Wicklow ladies into league semi-final

Wicklow Ladies into league semi final
Wicklow 3-11 Kilkenny 3-9

The Wicklow ladies junior team secured their semi final
berth after a hard fought win over Kilkenny on Sunday last.
The poor weather and pitch conditions did not lend themselves
to good football and the match was a scrappy affair with
patches of good football. Kilkenny had the wind in the first
half and soon went into a three-point lead as Wicklow struggled
to get into the game. But a well taken goal from full forward
Emer Miley settled the team and with Jessica Carroll tacking
on a couple of points they went into the break a point up.

With the breeze in their backs Wicklow started the second
half well but after registering the first score they allowed
Kilkenny a brief period of dominance which yielded 1-2.
Thereafter it was end-to-end stuff – Deirdre O’Riordain
netted for Wicklow to level matters and Éadaoine Lenihan’s
goal after a mistake by the Cats keeper seemed to put Wicklow
in the driving seat. But in mix up in defence gifted Kilkenny
a third goal and it was not until the dying minutes that
Wicklow pulled away to take a deserved victory. Wicklow’s
defence including 16-year-old newcomer Caroline Ryall were
superb and the team is ready for an extended league run.

Wicklow Team: Tracey Doyle (Kilbride), Adrienne O’Connor
(Clara), Orla Donahue (Kilbride), Caroline Ryall (Kilbride),
Lisa Brady (Bray Emmets), Aisling O’hAnnaidh (Bray Emmets),
Liz Cullen (Clara), Éadaoine Lenihan (Bray Emmets) (1-1),
Debbie Green (Valleymount), Deirdre O’Riordain (Kilbride)
(1-4) Eithne Byrne (Kilcoole) (0-2), Jean Duffy (Kilbride),
Jessica Carroll (Blessington) (0-2), Emer Miley (Blessington)
(1-2), Ciara O’Hagan (Bray Emmets). Nicola Donahue (Kilbride),
Aoife Heffernan (Bray Emmets), Leah Horan (Eire Óg), Mary
Whelan (Blessington), Lorna O’Gorman (An Tochar).