WYW had to work extremely hard to break down a very resolute Cork side in a cold Ferrycarrig tonight, and it needed the introduction of the three WYW senior international squad members in the second half to finally make the difference. With Amy Walsh still injured, Mary Rose Kelly said to require an operation after her cup final injury, and the three returning internationals on the bench despite all three being disgracefully unused against Spain in Tallaght, WYW began with Tamara, Lolly, Ruth, Nicola, Edel, Maria, Kylie, Linda, Ashling, Becky and with Rianna up front. With WYW only playing three at the back, they looked out of shape right from the start with a virtual 3-6-1 formation leading to a massively packed midfield area. As a result, they found it hard to create anything in the first half and it was only in the second period that chances began to flow. On 9 minutes, Becky Cassin forced an impressive Trish Fennelly in the Cork goal into a fine save. With 16 minutes gone, Cork forced Tamara Furlong into her only save of the match when she had to palm a Cork effort round the post for a corner. With 23 minutes gone, Rianna created a one-two which put her clear on goal, but she shot a foot wide. With seven minutes to go in the half, Ashling found Rianna alone in the Cork penalty area with a good cross, but her first-time effort was straight at Fennelly. Kylie Murphy then brought another save from Fennelly just before the half ended for a 0-0 score at half-time.
28/11/2015, 7:29 PM
ForzaForth
WYW began the second half by introducing Claire O'Riordan in place of Rianna Jarrett. With four minutes gone, Claire picked up a poor kick-out by the Cork keeper, but Fennelly was able to make amends by pushing Claire's effort away. Kylie was then disappointed not to make a better connection with a free header and then, on 17 minutes, Ashling Frawley was put through and managed to round Fennelly and slot the ball home for 1-0. Carol Breen then came on for Linda Douglas. Soon after, Fennelly saved at the feet of Claire O'Riordan before, on 29 minutes, Claire made it 2-0 when she got her shot away on the second attempt, and it hit the inside of the left-hand post and into the net for 2-0. Ciara Rossiter then came on for Lolly Conlon and it was soon 3-0 when an excellent one-touch move between Ashling, Claire and Carol Breen ended in Carol finishing from close in for 3-0. With WYW having the favour of the breeze in the second half, most of the play had been in Cork's half, but it had needed the introduction of Claire, Carol and Rossi to finally break a very determined Cork side. Best for WYW over the ninety minutes were probably Nicola, Ruth and Edel. 3-0 to WYW at full-time.
