TG4 Leinster Junior Championship final 2011

On Sunday the 17th next Wicklow and Wexford will go head to head in Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow to decide who will be crowned the TG4 Leinster Junior champions for 2011. The Wicklow team who are sponsored this year by AUGHRIM CABS are the reigning champions and have had the easiest of runs in to this years final, they comfortably beat Kilkenny in the preliminary round to set up a meeting with Offaly in the semi final and although the Faithful county provided stiffer opposition on the day the home side looked comfortable through out the game.

Wicklow's Management of Dominic Leech, Martin Fitzgerald and Orla Donohue hope to have a full squad to pick from, however a number of Minor players who also line out for the junior team will be in action on Saturday the 16th of July in the All Ireland Minor 'B' semi final against Mayo in Ballymahon, County Longford, with that game throwing in at 2pm.
Wexford, managed by Larry Doyle booked their place in this years final with a seven point win over Carlow in their semi final game. In their most recent outing at Pearse Park Arklow on the 3rd of April this year, Wexford crossed the border outside Arklow as odds on favorites to lose to the home side, however it was the Wicklow side that suffered a seven points defeat on the day. Despite their win over Wicklow, Wexford will go in to this years final as under dogs, a title that brings out the best in their performances especially against neighbours Wicklow.

To date it would be hard to find fault in Wicklow's performance, they have adopted a high tempo game, which suits their pacy forward line of Niamh Carroll, Lucy Mulhall, Laurie Ahern and Caoilfhionn Deeney, Deeney recently received the coveted number ten shirt at the Bord Gais Energy NFL team of the league awards ceremony in Croke Park.
Wicklow will probably go with Emer Miley in goals, the Blessington club player was voted player of the match in last years final. Miley will be protected by an experienced back line that I'm sure will include Aoife Heffernan, Caitriona Byrne, Lorna Fuisciardi and Niamh Kelly lining out along side Caitriona McKeon, McKeon is winning her battle to be fit, after suffer a recent knee injury that kept her out of the game against Offaly. Loretta Gilbert and Jackie Kinch from the Tinahely club are likely to wear the number eight and nine shirt in the middle of the park.

Based on the latest news on the grape vine Wexford will be with out their influential all star goal keeper and captain Mary Rose Kelly, Kelly picked up a serious knee injury last month and may not be available for the final. But they have players among their ranks capable of pulling on the number one shirt, and with the experienced 2005 all star Leona Tector in the back line along with Lisa Goff and the Evered twins in attack the Wicklow side will have to be fully focused from the start, Wicklow must also be alert to threat posed by Wexford place kicker Tara Maloney, the Shelmaliers club player has an accurate left foot, hitting six points against Carlow in their semi final clash.

On Paper Wicklow should retain their TG4 Leinster junior title, however Wexford don't do second best, the Model county will be looking to cause an upset on Sunday next. As the tension mounts over the next few days many pundits and supporters in both counties will give their expert opinion on the out come, but all the speculation, ifs and buts will be answered when referee McEnery calls for the ball at the end of what should be a thriller of a game in Dr. Cullen Park on Sunday next.

( Michael Forde Leinster PRO. ) Tweet

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