As the previous matches between these two sides this season would have suggested, another very tight and enjoyable game between WYW and Shels in Tallaght today which was eventually shaded by the Slaneysiders after an epic battle. The big question going up to Tallaght today was whether WYW had recovered fully from their seven games in three and a half weeks during their ten-day break prior to this play-off. The answer from early on was probably not on a 100% basis. With Jess Gleeson declared fit to play, Wexford began with Tamara, Nicola, Jess, Lauren, Lolly, Linda, Kylie, Emma, Aisling, Ruth and with Claire up front. Wexford began with an early chance when Claire O'Riordan had to stoop low to make contact with a header, but she couldn't keep it on target. On ten minutes, Claire couldn't make proper contact with a cross by WYW's Linda Douglas, who was a star on the night for WYW. Shels then had their good 20 minute spell of the game, with their midfield tending to dominate affairs. On 12 minutes, Shels had a good cross from the right but it travelled all the way across goal without any Shels player getting a final touch. With 14 minutes gone, Keeva Kennan delivered a good free in the WYW penalty area, and Shels skipper, Pearl Slattery, back-headed it into the net to give Tamara Furlong no chance for 1-0 to Shels. On 18 minutes. Leanne Kiernan for Shels was through on goal down the right, but she shot weakly and didn't trouble Furlong in the Wexford goal. Noelle Murray then got a shot away from outside the box with her left foot, but it went a yard wide. From about the half-hour mark, WYW's midfield began to come into the game more and this swung the tie in Wexford's favour. On 31 minutes, Wexford had two chances from a good corner by Emma Hansberry, but couldn't convert either. With 35 minutes gone, Wexford's Jess Gleeson hobbled off with what looked like a recurring thigh injury, and was replaced by Becky Cassin. However, Wexford continued to press, and with four minutes to go in the half, Linda Douglas got in a good cross from the right which was headed powerfully home by Claire O'Riordan to bring the play-off back to 1-1.
1-1 at half-time, and it was apparent early on in the second half that you were looking at two tired teams after a truncated season trying to cope with a big Tallaght pitch. On four minutes, Leanne Kiernan got a shot on target for Shels but Tamara Furlong in Wexford's goal, who looked very safe all night, got down low to grab it. A minute later, Claire O'Riordan, who was running on one leg at this stage, was set up inside the Shels penalty area by Linda Douglas, but pulled her shot wide. On six minutes, a neat one-two by Shels put Noelle Murray with a clear sight on goal, but she pulled her shot wide. Then on 24 minutes, the ball ended up in the air in front of Shel's
Niamh Walsh who slipped, and this left Claire O'Riordan with a clear run at McQuillan in the Shels goal and she slotted it under the Shels keeper for 2-1 to the Wexford side. Although Shels piled the pressure on for the remaining 20 minutes and in injury time, Tamara Furlong had only one decent save to make when she pushed a Shels header wide of the post for a corner with a minute to go of the 90 minutes. Late second yellow was given to Keeva Keenan of Shels for a dangerous clash of heads with Amy Walsh of Wexford. Whistle went shortly afterwards and Wexford had dramatically retained their league title after a horrendous run with injuries. Best for Wexford on a historic night was Newcastlewest's finest, Claire O'Riordan, who though clearly not 100% fit, carried the threat to Shels all night and is the obvious player of the season for the Youths. Wexford's best otherwise came on the night from the right side of the team with Nicola Sinnott and Linda Douglas outstanding. 2-1 to Wexford on the night with a good crowd having come to Tallaght up the N11. 710 the official attendance with free entry.
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