Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 3 Final
Wexford 3-10 Meath 1-12
Played in Birr
Wexford’s lady Footballers bridged a 14-year gap in Birr on Monday when they captured the Lidl National Division 3 Title. They produced another vibrant hard working and pacey performance.
The highlight of the game was however the performance of corner forward Catriona Murray who was simply unmarkable grabbing 3 goals and 5 points to deservedly win the Player of the Match award.
Wexford were 4 points to 3 in front after the opening quarter Catriona Murray (f) and 2 from play and Fiona Rochford. Meath got on top in midfield in the 2nd quarter and were in front with 20 minutes on the clock, Fiona O’Neill and Stacy Grimes making it 6 points to 4 in favour of the Royals.
Wexford did not lie down and Bernie Breen raced onto a Aishling Murphy pass and with the goal at her mercy she put the ball wide.
That did not deter the Wexford girls and their response was swift, Chloe Fox kicked a high ball towards goal which was knocked down by full forward Aishling Murphy to Murray who pounced for her 1st goal and 2 minutes later for good measure she kicked a superb point to put Wexford 1-5 to 6 in front at the break.
They sorted midfield at the start of the 2nd half and they drove forward at every opportunity which was exemplified by the hard-working wing back Niamh Moore who roasted Meath down the left for most of that 2nd period.
Niamh Butler and Clara Donnelly scored 2 early points. Marion Farrelly, Vicki Wall and Catriona Murray all added points which still left a goal between the teams.
On the 40th minute Moore’s run down the left created the opportunity for Catriona Murray to blast home the 2nd goal and she rifled the ball home at pace, the Meath goal keeper Monica McGurk hardly saw the ball as it flew past her and Wexford were now 2 goals to the good.
Catriona Murray was Player of the Match
Meath did not lie down however and 2 minutes later Mary Rose Kelly produced a stunning point blank save to deny Niamh O’Sullivan. Bernie Breen picked off a fine point on the run at the other end to leave the score 2-9 to 9 at the end of the 3rd quarter. There was a life line for Meath 8 minutes from the end when Niamh Mernagh under pressure brought down Fiona O’Neill for a penalty which Aoibhin Cleary put away to reduce the lead to 2 points and put the game in the melting point but 2 minutes later a poor kick out from goalie McGurk was caught won by Catriona Murray who raced in on goal and sealed the match when she blasted home her 3rd goal from close in.
Bernie Breen added the final point and as the final whistle blew Wexford were the deserving winners.
Manager Anthony Masterson and his management team deserve praise for the team’s performance as they have moved up a notch from last year. He brought in Lizzy Kent and her work on defence has also paid off.
Whilst Murray will deservedly win praise the outstanding performance of the fullback line of Shauna Murphy, Maria Byrne and Sarah Harding -Kenny deserve a mention for their outstanding display of defending and Roisin Murphy and Bernie Breen excelled in midfield in the 2nd half.
The girls will begin their Leinster Championship campaign on the June bank Holliday weekend with a home match against Kildare.
The @lidl_ireland Division 3 Champions are @secwexlgfa https://t.co/KN6VSOy3Ur
— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) May 7, 2018
Team; Mary Rose Kelly (C), Shauna Murphy, Maria Byrne, Sarah Harding – Kenny, Niamh Moore (Georgina Hearne 57min), Niamh Mernagh, Niamh Butler 0-1 (Ellen O’Brien 56min), Roisin Murphy, Bernie Breen, Clara Donnelly, Fiona Rochford (Rachel Bennett 55min), Kellie Kearney, Chloe Fox, Aishling Murphy (Aoife Sheil 56min), Subs: Sinead Whelan, Marguerite Doyle, Georgina Hearne, Ann Byrne, Aoife Drennan, Aoife Sheil, Cailin Fitzpatrick, Fiona Bennett, Chantelle Martin, Ciara Ryan, Ellen O’Brien, Amy Wilson, Lauren Cousins, Rachel Bennett, Cathy O’Brien.
Manager Anthony Masterson. Mentors: Lizzy Kent, Denis Fitzpatrick, Danny Redmond, Katie Redmond. Physio Anna O’Loughlin.
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