Wicklow Claim Minor C Title

Wicklow 6-10

Westmeath 5-6

Wicklow claimed the Leinster Minor C title after a goal bonanza in Athy on Wednesday evening. Sadhbh Fisher was immense for the Garden County, her work rate combined with a 2-07 total tally earned her the Player of the Match accolade.

Westmeath got off to a strong start and Meadbh Monaghan hit 1-1 inside the opening three minutes to allow Westmeath take the lead. Three Sadhbh Fisher points narrowed the gap before Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne hit the net for Wicklow’s first goal of the evening.

Two successive points from Cullen Dunne opened up a three point gap for Dominic Leech’s team while Fisher also grabbed a score, however it was all changed when Ava Hallissy netted for Westmeath to bring the gap back to a single score and the game was level when Monaghan pointed.

It was Wicklow who were to be the happier at the break when Laci-Jane Shannon grabbed Wicklow’s second goal to send the Garden County into a 2-06 to 2-03 lead at the break.

Wicklow set out their intent early in the second half when Lizzie Bourke finished a fine individual effort to the net from the throw in. Westmeath soon hit back with Monaghan grabbing her second goal and Hallissy reduced the deficit to two points with a fine score from play.

Goals from Sadhbh Fisher and Aobha Harmon pushed Wicklow into an unassailable lead and while Westmeath did hit back with goals from Ciara Molloy and a third from Monaghan, Wicklow answered all of Westmeath’s questions; including a penalty from Fisher to run out 6-10 to 5-06 winners.

Wicklow will play Leitrim in the Zucar All Ireland Minor C Semi-final in two weeks time.

SCORERS- Wicklow: S Fisher 2-7 (1-0 pen. 3f), PR Cullen Dunne 1-1, LJ Shannon 1-1, A Harmon 1-1, L Bourke 1-0.

Westmeath: M Monaghan 3-3 (0-1 from a free), A Hallissy 1-1, C Molloy 1-0, C Coogan 0-2.

WICKLOW: S Lacey; Z Fennell, O Ní Ghallchobhair, A Carroll; LJ Shannon, ER O’Toole (C), C O’Brien, L Bourke, E O’Sullivan; A Harmon, S Fisher, S Adams; M Sweeney, L Arnold O’Reilly, PR Cullen Dunne.

WESTMEATH: A O’Donnell; J Ballesty, A Murphy, J Conway; AM O’Reilly, C Moran, C Doyle; S Seery, C Gaffney; A Dutullio, R Higgins, L Seery; M Monaghan, C Coogan, A Martin.

Referee: Gary Carthy (Dublin).

Photo Credit: Suzie Gillivan