Depleted Intermediates did well to share spoils with Down
Wednesday March 03 2010
THE WEXFORD Intermediate camogie side let a five-point half-time lead slip against Down to eventually draw their second National League Division 2 encounter in Clonshaugh on Saturday last.
With several key members of the team that successfully dispatched Waterford two weeks ago promoted to the Senior squad to face Dublin the following day, it left Wexford with a difficult task on Dublin's northside.
Centre-back Ciara Storey and hat-trick heroine Fiona Kavanagh were among the players to move up and were clearly missed, despite a solid showing from those who deputised. Particularly impressive were St. Martin's twins Lisa and Linda Bolger who both grabbed vital scores and generally combined well down the left.
Wexford couldn't have asked for a better start, racing into a seven-point lead after eight minutes. Ciara O'Connor grabbed a quick brace while Stacey Kehoe and a super Lisa Bolger score put four between the sides after five minutes.
Fionnuala Carr hit back with an over for Down but it didn't stall Wexford's flying start as Bríd Gordon's shot from distance evaded Katrina McCrickard's hand and nestled in the roof of the net.
Kehoe grabbed her second point from a tight angle on the right as it looked like Wexford would be in for an easy afternoon.
Sinéad Coulter pulled a goal back for Down in the eleventh minute, pouncing on and finishing a loose ball following a long Carr free.
Eimear O'Connor padded the lead to five (1-6 to 1-1), but three unanswered Down scores meant that the product of Wexford's fantastic start had all but evaporated.
The perfect fillip came in the last minute of the half as a low Ciara O'Connor free deflected into the Down net off a defender's hurl to give Wexford a five-point half-time lead (2-6 to 1-4).
Third quarter points by Ciara O'Connor and the Bolger twins countered a trio of placed balls by the deadly-accurate Carr, a skill that Wexford struggled with.
Points by Karen McMullen and Karen Tinnelly momentarily cut the gap to three, but Bríd Gordon replied with what proved to be Wexford's last score with twelve minutes remaining (2-10 to 1-9).
Four Carr placed balls in those final minutes tied the game and, despite both sides having attacks to find a winner, the referee blew the whistle as Ciara O'Connor was breaking free over halfway to leave the sides deadlocked.
Next up for the Intermediates is a home tie next weekend against Galway, a game that will go a long way towards deciding whether or not they can reach the final again.
- DEAN GOODISON
