New Ladies GAA team brave in defeat against Wicklow

New York 0-8 Wicklow 2-10

New York’s hopes of All-Ireland glory were dashed on Sunday by a Wicklow side that finally put paid to the Big Apple’s drive for success.

The excellent Wicklow was too strong for a battling New York team that gave their all as they looked to bring an All-Ireland title across the pond for the first time ever.

Second half goals from Méadbh Deeney and Lucy Mulhall secured the victory for Wicklow, but the displays of Alison Leyden, Cathriona Brady, who for the second day in a row was outstanding, Molly O’Rourke and the rest of the panel who crossed the Atlantic six times in recent weeks will be talked of for years to come. 

The game hung in the balance at the break with just two points between the sides. Thirteen wides over the hour didn’t help the New York cause either, but they will agree that Wicklow were more than deserving of their win with an all around team display.

Wicklow captured a first All-Ireland crown since the 1990 victory over London.

New York won the throw-in and had the lead for the only time in the game when O’Rourke kicked over after Brady had a lovely ball into Kelly Roche who then worked with Emma Clarke to set O’Rourke up.
Wicklow replied with five points in the next 10 minutes, with Mulhall already making her presence felt with two of those scores.

Clarke did have a free that dropped under the crossbar and ricocheted off the keeper and corner back before bouncing off the right post and being cleared to safety.

Wides by New York, four in total in the first 15 minutes, also hurt their cause.  Linda McKeon had one after a breathtaking 50 yard solo run that deserved a possible a free at the end.

New York did have their best period of the game in the closing 10 minutes of the first half. They scored three of four points, with Clarke annexing all by the way of frees.

Niamh Carroll had the Wicklow point, but it could have been more as it screamed over the bar. It left the sides sitting at 0-6 to 0-4 for Wicklow at the break.

O’Rourke added to New York’s total with a point within 30 seconds of the restart as the visitors again won the throw in.

Wicklow started to put extreme pressure on the New York defense, though, and it was rewarded when Aine Doran was fouled for a penalty and Clare Deeney slotted low to the right just beyond the outstretched fingertips of Leydon.

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They added two further points but were reduced to 14 players for a 10 minute period when full-back Catríona Byrne, who was unable to resume due to injury, was sin binned with almost nine minutes gone.

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Nster.com