ANOTHER INJURY time goal conceded by Wexford condemned the league champions to defeat in Páirc Uí Chaoimh against Cork in the Gala All-Ireland Senior camogie championship on Saturday last. It didn't stop the visitors from booking their place in August's semi-finals however, as a loss for Clare at home to Kilkenny ensured safe progress for not only Wexford, but also hosts Cork.

The late Síle Burns strike was far from the talking point at the full-time whistle, with match official John Morrissey the recipient of a torrent of verbal abuse from the visiting faithful following his second-half performance.

After the first couple of minutes, tempers rose within the home side's hierarchy at the perceived lack of decisions going their way - despite being awarded four scoreable first-half frees to Wexford's two.

Following a dressing down from the Cork manager towards the end of the first-half, another member of the backroom team flanked Morrissey down the tunnel at the break barking in his ear, and Wexford mentors felt that he turned against them as a result.

Luckily nothing critical rested on the outcome and it showed in Doyle's team selection. Claire O'Connor was rested which allowed Ciara Storey to make her first Senior championship start. In-form Lenny Holohan, who will miss the semi-final because of her honeymoon, was omitted to try new combinations, while Deirdre Codd had to sit it out, prior to disciplinary proceedings, following a red card in the last round of club games on the previous Monday night.

Wexford got off to a dreadful start and were four points down inside 90 seconds. Síle Burns knocked over an opening free before Julia White scrambled the ball past Mags D'Arcy and over the Wexford line for the game's opening goal.

D'Arcy was called into action again to deny Burns but Wexford began to settle and a trademark Katrina Parrock pass allowed Josie Dwyer to notch their opening score. A lively Una Leacy drilled narrowly over following a goalmouth scramble in the tenth minute to narrow the gap to two, only for taliswoman Gemma O'Connor to grab her first score (1-2 to 0-2).

Ursula Jacob and Leacy both picked off points to reduce the deficit to one as Wexford battled gallantly against the strong breeze, but the visitors were living dangerously again in the 17th minute when first O'Connor's long ball was cleared off the line before Burns again had a pulled effort blocked. She did manage to get her second score a minute later from the left as the rebelettes went two clear again.

A second free from Jacob again pulled her side within one and she nearly went better moments later when her low shot was cleared by Aoife Murray. Raised white flags by O'Connor and Orla Cotter for Cork sandwiched a Parrock over as Wexford went in at the interval down by two (1-5 to 0-6).

Despite Burns putting her side three ahead after the resumption, the visitors hit a purple patch with Kate Kelly and Una Leacy grabbing points before the latter found her range in front of goal - blasting past Murray following a precise crossfield pass by Fiona Kavanagh (1-8 to 1-6).

It looked likely that Wexford would push on and take a comfortable victory but Cork kept hanging in the contest and levelled following a Burns brace.

A Jacob double put a generally wasteful Wexford two ahead again with six minutes remaining, but they failed to put the game to bed and substitute Joanne Casey pulled the home side within one (1-10 to 1-9).

When Burns pounced on a Catherine O'Loughlin misjudgement in injury time, Wexford again succumbed to the sucker punch, but the visitors still almost snatched victory.

However, Jacob was penalised for overcarrying when racing through and Cork sealed victory 60 seconds later with a final Burns free.

The girls' final group game against the Cats is in Wexford Park on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. before they take their place in the semi-final draw alongside Galway, Cork and Kilkenny.

Wexford defender Noeleen Lambert beats Katriona Mackey of Cork to possession.