Wexford Take Big Step to Top 4

 

 

It was the familiar case of goals wins games in Stamullen today as Wexford overcame Meath in an important game in the race for a semi-final spot in Division 3 of the NFL. Goals from Chantelle Martin (2) and Caitriona Murray either side of half-time proved the difference between the teams in a game that saw five sin bins, three of which was shown to the home side.

Aisling O’Reilly and Niamh O’Sullivan split the posts for the Royals early in the match before Máire Keogh was shown the first yellow card of the game and sent to the sidelines for the home side. In the ten minutes that followed Wexford helped themselves to 1-1, the goal courtesy of Martin while Murray pointed for the travelling side.

 

Captain Niamh O’Sullivan pointed for the home side before points from Clara Donnelly (2) and Martin added a gap between the sides on the score line. With five minutes left until the interval both teams were reduced to 14 players with Orlagh McLaughlin (Meath) and Martin (Wexford) both shown yellow cards for unsportsmanlike behaviour. In the remaining minutes the teams traded a point apiece through Bláthnaid Keogh (Meath) and Murray (Wexford) to leave five points between the sides at the interval.

 

Half-Time: Meath 0-4 Wexford 1-6

 

Wexford outscored the home side by 2-7 to 0-10 points in the second-half with the goals proving crucial. Both teams traded an early point before Wexford pulled further away with Martin finding the net, along with points from Donnelly and Captain Fiona Rochford.  Emma White and O’Sullivan kept the scoreboard ticking for the Royals before suffering another setback when Aoibheann Leahy was also sent to the sin bin just seconds after appearing from the bench for her team.

 

Wexford kicked a further two points before full back Marcia Cullen was the fifth player seeing yellow and spending time on the bench. Meath slotted over with points from Niamh Gallogly (3), Vikki Wall (2), O’Sullivan and Laura Gilsenan while the away side finished proceedings with a goal from Murray and points from Emer Cahill and Donnelly to leave five between the teams at full-time.

 

Meath ladies would like to wish Ciara Corrigan a speedy recovery after she had to leave the pitch with a leg injury.

 

Meath Team: Orlagh McLaughlin; Kate Flynn, Sarah Powderly, Máire Keogh; Emma White (0-1), Michelle Peel, Vikki Wall (0-2); Kate Byrne, Máire O’Shaughnessy; Niamh O’Sullivan (0-5, 0-4f), Bláthnaid Keogh (0-1), Niamh Gallogly (0-3); Fiona O’Neill, Joanna Byrne, Aisling O’Reilly (0-1).

Subs – Laura Gilsenan (0-1) for O’Neill.

 

Wexford Team: MaryRose Kelly; Ciara Corrigan, Marcia Cullen, Marguerite Doyle; Clara Donnelly (0-5), Roisin Murphy, Georgina Hearne; Bernie Breen, Kellie Kearney; Ellen O’Brien, Fiona Rochford (0-4, 0-2f), Siobhan Clarke; Chantelle Martin (2-1), Aisling Murphy, Caitriona Murray (1-2).

Subs – Emer Cahill (0-1) for Murphy.

Lidl NFL Division 3 Round 5

Full-Time: Meath 0-14 Wexford 3-13

Half-Time: Meath 0-4 Wexford 1-6

 

Venue: Stamullen, Co. Meath

Referee: John Gallagher (Dublin)