Wexford Crowned Minor C Champions in Eleven Goal Thriller
Wexford Crowned Minor C Champions in Eleven Goal Thriller
May 13, 2019
Leinster Minor C Championship Final
Louth v Wexford
Blessington GAA club
Wexford 6-09
Louth 5-09
A 4-07 haul for Louth Captain Niamh Rice wasn’t enough for the Wee County as Wexford became Minor C Champions in the scenic surrounds of Blessington GAA on Saturday afternoon. The game was played in beautiful sunshine and in front of a great showing of supporters. Supporters were served up a thrilling contest that was still in the balance deep into injury time with only a kick of a football separating the sides. A hat trick from Wexford Captain Jane Rossiter and a Player of the Match performance from Ciara Bridges ensured victory for MJ Berry’s side.
Wexford raced into an early three-point lead with a pointed free from Jane Rossiter followed by a brace from the boot of Maeve Sinnott. Both sides traded points before the games opening goal came via Niamh Rice to level matters. The game was played at a high tempo and no sooner was the green flag raised at one end of the pitch, the umpires at the other end were following suit as the goals rained in with six more coming before the break, leaving the half time score Wexford 4-04 Louth 3-02.
Rice pointed from a free on resumption of the second half, but Wexford were gaining the upper hand with points from Sophie Boxwell and Maeve Sinnott. Wexford’s fifth goal came after they were awarded a free and captain Rossiter going for the point, couldn’t believe her luck as she saw her shot drop short to dip under the crossbar deceiving everyone on the goal line. That goal spurred Louth into life responding with a trio of white flags, two from Rice and one from Lee Lawlor although had Lawlor’s shot been just a fraction lower, it would have taking the net off the stanchions such was the power in her effort. Louth now were gaining in confidence with Rice leading the assault. Louth’s efforts were rewarded when Rice was fouled and a penalty awarded. After some treatment, Rice stepped up and finished to the net.
A point from Wexford’s Ailis Neville and some long treatment to a Wexford player didn’t deter the Louth attack as points from Rice and Roisin Crowe left just three between the sides.
Ailis Neville seemed to have put the icing on the cake for Wexford as she grabbed another brace of scores scoring 1-01 to leave the gap at seven points but Louth showed remarkable resilience and cancelled that out with Niamh Rice securing her fourth goal scoring 1-01 making the final moments of the game deep in injury time very nervy for Wexford. An audible sigh of relief was heard for Wexford on the final whistle as they secured a three-point victory on a full time score of Wexford 6-09 to Louth’s 5-09.
Wexford (+Scorers): Aoife Dunne, Mairead Crean, Grace Clooney, Geri Rose O Connor, Ciara Banville, Susan Boyle, Lisa Kelly, Juliet Rochford, Rachel Power, Sophie Boxwell (0-03), Maeve Sinnott (0-03), Ailis Neville (1-02), Ciara Roban (1-00), Jane Rossiter (3-01 C), Ciara Banville (1-00)
Subs: Maria Sutton, Josephine Gahan, Ciara Bridges, Libby Whelan, Ellen Berry, Lorna Fortune, Aoife Bridges, Grainne White, Shauna Nolan, Niamh McHugh, Eimear O Hagan, Ciara Murphy, Orla Fitzgerald, Sherene Hamilton.
Subs introduced: Shauna Nolan for Banville, Ciara Bridges for Power, Aoife Bridges for Crean
Louth (+Scorers): Emma McDonald, Meabh Hickey, Holly Lambe -Sally, Katie McCarole, Ava Kiernan, Katie Matthews, Leah Hoey, Grace Treanor, Katelyn Quinn, Kodie McEneaney, Sarah Morgan, Cara McKeever, Roisin Crowe (1-01), Niamh Rice (4-07,3 frees,1 pen, Capt), Lee Lawlor (0-01)
Subs: Eimear McEntegart, Jade Connor, Aoife McDaid, Kellie O Donoghue, Lana Devine, Ellen Carolan, Ciara Quinn, Anna Murphy, Katie Jennings, Sarah McArdle, Emma Rodgers, Rebecca Mooney, Roisin McDaid, Kayla Byrne, Kayleigh Everett
Subs introduced: Ellen Carolan for McEneaney, Lana Devine for McKeever, Ciara Quinn for Quinn, Aoife McDaid for Matthews, Anna Murphy for Morgan.
Referee: Finbarr Shanahan (Dublin)
Report and photos with thanks to Dónal Fitzpatrick