WEXFORD HUNG ON by the skin of their teeth after Beth Carton led a late rally for 14-woman Waterford that almost saw them reel-in their south east neighbours in a Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 encounter at WIT that really came to life in the final quarter.
The Déise girls fell just short though and their visitors made the short journey up the Coast Road with the vital points, 1-11 to 1-10.
Wexford laid the foundation for their Group 1 victory in the first half, chiselling out a 0-7 to 0-4 lead at the interval when playing into the wind. Chloe Foxe was excellent while the inspirational defender Ciara Storey was unyielding.
Linda Bolger goaled soon after the resumption and matters took a turn for the worse for the hosts when Clare Whyte was sent off after for a second yellow-card offence. Bolger and Foxe added points and it was 1-11 to 0-6 with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
That was a fair reflection of proceedings at that juncture but the prodigious Carton really went into overdrive, scoring a goal and four points without replay. The goal came right on the hour to bring her personal tally to 1-8 but her long-distance effort for an equaliser from a free just drifted wide.
Additional reporting by Emma Duffy
Meanwhile, in Division 2 there were narrow wins for Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford.
Eleanor Treacy pointed the way for Carlow, hitting six of their 1-11. Derry’s Karen Kielt also scored six points and was top scorer for her side, but two goals from the Ulster side weren’t enough to stop Carlow winning by one.
Kilkenny’s intermediate team saw off Down by two points, while Wexford’s four goals helped them over the line ahead of Laois.
Antrim and Cork also had Division 2 wins, the Saffrons beating Armagh 2-7 to 0-9 while Cork beat Galway by seven points.
In Division 3, Kerry demolished Tyrone. Patrice Diggin followed up her magnificence in UL’s Ashbourne Cup success last weekend with a nine-point haul for the Kingdom, getting their campaign off to the perfect start.
Ann Marie Leen was another star in a genuine team effort that saw Kerry race to a 3-10 lead by half time, holding Tyrone scoreless.
Results – Sunday 19 February
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1
- Waterford 1-10 Wexford 1-11
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 2
- Carlow 1-11 Derry 2-7
- Kilkenny 2-13 Down 0-17
- Antrim 2-7 Armagh 0-9
- Wexford 4-6 Laois 2-10
- Cork 0-13 Galway 0-6
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 3
- Kerry 5-17 Tyrone 0-3
Miss any of yesterday’s action? Catch up right here.
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