Wicklow 4 -4 Laois 2 - 21

Wicklow 4 -4 Laois 2 – 21

The Wicklow Under 14 ladies travelled to Mountmellick in Laois last Saturday to play Laois in the Leinster A Championship. Both teams had won one match and lost one in the championship. As it transpired the match was literally a case of two halves.

Wicklow elected to play with a brisk wind in the first half and started off in fine form into the game from the whistle. Ciera Callanan and Shauna Fleming were well on top in midfield with Laura Allen in charge in her new position at centre forward. This insured a constant supply of ball into the full forward line in the first 15 minutes and they did not disappoint.

Excellent play from Erinne Murphy, Aife Kavanagh and Kayleigh Crammond cut the Laois backs asunder. Four goals and one point were racked up within 15 minutes of the start with Kayleigh Crammond hitting three goals and Aife Kavanagh contributing a goal and a point. Laois managed to score on the 19th minute with one point from a free.

Wicklow’s midfield dominance began to fade as Laois began to break even in this sector and it was becoming apparent that the half back line was having trouble with the speedy Laois half forward line. At half time Wicklow were ahead by 4 -4 to Laois’s 6 points with Kayleigh Crammond contributing 2 further points from play and Erinne Murphy 1 point. This gave Wicklow a comfortable 10 point lead going in.

The second half brought a tale of woe and disappointment for the players, mentors and family. In circumstances very similar to the previous match Wicklow appeared to have hit a brick wall. The Wicklow half backs were completely overrun and midfield had all but disappeared. The half forwards were foraging in their own half back line trying to win ball and Wicklow’s resistance broke.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Laois scoring only three points. However the floodgates opened and Laois tagged on a further 2-12 with no reply. Wicklow did rally briefly in the latter stages of the second half with Erinne Murphy rattling the crossbar and Meadbh Deeley a superb shot inches wide. The complete collapse in the second half would have been even worse but for the excellent number of fine saves made by Lucy Cushe playing in goal for the first time for the team. Wicklow’s full back line of Niamh O’Donoghue, Hannah Tew and Breedin Geoghegan, was under intense pressure in the second half and the girls defended manfully throughout.

Wicklow introduced 5 substitutes in the second half – Sarah Kavanagh, Meadbh Deeley, Vivienne Walsh, Katie Kindlon and Elaine Keogh with Katie Kindlon working extremely hard on her introduction.

The team now have a match at home against Wexford on the 19th April and a victory in this match is essential to ensure that that this team qualifies for the knockout stages of the competition. It must be remembered that this team has not played at this level previously and that this is a very useful learning experience for the team and that if they can learn to sustain their first half performances for the hour that they will push any team in this competition. Laois ran out victors 2-21 to Wicklow’s 4-4.
Team:Lucy Cushe, Niamh O’Donoghue, Hannah Tew, Breedin Geoghegan, Calvin Swart, Naomi Roche, Suzanne O’Neil, Ciera Callanan, Shauna Fleming, Aine O’Reilly, Laura Allen, Emma Roche, Kayleigh Crammond, Aife Kavanagh, Erinne Murphy.
Subs:Sarah Kavanagh, Meadbh Deeley, Vivienne Walsh, Katie Kindlon and Elaine Keogh.