Cork decimate Wexford to continue All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship charge
Wexford's Clodagh Jackman tries to block Cork's Saoirse McCarthy during the All-Ireland Senior Camogie championship round five fixture. Photograph: Patrick Browne
Cork cruised to a fourth consecutive victory in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship group stage on Saturday, dispatching Wexford with clinical ease at Chadwicks Wexford Park to round off the group stage in dominant fashion.
Already assured of a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals, Ger Manley’s side showed no signs of letting up. Having swatted aside Limerick, Tipperary and Clare in previous rounds, they were ruthless once more, dismantling a Wexford team already consigned to the relegation playoff.
The tone was set early. Laura Treacy was outstanding at wing-back, while Amy O’Connor delivered another trademark performance up front, supported by standout displays from Clodagh Finn and Saoirse McCarthy.
Ciara O’Connor had defended well for Wexford in the first half, but Cork’s suffocating pressure meant the home side never threatened a goal, with just five first-half shots – three of which Chloe Cashe converted.
An 11-minute burst in the opening half saw Cork rack up 1-8 without reply, ending the game as a contest long before the final whistle. By the interval, they were 2-12 to 0-3 clear. The goals were textbook: Finn set up O’Connor for the opener inside three minutes, and O’Connor returned the favour to tee up McCarthy for the second.
Finn, who had two goalbound efforts well saved by Keeva Steadmond, finally got her reward after the break, latching onto a pass from Laura Hayes and rocketing a finish to the top corner. That made it 3-14 to 0-3 after 33 minutes.
Muireann Fitzpatrick stemmed the tide momentarily with Wexford’s fourth point – only their second from play – but Cork hit back instantly. Ashling Thompson and Orla Mullins added points before O’Connor bagged her second goal, tapping in after a well-weighted pass across goal from Sorcha McCartan.
Cork were 4-16 to 0-4 ahead with 20 minutes left, and although Wexford found some rhythm – outscoring Cork 0-5 to 0-1 over the next stretch – the margin remained massive.
Their brief rally was undone seven minutes from time when McCarthy was fouled for a penalty. McCartan’s strike went over rather than under the bar, but Cork weren’t finished. Wexford responded through Joanne Dillon and a Cashe free, but Cork had the final say, Kate Wall setting up O’Connor for her hat-trick goal and leaving 25 points between the teams at conclusion.
A O’Connor 3-5 (0-2 f), C Finn, S McCarthy 1-2 each, S McCartan 0-3 (0-1 pen), A Thompson, K Wall, O Mullins 0-2 each, H Looney, E Murphy, L Hayes 0-1 each.
C Cashe 0-4 (0-3 f), J Dillion 0-3, A Curran 0-2, M Fitzpatrick, L Dempsey 0-1 each.
A Lee; L Treacy, L Coppinger, M Cahalane (c); P Mackey, A Healy, L Hayes; H Looney, A Thompson; E Murphy, O Mullins, S McCarthy; S McCartan, C Finn, A O’Connor.
C O’Sullivan for Treacy, K Wall for Murphy (both HT), C O’Leary for Lee (44).
K Steadmond; K Tomkins, M O’Dowd, R Cooney; C Jackman, C O’Connor, O Sinnott; A Cahill, L Dempsey (c); C Cashe, J Dillion, L Bolger; A Curran, S Buttle, M Fitzpatrick.
L Furlong for O’Connor, G Roche for Buttle (both HT), Buttle for Cahill (51).
Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
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