Sport

Gritty Wexford show their resolve

Wexford 2-11 Cork 1-9: WEXFORD SET up a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final as they put Cork to the sword in Nowlan Park…

Mon Aug 15 2011 - 01:00

Wexford 2-11 Cork 1-9:WEXFORD SET up a repeat of last year's All-Ireland final as they put Cork to the sword in Nowlan Park on Saturday. After a sluggish first half they produced a vastly improved second-half showing.

They outscored Cork 1-7 to 1-3 after the change of ends. The only blip was the late concession of a goal while the loss of multiple All Star full back Catherine O’Loughlin who was carried off with an ankle injury is a concern.

The opening half hour had been disappointing with too many frees and injuries to Cork’s Jennifer O’Leary and Wexford Captain Mary Leacy resulting in a stop-start affair. Ursula Jacob hit 1-1 just before half-time to give the champions a one-point lead.

The respective free-takers Jacob and Jennifer O’Leary kept the umpires busy until Katriona Mackey hit two points in succession to edge Cork in front after 23 minutes. Gemma O’Connor added a point form on the right sideline.

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Then Wexford’s Una Leacy fetched a free that dropped in and fed Jacob who stroked home. The latter then converted a free from an acute angle to put Wexford 1-4 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.

Wexford’s Lenny Holohan and Deirdre Codd got the scoring going after the restart with Kate Kelly then opening her account.

Katrina Parrock added 1-1 in the space of two minutes as Wexford took control. Gemma O’Connor and Orla Cotter kept Cork in touch with frees before Katriona Mackey added a late goal.

However, up stepped Jacob and Kelly with the the insurance points to seal Wexford’s victory.

WEXFORD: M D’Arcy; C O’Connor, C O’Loughlin, K Atkinson; N Lambert, M Leacy, A O’Connor; D Codd (0-1), J Dwyer; K Kelly (0-2), U Leacy, M O’Leary; L Holohan (0-1), U Jacob (1-6, 0-5 frees), K Parrock (1-1). Subs: E Quigley for Codd (49 mins), C Storey for O’Loughlin (56 mins), F Kavanagh for U Leacy (57 mins).

CORK: A Murray; J Duffy, A O’Regan, P Mackey; E ORiordan, R Buckley, A Geary; O Cotter (0-1), G O’Connor (0-2); B Corkery, L Dorgan, J O’Leary (0-3, frees); J Casey, S Burns (0-1, free), K Mackey (1-2). Subs: E O’Sullivan for O’Leary (half-time), D Cronin for Burns (48 mins), S Hayes for Dorgan (53 mins), J O’Leary for Casey (55 mins).

Referee: F McNamara (Clare).