Wicklow win a tough encounter

WICKLOW 1-8 CARLOW 1-7

Wicklow took on Carlow on sunday morning last
in Stratford on Slaney among the Wicklow hills.
This proved to be a tough encounter for the wicklow
side who did not play up to their usual standard
through out the game.It was Carlow who were the
more determined from the start notching up their
first score from Aisling Meaney after only two
minutes of play Wicklow struck back in the fourth
with a goal from the boot of Sinead Boland.Wicklow’s
midfield of Eadaoine Lenihan, Deirdre o’ Riordan
and Sinead Rickerby working hard to retain possession
and allow the Wicklow side settle, Carlow kept
pressing the Wicklow defence Kelly Dalton getting
through for a point for Carlow after seven minutes.
A couple of minutes later Wicklow’s Elaine Murphy
had a golden opportunity to add to wicklow’s scoreline
when a free taken by Eadaoine Lenihan fell short
and was poorly cleared by the Carlow defence out
to Murphy who’s shot at an open goal went inches
wide. Carlow then capitilised on the letoff worked
the ball up field with swift movement from Aisling
Nolan, Pamela o’ donohue, Fiona Byrne working
hard to release Kelly Dalton who toe poked the
ball past Wicklow’s keeper Emer miley after it
had rebounded off the crossbar.Kelly had to leave
the field to receive treatment for an injury to
her leg sustained in the goal mouth area.While
Wicklow were not playing well they did manage
to break down Carlows strong back line to tag
on two points from Nadina Murphy and Edel Kennedy.While
wicklow had some good passages of play during
the first half it was Carlow who were on top through
out and finished the half the stronger with two
more points from Aisling Meaney,the half finished
Wicklow 1-2 Carlow1-4.

Carlow continued their high tempo performance
in the first period of the second half with a
point from Louise Barry after two minute of play,Wicklow
hit back in the fifth minute with a point from
edel Kennedy just after Wicklow’s Nadina Murphy’s
powerful shot at goal was well saved by Carlow’s
keeper jenny kenny the ball breaking out to Edel
Kennedy who put the ball between the up rights
to keep Wicklow in the driving seat.Wicklow were
now beginning to keep possession and the full
forward line of Sinead Boland, Elaine Murphy,
and Nadina Murphy Backed up by Edel Kennedy were
creating space in the Carlow back line which let
in Eadaoine Lenihan in for a point followed by
another point by Jessica Carroll who had just
replaced Sinead Boland in the forward line.Carlow’s
response to this pressure came from Aisling Meaney
who slotted over for a couple of points followed
by another point from the boot Edel Hayden after
the ball had been scrambled off the wicklow goal
line.Wicklow were on top for final period of the
second half with Edel Kennedy increasing Wicklow’s
lead with two more well taken points,The drama
was not over yet, Wicklow’s Elaine Murphy was
through on goal when she was brought down and
referee David Tormey had no option but to award
a penalty to Wicklow,up steps Emer Miley goal
keeper and penalty taker for the Wicklow side
but it was the Carlow keeper Jenny Kelly who held
her ground and made the save,however she was unable
to stop Elaine Murphy from finishing the game
with a point.

Wicklow and Carlow will meet again in the first
round of the championship in May, a game not to
be missed.

Wicklow: Emer Miley(Blessington) Aoife
Heffernan (Bray Emmets). Ashling O’ hAnnaidh (Bray
Emmets). Lisa Brady (Bray Emmets). Marie Kavanagh
(Blessington). Eithne Byrne(Kilcoole). Maura Reid
(Blessington). Sinead Rickerby (Carnew). Deirdre
O’Riordan (Kilbride).Edel Kennedy (Carnew 0-4).
Eadaoin Lenihan(Bray Emmets 0-1).Caoilfhionn Deeney
(Eire Og). Sinead Boland (Carnew 1-0). Elaine
Muprhy (Blessington 0-1). Nadina Murphy (Blessington
0-1). Jessica Carroll (Blessington 0-1). Subs:
Mikaela Shelly(Bray Emmets) for Nadina Murphy.Brigid
Kenny(Carnew) for Aoife Heffernan. Jessica Carroll(Blessington)
for Sinead Boland. Laura Richardson(Bray Emmets)
for Lisa Brady.

Carlow:Jenny Kelly. Georgina Coleman. Margaret
Doyle. Karen Doyle. Ashling Nolan. Riona Griffith.Amy
Doyle. Pamela O’Donohue. Christine Dunne. Edel
Hayden(0-1). Fiona Byrne. Louise Barry(0-1). Kelly
Dalton(1-1). Aislish Meaney(0-4). Marian Hyden.
Subs: Niamh o’Regan (blood sub) for Kelly Dalton.
Aine Kinsella for Georgina Coleman. Laura Murphy
for Aisling Nolan.

Wicklow’s next competitive game will be against
Dublin (c) on Sunday the 20th of Febuary, the
venue has not been decided. County training continues
on Tuesday night in Kilcoole at 7.30 and in Greystones
on Friday night at 7.30.

Report by Mick Forde