Wexford Youths Women v UCD Waves (Shield)

Deserved win by WYW in Ferrycarrig this afternoon with the home team looking a yard sharper after all the pre-season work. With an announced panel of 25 players, WYW went with Mary Rose, Nicola, Edel, Ruth, Ciara, Aisling, Becky, Kylie, Linda, and with Emma playing behind Carol Breen up front. WYW bossed the first half and should have gone in more than 1-0 at half-time. That goal came on six minutes when Aisling Frawley skipped past two opponents down the left and her cross was met by Linda Douglas at the far post who had a tap-in for 1-0. WYW then dominated the rest of the half but without scoring while Mary Rose had little to do in the WYW goal. 1-0 to WYW at half-time.

Early part of the second period was a scrappy affair but it changed on the hour mark when Claire O'Riordan came on for Becky Cassin and took her normal position up front. WYW when 2-0 ahead with 20 minutes gone in the second period, when a through ball left Claire with a lot of work, but she held off the last UCD defender and finished well for 2-0. WYW went 3-0 up with fifteen minutes to go when Linda Douglas worked a cross down the right and Claire buried a header at the far post to close the tie. UCD then rallied right at the end and Mary Rose was called into action to push away a UCD effort and was eventually beaten when a shot from 30 yards out took a deflection to sail past her for a 3-1 final score. Best for WYW were Ruth at the back, Kylie and Carol, and Aisling and Linda down the wings. With two senior internationals still on the sidelines, the WYW panel looks very strong this year and you couldn't see past them for the league. The main problem may be in trying to keep everyone happy. 3-1 to WYW at full-time. UCD had a player taken off on the half-hour with what looked like a serious knee injury so I hope she's ok.