Wicklow 3-16-1-03 Antrim
From Kevin Herron at Roundwood
Antrim ladies suffered their second league defeat of the campaign after they were comfortably beaten 3-16-1-03 by table toppers Wicklow in Roundwood this afternoon.
The Saffrons showed battling qualities in the opening half an hour to keep their chances alive at the break and trailed 1-08-1-02 thanks to Anna Finnegan’s second goal of the campaign, but in the second period they were easily blown away by a ruthless Wicklow side who tagged on 2-08 with only a solitary point in reply courtesy of substitute Bronagh Devlin.
Antrim travelled to Roundwood looking to build on victory over Kilkenny last time out and test themselves against the side who were favourites to gain promotion this season, Seamus McKenna was dealt an early blow before throw-in as Eimear Gallagher was only deemed fit enough to start on the bench – Anna Finnegan replaced the St Gall’s forward in a reshuffled front six.
Wicklow made a terrific start to the game and quickly found their shooting accuracy through Jackie Kinch – who converted an early free in front of the posts and Katie Miley, Niamh McGettigan and Meadhbh Deeney were on target from play to give the hosts a 0-04-0-00 lead within the seven minutes.
Jackie Kinch stretched Wicklow’s lead with her second score of the afternoon to make it five scores on the bounce as Antrim played second fiddle in the opening ten minutes.
Anna Finnegan had Antrim’s first chance from play but misfired in front of the posts and Cathy Carey dropped a free just short of target, however a foul in the aftermath gave Carey a second opportunity from closer in and the St Ergnat’s midfielder converted to open Antrim’s account for the afternoon.
Jackie Kinch responded for Wicklow to edge the hosts 0-06-0-01 in front but midway through the first-half Antrim found a lifeline, a free inside the 45’ was quickly laid into the path of Anna Finnegan who rifled high into the corner of the net – giving Wicklow keeper Kim Connor’s no chance to reduce the deficit to two-points, 0-06-1-01.
Alanna Conroy and Aoife Taggart shot wide for their sides in the aftermath of Finnegan’s strike and just shy of the twenty minute mark the second goal of the game arrived –the Antrim defence was caught flat footed and Katie Miley exploited the gaps and fired past Anna McCann, despite the Moneyglass native getting fingertips on the shot as Wicklow restored their five-point lead.
Kinch converted a second free of the half to bring her tally to four shortly afterwards and then conjured up her sides last score of the half on 22 minutes.
Antrim tried to force the issue in the final ten minutes but could only muster a fine individual point from corner-forward Aoife Taggart, with Aine Devlin and Cathy Carey both going close with efforts which dropped wide and short respectively as the Saffrons trailed 1-08-1-02 at the break – although they were still very much in the reckoning.
The visitors targeted a few early scores at the beginning of the second period, but it was Wicklow who took a firm grip on the game with Kinch opening their second-half account and back to back scores from Deeney giving the table toppers a 1-11-1-02 advantage with almost ten minutes of the half elapsed.
Things went from bad to worse for Antrim on 40 minutes, a quick free from Meadhbh Deeney picked out Jackie Kinch in space and the Wicklow number eleven swivelled and shot high into the corner of the net past McCann – who in truth stood in chance as Wicklow went 2-11-1-02 ahead.
Clodagh Fox and Marie Kealy increased the hosts lead and Antrim offered little resistance to the Wicklow onslaught but when an opportunity did present itself Bronagh Devlin was thwarted by Kim Connors in the home goal. On 51 minutes the home side struck for the third time, in almost a carbon copy of the second goal – another angled free caught Antrim napping as Deeney picked out Kinch who got in ahead of Anna McCann to stab the ball home and make it 3-13-1-02.
Half-time substitute Bronagh Devlin would ensure that Antrim ended the second period with a point to show after sister Aine claimed Anna McCann’s kick-out, but Wicklow tagged on a further three-points before the afternoon was out. Meadhbh Deeney converted a free and Wicklow’s talisman Kinch added the last two scores of the day to bring her personal tally to 2-10 and ensure her side ran out comfortable 3-16-1-03 winners at the end to cement their place at the top of the Lidl National League Division Four standings.
Wicklow: K Connors, E Mulhall, SJ Winder, A Gillen, R Fagan, S Hogan, L Fusciardi, N McGettigan (0-01), A Conroy, G Conan, J Kinch (2-08,0-02f), M Deeney (0-04,0-02f), C Fox (0-01), K Miley (1-01), M Kealy (0-01). Subs: A Gorman for R Fagan (31 mins).
Antrim: A McCann, S Haughey, E Kelly, N McKeown, N McIntosh, S Cochrane, C Stewart, C Carey (0-01f), D O’Kane, A Devlin, A McFarland, N Enright, A Taggart, A Finnegan (1-00), C Taggart. Subs: B Devlin (0-01) for A Finnegan (31 mins), O Corr for N Enright (40 mins), O McCrory for C Stewart (44 mins), K Rafferty for N McKeown (48 mins), N O’Neill for D O’Kane (48 mins), E Gallagher for A Taggart (50 mins).