WEXFORD FINISHED off the group stages of the Gala All-Ireland Senior camogie championship with a welldeserved six-point win over table-toppers Kilkenny in Wexford Park on Saturday last. And they will have to do it all over again in Nowlan Park on Saturday week, August 14, after the sides were pitted together again in the draw on Monday evening.

The victory will be a timely confidence booster after last-gasp losses against the other two semi-finalists, Cork and Galway, although this side isn't lacking in that department anyway. There is an air of expectancy rather than hope about each fixture and they will fancy their chances of picking up their second All-Ireland title in four years come September.

There is no reason why they shouldn't add to the 2007 title. The first-half performance here was as good as anything they have mustered this season. Una Leacy gave Edwina Keane a torrid afternoon at centre-back while the full-forward line looked as dangerous as it has all year. Surprise inclusion Evelyn Quigley staked a serious claim for a semi-final spot and Ursula Jacob added nine points to solidify her place at the top of the championship scoring charts with 2-48.

The defence again conceded just three 'in action' points, which means they have only leaked 3-21, or four scores per game, from play, as opposed to 1-29, five per game, from placed balls, in the six group matches.

Katrina Parrock's cross from the right in the second minute produced a scramble that eventually saw Evelyn Quigley squeeze the ball inches over the goal-line to finally give Wexford a fast start in a big championship game this year.

Jacob pointed a free following a foul on Michelle O'Leary soon after before a stunning, defence-splitting pass by Noeleen Lambert gave the opportunity to add a second. Her third quickly followed as Wexford flew out to a six-point lead in ten minutes (1-3 to nil).

Michelle Quilty knocked over a close-range free for Kilkenny's first score in the 13th minute, but the home side continued to drive forward. Parrock found Leacy in space for her only score before Bríd Gordon was fouled running towards goal, allowing a fourth Jacob white flag to be raised.

The visitors' sharpest forward, Katie Power, operating in the more-advanced-than-normal full-forward role, registered her side's only score from play in the half in the 22nd minute to momentarily close the gap to six (1-5 to 0-2).

Wexford kicked on again late in the half to open a gap that Kilkenny would never look likely to overturn. Parrock raced through on goal only to be denied by a fine Catríona Ryan save, but goal-poacher Quigley was on hand to slap home the rebound.

When Una Leacy got clattered 45 metres from goal, suffering a cut to the hand, Jacob pointed for the fifth time. The sixth quickly followed and the home side went in at the break to a rousing reception with an eleven-point lead (2-7 to 0-2).

Playing against the breeze was always going to be a tougher task, but Jacob pointed early to ease any apprehension about what they faced. Three frees - two by Quilty and a long-range effort by Dalton - narrowed the gap to nine but again Jacob replied in the 42nd minute for Wexford.

Kilkenny got on top into the final quarter but never to an extent that the result was in doubt. That wasn't helped by the stop-start nature of the game, with a succession of frees turning the tie into a less attractive spectacle.

Another trio of Kilkenny points cut the deficit to seven and with six minutes remaining they squandered their only chance to turn the match into a contest. Power, who the visitors had attempted to isolate on Catherine O'Loughlin all afternoon, finally got the better of her marker and played in substitute Laura Kavanagh. Her shot looked destined for the net, only for Mags D'Arcy to spread herself well and save.

Quigley clattered the inside of the post at the other end a minute later as her push for the hat-trick just came up short before Jacob wrapped up the scoring for Wexford who, despite conceding two further late points, look primed for a semi-final battle in just over two weeks' time.

MATCH REACTION

Wexford manager J.J. Doyle was happy with his side's first-half performance as they go into the August 14 semi-finals on a high.

'In the first-half we could have got carried away playing with the wind but we told the girls beforehand to play low ball into the full-forward line,' he said. 'You see what Katrina, Ursula and Evelyn can do; they are lethal if you put the ball in low in front of them.

'In the second-half we didn't really get going, but then with the conditions it was just messy out there. They tried hard and never gave up and that's all we can ask from them.'

Doyle was also thrilled with the soaring form of key forward Una Leacy in the past few weeks. 'We put her in full-forward there last week and she was just flying, she was flying with the club and we said we would give her a go there (centre-forward), the little bit more space out there helped. She has the skill, the strength and the ability to give off good ball. If we can keep her hurling well, along with all the rest of them, we have a great chance.

'We don't fear anyone,' said a resolute Doyle against the remaining contenders. 'There's a puck of a ball between the four teams that are in the semi-finals. Hopefully the girls will be up for it; if they are we believe we can beat any of them.'

- DEAN GOODISON In Wexford Park