WYW v UCD Waves

[ForzaForth]

Wexford took a major step towards re-gaining their league title with a clinical and efficient performance against UCD Waves in Jackson Park this afternoon. But they stiil have two major hurdles to overcome, a home game in Ferrycarrig against major challengers, Peamount, in two weeks’ time followed by an away game against Cork. Two wins will secure Wexford the title. With Becky Cassin injured, Wexford put out a strong team with Sophie in goal, a back four of Nicola, Jess, Lolly and Lauren, a midfield five of Linda, Kylie, Edel, Emma and Aisling and with Claire up front. UCD were missing their talisman, Aine O’Gorman, and it definitely blunted their attacking potential going forward. Nevertheless, UCD started slightly the better as they held onto the ball well but couldn’t master passing the final ball with the aid of the stiff breeze. On five minutes, Cronin of UCD had a good chance but shot straight into Sophie Lenehan’s hands. First chance for Wexford came on 14 minutes when Edel Kennedy blasted a volley a yard or two wide from inside the UCD area. Wexford then went a goal ahead slightly out of the blue when Wexford won the ball in the UCD half, and Linda Douglas’s cross from the right found a stretching Claire O’Riordan, and she managed to jab the ball between the UCD keeper’s legs for 1-0 to the away side. The concession of the goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of UCD, and Wexford jogged to the interval without any difficulty with Emma Hansberry coming closes to adding a further goal for 1-0 to Wexford at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Playing against the wind in the second period, UCD started the better as they pinned Wexford back but the defensive back four of Nicola, Lolly, Jess and Lauren proved to be teak-tough as they repelled all attackers in a fine display. Nearest UCD came to getting the equaliser was a header from a corner over the bar. On 65 minutes, Claire O’Riordan had a good chance with a one-on-one against the UCD goalkeeper, but prodded the ball wide. On 65 minutes, Rianna Jarrett came on in place of a hard-working Linda Douglas. Four minutes later, Rianna hit the ball off the cross-bar so hard from 35 yards out that it apparently burst the ball as the ref immediately signalled for it to be replaced. With 15 minutes to go, Orla Casey replaced Claire O’Riordan and soon had another one-on-one with the UCD keeper but the latter managed to block the effort on goal. Wexford were now definitely in the ascendancy and the irrepressible Edel Kennedy sent Aisling Frawley free down the left with a pass behind the UCD full-back which allowed Aisling to finish neatly for 2-0. Late sub for Wexford, Katrina Parrock, then tested the side-netting before Rianna Jarret did all the hard work before sending a shot into orbit with only the UCD keeper to beat for a deserved 2-0 win to Wexford. The back four of Wexford impressed on the day but player of the match was Edel Kennedy who won parity with the UCD midfield at the start but dominated at the end with a typical lung-bursting display. So deserving of a full Ireland call-up before her ACL injury two years ago it was verging on the embarrassing, Edel now appears to be almost back to her best. 2-0 to Wexford at full-time and the massive game against Peamount in Ferrycarrig in two weeks time.

[ForzaForth]

Completely off-topic, but I have been fascinated by the increasing number of "beware of the deer" signs going up on the roads. Saw my first-ever deer driving up the N11 to the match this afternoon - a little fellow nibbling the grass on the verge as cars whizzed by a few yards away.