Following Kilkenny’s comprehensive victories over both Offaly and Dublin, the matches keep coming thick and fast. However, they certainly do not come tougher than defending All-Ireland senior champions and National League champions Wexford in Wexford Park on Saturday at 5pm.
Kilkenny have endured a miserable run against the Slaneysiders since 2006 as they have only won two of their 10 matches with their neighbouring counterparts. Their last victory over Wexford was back in the 2009 Leinster senior final which Kilkenny won 2-12 to 1-14 in early December after extra-time. Wexford have won the four clashes between the two sides since. They retained the league title in dramatic fashion last year when a seventh minute injury-time point from Ursula Jacob snatched victory, before Wexford won 2-10 to 0-10 in the final round of group games last year after both teams had already qualified for the semi-finals. However they both drawn against each other in the semi-finals and Wexford prevailed 3-12 to 1-11 with the deadly duo of Katriona Parrock and Kate Kelly doing all the damage.
The two teams met as recently as the Leinster final on May 8 and Wexford prevailed 2-7 to 1-7 after an Aine Fahey goal had given Kilkenny a 1-6 to 1-2 half-time lead. Wexford proved last year, by following up their memorable 2007 All-Ireland victory, that they are no flash in the pan. They are a very powerful formidable outfit who have got stronger since last year’s All-Ireland triumph. They easily retained their league crown defeating Galway 3-10 to 0-10.
But they suffered a massive shock to their system as their unbeaten run ended losing 2-14 to 0-9 against Galway.
However as Wexford manager JJ Doyle said in the aftermath, with games following one after the other, they had not time to dwell on the disappointment. They travelled down to play Cork last Saturday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, always a difficult game, but Wexford emerged victorious 0-14 to 1-8. So the Galway game was only a mere and unexpected blip. Their central spine is powerfully strong.
Twice All-star Mags Darcy is one of the best around, while Catherine O’Loughlin and Mary Leacy command the defensive sector with such strong authority. Upfront, Wexford have plenty of class, graft and guile with Katriona Parrock, Kate Kelly, Ursula Jacob and Una Leacy all potential matchwinners. They are proven operators, and Kilkenny will require greater improvement from last Saturday’s lacklustre outing against Dublin just to compete. The make-up of the team is still unsettled in many areas. The Tullogher duo of Catriona Ryan and Siobhan Murphy have shared the goalkeeping duties between them. The full-back line of Colette Dormer, Catherine Doherty and Jacqui Frisby appears to pick itself, while Keeva Fennelly at wing-back performed better against Dublin last Saturday, and looks favourite to retain her wing-back berth. Rather surprising was the switching at half-time in the Dublin clash last Saturday of Elaine Aylward to midfield and Anne Dalton to centre-back. Both are key players, and where they will operate this weekend is anyone’s guess. The Wexford game would suit a player of Lizzie Lyng’s experience, while her clubmate Kelly Hamilton may come into the reckoning, and last year when introduced in the semi-final she was one of Kilkenny’s best performers. A ferocious competitor, Hamilton has the drive and determination, and she certainly will not have any fear of Wexford. In the attacking division Aoife Neary and Michelle Quilty are certain starters, while Shelley Farrell will come into the reckoning after completing her Leaving Cert. Aine Fahey has excelled in the championship so far, and she will surely start at corner-forward, while Edel Maher who impressed greatly against Offaly may be in line for a starting slot if fully recovered from a hamstring strain suffered in training. Whatever team lines out, a 60 minute performance is essential if they are to upset the champions in their own back yard, and concentration at all times is going to be so crucial as Wexford will punish any defensive lapses. Throw-in is at 5pm, and it will be the first part of a double header along with the Leinster minor hurling semi-final clash between the same two counties which will commence at 7pm.
