An Tochar players shot went to the left and wide, Niamh Carroll tagged on her second point of the game in the seventh minute to put five between the sides and Wicklow seemed to be in command at this stage. For the next five minutes both sides battled hard with great defensive play from Aoife Hefferan, Maura Reid, and Lorna Fuiscairdi in the half back line for the home side. But the O’Moore girls persistence paid off in the twelfth minute when their number thirteen Helena Moore breached the Wicklow back line to rattle Emer Mileys net for the first time in the game. The Laois side added a further five points two from Charlotte Dealaney and one apiece from Elizabeth Cahill, Riselle O’Neill, and Eva Brennan, without reply from the Wicklow girls. Wicklow’s keeper and Captain pulled off a number of crucial saves through out the half to keep her side in touch, Niamh Carroll added two more points to her tally before Laois’s Charlotte Delaney notched up her sides second goal just before the break. Wicklow’s only score of the second half came in the first minute of the third quarter from their top scorer Niamh Carroll , the Blessington girl converted a free after Sinead Boland was fouled, while Laois’s Elizabeth Cahill added a further goal and a point, and their final point came from Eva Brennan, which to be fair could have been a lot more but for the excellent goal keeping and leadership skills of Wicklow’s captain Emer Miley who has been an unsung hero for the Wicklow senior side for many seasons. Wicklow can reflect on a second half of missed chances and bad luck, but the side played with pride and were disappointed to lose out to Laois on this occasion. Last season the Wicklow girls won the Suzuki National football league fourth division title but lost all their games in the TG4 Leinster championship. This season, they reached the semi-final of the Suzuki National football league third division, losing out to the eventual winner Clare, and have exited the TG4 Leinster championship at the quarter finals stage. With the talent that is now emerging in ladies football in the Garden County there is no reason that the Wicklow senior side can not win out one of these competition next season. Wicklow Panel: Emer Miley(Capt.Blessington), Nicky Donohue(Kilbride), Aisling O’hAnnaidh(Bray Emmets),Mary helan(Blessington),Maura Reid(Blessington), Lorna Fusicardi (Eire Og), Aoife Heffernan (Bray Emmets), Niamh Ryan(Blessington) Julie Fitzmaurice(Blessington), Niamh Carroll(Blessington 0-5), Jill Heatley (Blessington), Eadaoine Lenihan(Bray Emmets), Monica Lynch(Newtown 1-0),Chrissie Shortt(An Tochar 0-1), Grainne Ryan(Blessington). Subs: Niamh Coleman(Bray Emmets) for Monica Lynch,, Sinead Boland (Bray Emmets) for Lorna Fusicardi, Bridget Kenny (Carnew) for Mary Whelan, Lisa Doyle(Knockananna), Laois Panel: Carol Brown,(capt), Joleen Cahill, Louise Delaney, Linn O Callanagh, Valeerie Donogue, Anna Walsh, Leanne Fallon, Allison Hobson, Anna Moore, Rishelle O’Neill, Eva Brennan, Shona Barry, Helena Moore, Elizabeth Cahill, Charotte Delaney, Subs: Martina O’Conner for Rishelle O’Neill, Claire O’Conner for Elizabeth Cahill. Referee: Pat Keogh (Carlow). Share this Article 0 0