Sport

Wicklow's wait worth it

ALL-IRELAND WOMEN’S JFC FINAL (replay): SECOND-HALF goals from Méadbh Deeney and Lucy Mulhall secured the TG4 All-Ireland women…

Mon Oct 10 2011 - 01:00

ALL-IRELAND WOMEN'S JFC FINAL (replay):SECOND-HALF goals from Méadbh Deeney and Lucy Mulhall secured the TG4 All-Ireland women's junior title for Wicklow at Croke Park yesterday.

The Garden County captured a first All-Ireland crown since the 1990 victory over London with an impressive eight-point replay victory over New York.

Wicklow led 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time and after threatening to score goals in the first half, they finally managed to find the net in the second period.

It was a tale of two penalties as Deeney coolly converted her 36th-minute effort for Wicklow before New York’s Emma Clarke missed 10 minutes later, when a goal would have hauled the Exiles right back into contention.

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New York fought hard but their hopes were dashed five minutes from the hooter when Mulhall scored a quite sensational second goal for Wicklow.

The full forward, who scored five points from play in the drawn encounter, collected a magnficent long pass from substitute Laurie Ahern and finished clinically into the bottom corner.

New York registered 13 wides, seven of those amassed after half-time as Wicklow proved more economical.

Captain Mary O’Rourke led by example for New York with three points from play. Deeney, Mulhall, and corner forward Niamh Carroll impressed for Wicklow.

WICKLOW:E Miley; J Miley, C Byrne, A Heffernan; L Fusciardi, C McKeon, N Kelly; J Kinch, L Gilbert; AM Doran, C Deeney (0-1), M Deeney (1-2, 1-0 pen); L Hogan, L Mulhall (1-3, 0-1 free), N Carroll (0-3). Subs: S Miley (0-1) for Kelly (half-time), A Ní hAnnaidh for Byrne (47 mins), L Ahern for Hogan (50 mins), C Walsh for J Miley (57 mins), G Norton for Doran (57 mins).

NEW YORK:A Leyden; L Lilly. TA McCullagh, J Garcia; C McBrien, C Brady, J Monaghan; L McKeon, Á O'Dwyer; Mary O'Rourke (0-3), K Roche, C Traynor; E Clarke (0-3, frees), I Mullarkey, M De Búrca (0-1). Subs: M Brennan (0-1) for Roche (39 mins), R O'Reilly for Traynor (44 mins), C McElroy for Lilly (55), M McVann for McBrien (57), Mary T O'Rourke for Mullarkey (58 mins).

Referee:M Doherty (Wexford).