Latest Laois Sport: Wexford teach Laois harsh lesson in Camogie clash

Laois schooled by superior Wexford side

Laois 1-9 Wexford 7-19

The Laois women are now into a relegation match on the back of this heavy beating at the hands of the Model County women. While the O’ Moore ladies coped admirably when a player down against Kilkenny the previous weekend this was a step up in every sense. While Kilkenny had their second string out against Laois, this time round it was most definitely Wexford’s strongest side that was fielded. Indeed the ‘Yellowbellies’ were clearly itching from the off in Portlaoise to maintain their push for a return to the Senior ranks after their relegation in 2020.

The vistors to O’ Moore Park sprung a few lineup changes with the most notable switch was the inclusion of the experienced Katrina Parrock from the off. Indeed Parrock proved almost unplayable at times as the game developed. indeed Parrock started the scoring with a neat point from play after Amy Cardiff fed her. Parrock then turned provider when releasing Guiney inside who fired past Aedin Lowry for the opening goal. in response to that blistering start from Wexford great battling from Laura Marie Maher won her side a free which Collier duly converted.

That pattern of Wexford easily scoring from play while Laois had to be content themselves with the odd pointed free was established early on. Indeed the visitors tacked on the next five points before great play from Jessie Quinlan won her side a free. Collier stepped up and fired over her second placed ball of the day. The Camross sharpshooter tacked over another free soon after but Wexford continued to pick off their points from open play at the other end. To add to the Laois defence’s pressure misplaced clearances from both Tynan and Creagh added to the Wexford onslaught. Indeed Katie Dunican got a warning for her foul on Parrock as Laois creaked at the back.

Just as it seemed the South Leinster side would pull away approaching half-time enterprising play from the home outfit ended with a deserved goal. A long ball in from Tynan saw a determined Hyland get the last touch for Laois’ sole goal of the encounter just before the water break. Immediately on the resumption of play wexford poured forward in search of another goal of their own. First Lowry pulled off a great save to deny Guiney. Alas for the Camross shot-stopper Wexford were soon celebrating another ‘green flag’ when Parrock spun her penalty under her after Kilmartin had fouled her opponent. Parrock was soon turning provider and Sarah O’ Connor and Meave Sinnott soon profited from all that possession to fire over the half’s last scores.

That pattern of relentless Wexford pressure continued after the half-time break. Lowry was called upon to make a series of saves while Sarah Fleming did well in her corner to clear the onslaught. The Wexford substitutions also worked with the introduction of Joanne Dillon for Ellen Roche ensuring the blitz on the Laois goals continued. Sarah O’ Connor and Amy Cardiff kept a constant supply of well-flighted ball fired into the Laois rearguard. There, led by Parrock, the scores continued to mount. For Laois Tynan and Hyland linked up well to unsettle the Wexford defence. Collier duly pointed the resulting free. Then Galbraith fired over a delicious point from play for the hosts.

Wexford soon recovered their momentum however. It didn’t help matters for Laois that Fleming was then substituted off. A wondrous Curran point from all of fifty yards got the visitors going again. Then Wexford cleverly worked an overlap between Dillon and Parrock and the Ballyboden club woman made no mistake with her second goal of the game. Wexford soon followed up with a fourth goal with a smart strike from Kirwan.

Matters worsened after the water break when Laois’ short-puck out routine backfired spectacularly to hand Wexford two easy quick fire goals to smother any chance of Laois reducing the deficit. For the visitors Sarah O’ Connor and Amy Cardiff smothered the middle third and provided loads of ball forward into the danger zone. Dillon did well when introduced while Parrock was unplayable. It says volumes of how good a hurler Katie Dunican is that she curtailed Parrock from notching up an even bigger score. In the other corner Sarah Fleming did well until taken off. Clodagh Tynan got on a lot of ball but while her ball striking was crisp her distribution went to an opponent a lot of the time. It might be no harm to let Tynan go into the full back berth for the upcoming Championship and let Rosin Kilmartin come out to fill the centre-back position. Hyland proved a handful for the Wexford defence throughout. Indeed with better service the full-forward line of Hyland, Galbraith and Maher would have made it a more more uncomfortable day for Wexford’s last line.

LAOIS

Scorers: Aimee Collier 0-7 (0-6 frees, 0-1 65’), Grainne Hyland 1-0, Clodagh Tynan (free) and Cathy Galbraith 0-1 each

Team: Aedin Lowry (Camross); Sarah Fleming (Portlaoise), Fiona Scully (Camross), Katie Dunican (St Lazarians); Laura Finlay (St Brigid’s), Clodagh Tynan (St Brigid’s), Sarah Creagh (St Brigid’s); Jessie Quinlan (St Brigid’s), Casey Conroy (O’Moore’s); Amy Byrne (Portlaoise), Aimee Collier (Camross), Sara Cuddy (Camross); Laura Marie Maher (O’Moores), Grainne Hyland (St Brigid’s), Cathy Galbraith (St Brigid’s).

WEXFORD

Scorers: Aoife Guiney 2-3, Emma Dempsey-Glynn 2-2, Katrina Parrock 2-1 (1-0 pen), Kate Kirwan 1-1, Anais Currann 0-4 (0-1 free), Ellen Roche (0-1 free) and Orla Sinnott-Ferns 0-2 each, Leah Walsh, Sarah O’Connor (free), Linda Bolger and Ciara O’Connor 0-1 each

Team: Laura Brennan; Meave Sinnot-Ferns, Anne Lacey, Louise O’Leary; Katie O’Connor, Sarah O’Connor, Laura Dempsey-Glynn; Orla Sinnot-Ferns, Amy Cardiff; Kate Kirwan, Anais Currann, Leah Walsh; Katrine Parrock, Aoife Guiney, Ellen Roche. Subs: Joanne Dillon for Roche (HT, inj),

REFEREE: Mike Ryan (Tipperary)