Stunning late point breaks Derry hearts

Wicklow 1-08   Derry 2-04

A stunning point from Wicklow’s Aoife Gorman broke Derry hearts in the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4 following a tough encounter in Echelon Park, Aughrim on Sunday afternoon.

Gorman, who had a superb game for the Garden County, was also responsible for the equalising score after 19 minutes of the second half, and 17 minutes later, with 36 minutes on the second-half clock, the Tinahely star hoisted over a beast in heavy traffic much to the delight of the decent crowd of spectators.

With three defeats from their opening three games, a win or draw away against Wicklow would have been a major boost for the Oakleaf side, but the late winner for the home side leaves the visitors with nothing to show for their efforts to date.

Wicklow faced into the wind in the opening half, and the visitors, who only arrived in Echelon Park Aughrim on their team bus with exactly 30 minutes to go before throw-in, seemed to take a while to settle, the home side opening up a 0-2 to 0-0 lead early on with points from Sinead McGettigan and Niamh Caffrey.

The Wicklow teamsheet bore very little resemblance to the starting lineout. Whether it was a deliberate tactic or an administration error is unclear, but it is very puzzling how the simple task of naming 15 players in their starting positions with the relevant jerseys seems to be beyond county teams in Wicklow, both men and women.

Ella Parke was named at six but lined out at corner-forward, Aoife Gorman at full-forward but played midfield, Sarah Jane Winders named at three but played at centre-back. There were three changes to the starting 15, one of those was Roisin Byrne who manned the full-back position and did so very impressively.

Derry found the target for the first after Wicklow had coughed up possession from a short free, Dara McKeever collecting from Anna Frizelle before firing over what could be noted down as a goal chance.

Wicklow had the opportunity of raising a green flag themselves with 13 gone, fine work from Niamh Cullen putting Sinead McGettigan in a good position but her fine effort crashed back off the Derry post at the Rednagh Hill end.

The St. Patrick’s woman would right that wrong seven minutes later when she did superbly to maintain possession before lashing home to the back of the Derry net to leave it 1-2 to 0-1.

Derry's Ciara Scullion forcing her way through.

Cara Donnelly pointed for Derry after 24 minutes but excellent work from Sarah Evans saw Wicklow rampage up the field where Sinead McGettigan won a free that was popped over by Niamh Caffrey.

And then a major talking point unfolded. A Derry free was lobbed in on the Wicklow goal with 28 gone and following a goalmouth scramble, Ciara Scullion finished home from close range to give themselves a real boost heading towards half-time as calls by Wicklow players and management for a square ball fell on deaf ears.

Back came Derry but Ellen Griffin stood tall in the Wicklow goal and a few moments later Aoife Gorman was winning a free at the other end with Sinead McGettigan firing over to leave it 1-4 to 1-2 at the break.

Two Wicklow wides and one Derry miss early in the second half were followed by a fine point from Emma Doherty (free) but a wicked reply from Sinead McGettigan left two between the teams with Wicklow enjoying the benefit of the breeze for the second 30 minutes.

Derry’s kick-outs were excellent over the course of the game, and from one such successful restart, the ball was worked to Megan Devine who set off on a long run before finishing to the back of the Wicklow net, sending Derry in front at 2-3 to 1-5 with nine minutes gone.

Derry's Anna Martin closing Orla Flynn down.

The visitors led by two when Dara McKeever pointed from play after good work from Emma Doherty, Cara Donnelly and Anna Martin, but we were all square five minutes later thanks to points from McGettigan (free) and Aoife Gorman.

Derry suffered a blow after 22 when full-back Blaithin Donnelly picked up a yellow card from Wexford referee Barry Redmond, but the numerical advantage would mean very little to the home side who would fire wide twice and watch as Derry goalkeeper Ellie Conway save superbly from the boot of Sinead McGettigan who came within inches of killing the game with five to go.

There would be 35 minutes gone in the second half when Donnelly reappeared from the sinbin and the sides were still all square.

But Derry were really struggling in attack at this stage. They were working the ball forwards well enough, but the last ball wasn’t finding the target.

Wicklow came hunting for the match-winning score. Substitute Aobha Harmon was heavily involved as the home side probed, as was Megan Healy, Shannagh Goetelen, Caoimhe Murphy and the excellent Niamh Cullen before the ball was finally worked to Aoife Gorman and from very limited space the Tinahely woman sent a bomb high into the sky before it dropped over the black spot to the delight of the Garden County players, management and supporters.

Wicklow would attack again, and Sarah Jane Winders was almost in for a goal only for the ball to skip away and go wide. It would have been a deserving score for the Wicklow centre-back who put in a big shift.

Derry would get to take the kick-out, but the final whistle sounded, and Wicklow had their first win of the season.

Wicklow: Ellen Griffin (St. Patrick’s); Sarah Evans (St. Patrick’s), Roisin Byrne (Tinahely), Meabh Corr (Blessington); Niamh Cullen (Blessington), Sarah Jane Winders (Baltinglass), Lucy Dunne (St. Patrick’s); Aoife Gorman (0-2) (Tinahely), Shannagh Goetelen (Tinahely); Sarah O’Toole (An Tóchar), Niamh Caffrey (0-2, 1f) (St. Patrick’s), Charlotte Nagle (Kilcoole); Ella Parke (Baltinglass), Sinead McGettigan (1-4, 2f) (St. Patrick’s), Megan Healy (Éire Óg Greystones).

Subs: Lizzie Bourke for E Parke, Niamh O’Brien for N Caffrey (both 40), Aobha Harmon for S O’Toole, Caoimhe Murphy for C Nagle (both 40), Grace Murphy for M Corr (55).

Derry: Ellie Conway; Orlaith McGough, Blaithin Donnelly, Joanne Corr; Annie Crozier, Aoife McGough, Anna Frizelle; Annie Kilpatrick, Megan Devine (1-0); Leah Casey, Ciara Scullion (1-0), Anna Martin; Emma Doherty (0-1, f), Cara Donnelly (0-1), Dara McKeever (0-2).

Subs: Katy Holly for A Crozier (H/T), Clodagh Moore for C Scullion (44), Sarah Hargan for J Corr (58).

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford)