Wexford Youths Women v Kilkenny (Shield)

Comfortable win for WYW in Buckley Park today against a well-organised Kilkenny side which are perhaps not up to the pace of this level as yet. WYW began with two changes from the team which started against UCD Waves with Lolli Conlon and Claire O'Riordan starting in place of Carol Breen and Linda Douglas. WYW had a number of chances from the start but could not get past an excellent KK keeper one of whose saves in the second half from Ciara Rossiter was top drawer. KK then had their only real chance to score with a free header from a corner but it was headed downwards too much and Mary Rose Kelly in the WYW goal was able to gather. WYW then went 1-0 in front on 24 minutes with a fortuitous peno awarded for a tackle outside the box which was put away by Kylie Murphy. WYW went 2-0 in front on 35 minutes with best goal of the game from Claire O'Riordan whose curling effort from just inside the KK penalty area ended inside the far post. Claire made it 3-0 on 43 minutes when KK gave away the ball in their own defence and allowed Claire to finish neatly.
3-0 at half-time and looked like a big score for WYW at this stage but they only got one further goal in the second period when Ciara Rossiter finished from close in on 55 minutes. Subs in the second half for WYW were Rachel Hutchinson, Tamara Furlong and Meghen Whitty. WYW played some lovely football up to the KK penalty box but had to work from then on due to a resolute KK back five. Main criticism of WYW, particularly in the second half, was the number of times they were caught offside. 4-0 to WYW at full-time. Good to see Buckley Park in use at this level again.