All Ireland Minor A Camogie Shield
Antrim 4-12 Wexford 1-8
Report by Seamus McAleenan
ANTRIM are through to the All-Ireland minor final after pulling away from Wexford in the second half of their semi-final at Kinnegad on Saturday.
The Saffrons were the pace-setters in the first half, but were caught by a late Wexford rally and were just a point to the good at the break, 1-6 to 1-5.
The game got off to an explosive start with two goals in the opening three minutes. Antrim’s came from Mary McArthur after a flowing move involving Shannagh Heggarty and Anna McKillop. But Wexford were level in the next attack with a stinging shot from Abbie Doyle.
Antrim corner back Casey Crawford
Antrim though gradually pulled away with two points each from Eobha McAllister and Cara O’Boyle before that late Wexford rally that saw two points each from Karen Hayden and Katie Bulger.
Wexford levelled on the re-start with a free from Bulger, but a goal from Eabha McAllister settled Antrim and, as they did earlier, they gradually pulled away. This time there was no rally from their opponents.
McArthur grabbed a third goal midway through the half and Orlaith McAlister finished the scoring with a fourth goal in the 59th minute.
In the other semi-final a goal a couple of minutes from half time from Lauren Southern opened a gap for Limerick and they went on to win by 1-8 to 1-6 with the Clare goal coming in injury time.
Antrim: M McArthur 2-1, E McAllister 1-3, O McAlister 1-0, C O’Boyle 0-3, K McNeill 0-2, 1 free, A McKillop, E Coulter and C Connolly 0-1 each.
Wexford: A Doyle 1-1, K Bulger 0-5, 4 frees, K Hayden 0-1.
Antrim: E McGivern, A Donnelly capt., A McNeill, C Crawford, S Heggarty, D Dobbin, E Coulter, J McIntosh, C O’Boyle, E McAllister, O McAlister, C Connolly, A McKillop, M McArthur, K McNeill.
Subs: A Ferris for A McKillop, A O’Donnell for C Crawford, D McAulfield for K McNeill, E Connolly for A Donnelly
Wexford: K Steadmond, S Walsh, L Maddock, N Corrigan, J Murphy, S O’Leary, C McGarry, S Buttle, A Goggins, E Stafford, K Bulger, E McDonald, A Doyle, L Morris capt., K Hayden.
