Wexford FC Women v Galway

[ForzaForth]

Nail-biting game between the teams in third and fourth places in the league, and it finished 1-1 at the end with Wexford probably feeling that they got the better part of the bargain at the final whistle. Wexford started with Jayne, Abby, Lolly, Della, Kylie, Ceola, Rossi, Meabh, Grace, Nicola and Aoibheann. With two very competitive sides on show, chances were hard to come by in the first half although both goals came in that period. On nine minutes, Ciara Rossiter got a shot away which was saved by Berlin in the Galway goal and, five minutes later, Galway’s Meaney had the away side’s first meaningful effort with a shot which went a yard wide. With 28 minutes on the clock, Wexford went ahead when Kylie Murphy was found with a pass inside the Galway area, and her firmly struck effort went just inside Galway’s left-hand post to put the home side ahead. Galway began to get a firm grip on the game after that and Grace FR for Wexford had to put in a really good tackle to prevent a chance falling to the excellent JA Russell for Galway. Galway’s equaliser came on 36 minutes when Aislinn Meaney beat Jayne Merren at her near post with a shot which may have taken a touch off Nicola Sinnott for 1-1. Three minutes after that, Jayne Merren managed to push a free around the post from Galway's Jenna Slattery which was going into the top corner with a “worldie” save and Galway finished the half on the up at 1-1 at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Galway were probably the better side in the second half also although Wexford were able to carve out a few chances of their own. On five minutes, Wexford defenders had to work really hard to keep out a JA Russell shot when Julie Anne cut in along Wexford’s endline. However, a minute later, Wexford’s Ceola Bergin then forced Berlin to concede a corner with a really good curling effort on goal of her own. Midway through the half, Jenna Slattery won a peno when she drove inside the Wexford area and was taken down. However, Jayne Merren was able to save Jenna’s effort from the spot with a second grab of the ball. On 29 minutes, Aine Walsh came on for Wexford and immediately had the ball fall to her inside the Galway area but it was hit straight at Berlin. Later subs for Wexford were Teegan Lynch and Rianna Jarrett and Jayne Merren finished the game with another save from Galway’s Russell before Kylie Murphy had a glancing header right at the end which trickled just past the Galway post. Best for Wexford was TG4 player of the match, Jayne Merren, whilst on a night where a lot of grit was required from the home side, Ciara Rossiter, Lolly Conlon, Kylie Murphy and Aoibheann Clancy also put in very impressive performances. 1-1 at fulltime.