Very League Div 1B
Antrim 0-14 Wexford 2-07 (Ahoghill)
A calculated gamble by Antrim seniors captain Amy Boyle to play into the wind paid off after wining the toss as rivals Wexford failed to make the most of their first half advantage.
Even though they turned around 2-05 to 0-4 ahead at the interval, Wexford were largely contained and rocked back as resurgent Antrim hit 10 second half points to their opponents’ two.
The visitors did post the first score, albeit from a free, as Chloe Cashe pointed after five minutes.
Nicole McAtamney, though, would quickly make amends, and after seven minutes, took full advantage of an over carry infringement for Antrim’s first point of the game.
Both sides added another two points to their scores at three apiece, the best of these from Antrim’s Janey McIntosh from an Eavanne Martin pass as the acute angle seemed impossible to score from, given the strength of the breeze.
The first Wexford goal arrived 20 minutes into the first half as Jessie Morrissey placed the sliotar wide of goalkeeper Caitriona Graham and in off the right hand post.
The Model County now had a taste for goals and when Caoimhe Byrne found Meadbh Wickam running in at close range, Antrim’s keeper had little chance and Wexford were now two goals better and three points at the 25-minute mark to Antrim’s three points.
Wexford added a further two points to go 2-05 to 0-03 before Antrim’s Dervla Cosgrove drew her free wide of the upright. However, referee Cassidy was not allowing a bang of the bar with the hurl to go unnoticed and asked Cosgrove to retake the free to and add to the Antrim total as the whistle blew for half time.
The second half was where Antrim tipped the game in their favour, with the breeze on their backs. A differential of scores had Antrim amassing 10 points to Wexford’s two and those came from frees, amidst a raft of fouls that had the game in a stop-start mode.
This second half would see a big input from Dervla Cosgrove as she weaved her way into a firing position for three of her seven points, floating four free points in succession over Laura Brenna’s bar. To the many Saffron supporters lining the pitch, it felt like Antrim were able to take the game at least to the visitors if not from them.
For the first time in 45 minutes or so of play, Katie Molloy brought the sides level from an accurate tap over the bar from the centre of the field, but Wexford would reply with one of their frees from a tripping infringement.
Antrim’s response was swift and determined as Eavanne Martin levelled again and, despite Wexford’s Chloe Cashe hitting back, Lucia McNaughton equalised from a clever pass from Katie Molloy and Antrim’s Dervla Cosgrove then had the honours of pitching the sliotar over the bar from a free resulting from a throw ball and that was enough to give Antrim the game as the long whistle sounded around Fr. McGuigan Park.
Antrim have got off to a great start in their league campaign and will be pleased with this result as they look forward to enjoying the return of several absentees that will add additional firepower to the Saffron side.
Antrim starters and scorers: Caitriona Graham, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Eavanne Martin 0-01, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney 0-02 (1f), Sarah Fyfe, Lucia McNaughton 0-01, Dervla Cosgrove 0-07 (3f), Janey McIntosh 0-01, Katie Molloy 0-02, Cassie McArthur
Wexford starters and scorers: Laura Brennan, Miria O’Dowd, Sarah O’Connor, Roisin Cooney, Muireann Fitzpatrick, Laura Dempsey, Amy Cahill, Anais Curren 0-01, Chloe Cashe0-05 (4f), Sadbh Buttle, Joanne Dillon 0-01, Caoimhe Byrne, Meadbh Wickham 1-00, Jessie Morrissey 1-00, Leagh Furlong
Photos by Antrim County PRO Michael Corcoran
Antrim captain Amy Boyle (right)
Visitors Wexford
