WYW v Galway WFC (League)

For anyone interested, it's planned to have audio commentary on tonight's league match at the usual link (k.o. 7.30 pm).

www.mixlr.com/wexfordyouths

Wexford maintained their interest in the WNL league after a very hard-fought win against Galway tonight in Ferrycarrig Park, but they still need someone to do them a favour by taking points off an excellent Shelbourne side so that the title can return to Ferrycarrig Park. With Kylie Murphy now back from that disgraceful suspension, Gary Hunt made the obvious change to the cup-final team and started with Sophie, Nicola, Jess, Lolly, Amy, Aisling, Kylie, Emma, Linda and Aoibhin and Claire up front. The first half was very even with a Galway side, who are very lively going forward, posing just as much attacking threat as the home team. WYW had a decent chance on nine minutes when a Wexford corner bobbled around the Galway penalty area, but Hughes in the Galway goal was able to push the resulting shot around the post for a corner. On 20 minutes, Claire O'Riordan was just unable to smack a header home after a good cross from the lively Aisling Frawley. However, Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal had to be on form to block a Galway attacker who was running in at an angle, and Sophie did even better to palm away the subsequent Galway cross for a corner. On 25 minutes, Wexford edged ahead when fantastic work by Claire O'Riordan down the left wing put Aisling Frawley in the clear, and her cross was steered home by Aoibhin Webb for 1-0 to the home side. The match remained reasonably even from then until half-time with Emma Hansberry shooting just wide for WYW and a busy Sophie Lenehan doing well a grab a dangerous Galway cross just before the break. 1-0 to Wexford at half-time.

The second half followed similar lines to the first although Wexford had slightly more chances but didn't take any of them until late on. On two minutes, Galway proved they were still dangerous when a free was flicked just wide of the post after the Wexford defence couldn't clear. Wexford then had a good run of chances but couldn't convert any. Kylie Murphy spooned a shot over the bar from a cross by Aisling Frawley and then Claire O'Riordan hit the top of the bar with a shot from the edge of the box. Amy Walsh then let fly from 30 yards which obliged Hughes to punch away before Aoibhin blasted over when really well-placed in front of the Galway goal. Sophie Lenehan then had to block a Galway effort on target for a corner. Just after the half-hour mark in the second half, Claire O'Riordan had two good chances to score but good goalkeeping by Hughes and a wayward flicked header meant that the game remained at 1-0. Then, with eight minutes to go, a shot by Aoibhin appeared to take an unusual trajectory, possibly a deflection, but it ended up right into the top corner to give Hughes no chance for 2-0. Late subs for Wexford were Becky Cassin and Rachel Hutchinson and whistle went shortly afterwards with Wexford winners on a 2-0 scoreline.

Best for Wexford on the night were Sophie Lenehan, Lolly Conlon, Aisling Frawley and Kylie Murphy, the latter showing how much she was missed at the cup final. Maybe, 70 at the game.