Kilkenny turned Wexford's dream All-Ireland quarter-final day into a nightmare, as they inflicted a harsh lesson with a ruthless first-half exhibition on the way to a comfortable victory.
The All-Ireland champions were fantastic in the opening period, playing into a very strong wind and there was no doubt about the result as the teams went off at the break with the scoreboard reading 2-13 to 0-06.
Kevin Tattan will be happy with how his charges improved their intent in the third quarter, a period in which they outscored their opponents into the stiffening elements by six points to five.
There’s a fair chance Brian Dowling wasn’t however, and one imagines he made that known at the second water break, after which the Walsh sisters, Grace and Miriam, sent over brilliant points from either flank.
Wexford stuck to their task, Leah Walsh splitting the posts from wide on the left within seconds of coming on and the deadly accurate Chloe Foxe converting her seventh placed ball. Denise Gaule scored a goal from distance after an error by goalie Laura Brennan.
At the other end of the field, Aoife Norris made a smart stop from Ciara O’Connor but then substitute Katrina Parrock, a four-time All-Ireland winner from Wexford’s halcyon days, got the final touch to a Walsh delivery for a goal that the Yellowbellies’ second-half efforts deserved.
The game ended on a low note for Kilkenny however, Miriam Bambrick being sent off on a straight red card following an off-the-ball altercation with Foxe.
Aoife Doyle's early goal has helped Kilkenny into a 2-13 to 0-06 half-time lead over Wexford in the camogie senior championship quarter-final | Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer now https://t.co/OwunHS9wVG - Live scores: https://t.co/V1AASavXaG pic.twitter.com/o2CPPQNgys
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 21, 2021
Wexford had needed to avail of every goal opportunity and they did create a couple of half chances in the first half, but the marvellous Davina Tobin snuffed both out, blocking one shot and then getting in a tremendous hook on Foxe.
It was far too easy for Kilkenny though, as even though Wexford were able to start Sarah O’Connor, after a long absence through a knee injury, and attempted to provide extra defensive cover, the Noresiders found space with ease.
They were accurate and sharp with their passing and with runners arriving from everywhere, created countless opportunities that they availed of.
Wexford didn’t help themselves though, conceding a third-minute goal to Aoife Doyle, after Brennan had batted out a Gaule free.
Katie Nolan hit three points in that opening period and Mary O’Connell, taking a pass from the returning Katie Power, held off a Sarah Harding Kenny challenge and drove to the roof of the net.
The loss of Kellyann Doyle with an apparent shoulder injury will be a concern for the semi-final as the Piltown speedster looked in a lot of pain, but it wasn’t an issue on this occasion as with all six forwards on the board, they were in cruise control.
Ciara and Sarah O’Connor fired over two outstanding points for Wexford while Foxe was unerring from placed balls.
You feared for Wexford in the second half and that they avoided the annihilation that seemed on the cards is to their credit.
But Kilkenny move onwards and upwards with a clash next weekend against old rivals Cork.
All-Ireland camogie semi-final draw
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 21, 2021
Cork v Kilkenny
Tipperary v Galway
Croke Park, Sunday 29 August, times TBC pic.twitter.com/ZpexGv3XLO
SCORERS FOR KILKENNY: D Gaule 1-6(3fs, 1 45); M O’Connell 1-3; K Nolan 0-3, M Walsh 0-3 each; A Doyle 1-0; K Power, G Walsh 0-2 each
SCORERS FOR WEXFORD: C Foxe 0-7(6fs, 1 45); K Parrock 1-0; J Quigley, Linda Bolger, C O’Connor, S O’Connor, L Walsh 0-1
KILKENNY: A Norris, C Dormer, D Tobin, M Teehan, C Phelan, M Farrell, K Doyle, G Walsh, D Gaule, M Walsh, K Nolan, M O’Connell, S Fitzgerald, K Power, A Doyle. Subs: N Deely for K Doyle inj (21), M Kenneally for Fitzgerald (47), L Murphy for Nolan (50), M Bambrick for Teehan (55)
WEXFORD: L Brennan, S Harding Kenny, Á Lacey, M Sinnott, L O’Leary, S O’Connor, E Walsh, A Cardiff, O Sinnott, A Curran, C O’Connor, J Quigley, K Kirwan, C Foxe, J Dillon. Subs: Linda Bolger for O Sinnott (20), K Parrock for Kirwan (37), M Byrne for Curran (47), L Walsh for Cardiff (47), A Guiney for Quigley (52)
REFEREE: Andrew Larkin (Cork)
