WYW v Kilkenny

[ForzaForth]

In a league which already look like to be shaping up to be a great contest, Wexford will be pleased with the three points on offer in The Watershed in Killkenny this afternoon, but the worrying point for Wexford will be that they really only showed their class in the second half against an energetic Kilkenny XI. WYW started with Sophie, Linda, Lolly, Nicola, Amy, Orla, Becky, Jess, Emma, Aoibhin and Claire. The surface in The Watershed isn't great to put it mildly with evidence of widespread patching along the whole length of the middle of the pitch. It makes it difficult to pass the ball and with Kilkenny working very hard, Wexford found it difficult to make an impression in the first half although they looked the better side. On ten minutes, one of Wexford's key players, Emma Hansberry, put in a cross for Orla Casey but it proved an easy catch for the handy Trish Fennelly in the Kilkenny goal. A minute later, Claire O'Riordan put Orla Casey through on goal but it resulted in only a corner. Emma Hansberry nearly scored directly from that corner but it flew a foot wide of the far post. Claire O'Riordan then latched onto a through ball but it got a touch off a KK defender for a corner. Claire then followed that chance with a similar one, but shot over the bar. On the half-hour, KK had their first decent chance with a free-kick from a dangerous position, but it was put well over with KK's Sylvia Gee wondering why she didn't take it. Emma Hansberry then went close twice for Wexford but half ended on 0-0 scoreline with Wexford on top but without really impressing.

[ForzaForth]

Second half saw Wexford manager, Laura Heffernan, acting decisively with skipper Kylie Murphy and Siobhan Doolan being introduced and, to be fair to the manager, it made a difference. On eight minutes, a corner by Emma Hansberry went beyond the far post to Jess Gleeson who recycled, and Claire O'Riordan completed a nice turn to shoot with her left into the top corner to give Trish Fennelly no chance for 1-0 to Wexford. Emma Hansberry's deliveries are a key component of Wexford's attacking threat and, on 12 minutes, her arrow-like delivery from a free begged Kylie Murphy to head home which she did for 2-0. More or less game over at that point as Wexford continued to dominate with Siobhan Doolan making a difference down the right wing. Two more goals followed when Claire O'Riordan touched a shot home from Emma Hansberry which was going in anyway and, with eight minutes to go, Claire O'Riordan turned provider when she squared for Kylie Murphy to chip into an empty net for a 4-0 scoreline to Wexford.

Best for Wexford were Emma Hansberry and Claire O'Riordan while Nicola Sinnott showed again her class when using the ball from the back. Special word also for Sophie Lenihan in the Wexford goal who got a lot of back-passes on a really uneven pitch and was error-free for all of them. For Kilkenny, ex-Wexford player Leanne Tumelty made a real impression on their left wing. 4-0 to Wexford at full-time but tougher tests lie ahead.