WEXFORD’S CHANCES OF landing an incredible four All-Ireland titles in a row remain on track after they came through a winner takes all game against Clare in the Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Group 2.
The permutations for both teams going into the game were quite simple, the winners would move into the quarter final while for the losers, their season would be at an end.
There was little to choose between the sides at half time – the teams were tied at 0-4 each after 26 minutes – but points late in the half from Brid Gordon and Kate Kelly saw Wexford lead at the break.
Although Wexford stretched their lead to three early in the second half, Clare managed to get within a point of their opponents by the midway stage of the half. Wexford though dug deep and showed their championship credentials to pull six clear.
Player of the match Kate Kelly then completed the win with a goal three minutes from the end. Chloe Morey pulled back a late consolation goal for Clare from a 20 metre free in injury time but Wexford progress to face Offaly in the quarter final by virtue of a 1-16 to 1-08 scoreline.
Galway beat Derry
Elsewhere in Group 2, Galway clinched second place with a comfortable 3-15 to 0-12 win over Derry.
The damage to the northerners was done early in the game as Galway raced into a 2-6 to 0-1 lead by the 22nd minute. Anne-Marie Hayes and Brenda Hannay grabbed the goals while Niamh McGrath also played an important part in their early dominance with four points.
Derry settled into the game after that early onslaught and only lost the remaining 38 minutes by a single point.
With the half time score at 2-9 to 0-4, Derry got some early scores in the second half but Hannay’s second goal of the game ten minutes from the end ensured victory.
Dublin lose to Tipperary
Galway will now meet Tipperary in the quarter finals after the Premier county had a 2-16 to 2-6 win over Dublin in Group 1.
The first half was a very tight affair with the team level on four separate occasions and the teams headed for their half time chats tied at 1-6 each. Ali Toomey had goaled for Dublin after just four minutes but Ereena Fryday did similar at the other end after 12 minutes.
The game turned on its head in the 35th minute when Dublin’s Eva Marie Elliot picked up a second yellow card. It didn’t take Tipp long to utilise their extra player and five minutes later Amy Kennedy netted a crucial goal.
Aine Fanning pulled back a goal for Dublin ten minutes from the end but with Nicole Walsh chipping in with eight points for Tipp there was no way back. Kennedy was dismissed in injury time for Tipperary but there wasn’t enough time for Dublin to mount a comeback.
Cork prove too strong for Offaly
Top of the group Cork were also winners in Group 2 as they powered away in the final ten minutes to beat second placed Offaly 0-19 to 0-12.
Cork led 0-7 to 0-4 at half time and there was only four points between the teams in the 50th minute but they outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-3 in the final stages to ensure they topped the group and joined Kilkenny in the semi final, while Offaly meet champions Wexford in the quarter final.
Jennifer O’Leary 0-7 (3fs), Katriona Mackey 0-4, and Finola Neville 0-3 top scored for Cork while Siobhan Dermody contributed four points to Offaly’s cause.
Reporting by Ger McNally.
