Wexford 3-14 Kilkenny 1-3

TG4 Intermediate Championship 2008 Wexford 3-14 Kilkenny 1-3

Tara Maloneys goal and five points ( four from frees) ensured that Wexford remain on track in this years TG4 intermediate championship, with a convincing win over Kilkenny on Friday night last in Wexford Park.
This win for the Model County means that they share nine points with Longford and Fermanagh in group ‘B’, so, to determine who will be first out of the hat and receive a bye into the first semi-final against Tipperary, the top three teams in group ‘B’ were put into a draw, and the sunny south east side were first out, leaving Longford and Fermanagh to battle it out to decide who will go forward to meet Clare in the second semi-final.
Getting back to last Fridays game, as a contest it was over for the Cats by the end of the first quarter, with the home side up 1-6 to Kilkenny’s single point, courtesy of their number fourteen Helen Murphy.
Wexford continued to pile on the pressure in the second quarter, and they had opened up a 2-10 to 0-1 gap at the break, and while the Kilkenny girls were competing in their first intermediate championship, they struggled with the experience and pace of the Wexford side, they kept on battling through out the second period, and managed to add a goal and two points, the cats keeper Aine Sheehy was in top form on the night, pulling off a couple of excellent saves to denying Wexfords forwards certain goals in each half of the game, however she was unable to stop Wexfords first effort hitting the back of her net in the fifth minute of the half from Josie Dwyer, Dwyer latched on to an accurate pass from Kate Kelly before driving the ball low and hard from the right hand side across Sheehy’s goal to raise the green flag for the first time in the game.
Wexford’s Caroline Murphy raised the green flag for the second time in the twenty eight minute, this time it was her Clonee club mate Josie Dwyer that provided the pass, and the Model county’s final goal came from the penalty spot, after Naomi Fogarty was fouled in the square, Wexfords top scorer Tara Maloney stepped up to face Sheehy in the Kilkenny goals, and in fairness to Sheehy, there was no stopping the Shelmaliers players rocket like shot from hitting the back of the Kilkenny net.
Kilkenny must now put this defeat behind them and prepare to do battle with Limerick from group ‘A’ to determine which team will be relegated back to the Junior ranks for next season.
Wexford Team: Clare Finn (HWH Bunclody), Meave Quill (Shelmaliers), Shelly Doyle Vice Capt. ( 0-1 Shelmaliers), Aoife Waters (St.Martins), Ciara Cosgrove(Realta Na Mara), Leona tector (Shelmaliers), Fiona Cullen (Shelmaliers), Deirdre Fox (Shelmaliers), Bridget Curran ( 0-1 Shelmaliers), Kate Kelly ( 0-3 Shelmaliers), Josie dwyer (1-2 Clonee), Mary O’Neill (Clonee), Ali Everett ( 0-1Clonee), Caroline Murphy (0-1 Clonee), Tara Maloney ( 1-5 Shelmaliers). Subs: Michelle O’Neill (Adamstown) for Bridget Curran, Naomi Fogarty (Kilmore) for Caroline Murphy, Denise Kearna (HWH Bunclody) for Maeve Quill, Lisa Codd (St. Fintans) for Leona Tector, Sinead Murphy (Foxrock/Cabinteely) for Kate Kelly.
Kilkenny team: Aine Sheeny (Thomastown), Andrea Murphy (Capt. Railyard), Sarah McCarthy (Carrickshock), Niamh Whelan(Thomastown), Grainne Daly (Railyard), Sally Teehan (Thomastown),
Aine Manning (Thomastown), Kelly Roche (Railyards), Caitriona Grace (Railyards), Denise gaule (James Stephens), Angela Kenneally (Mullinvat), Lydia Plelan (Carrickshock), Eimear Roantree (Callan), Helen Murphy ( 0-1 Mullinvat), Orla McCormack (James Stephens), Sarah Walsh ( 1-1 Thomastown), Keelan Fennelly, Kelly Ann Cotterell ( 0-1 Mullinvat).
Referee: Derek Byrne (Limerick)

Mick Forde Leinster pro, E-Mail: leinster.pro08@yahoo.ie Mob: 087-6422658