WYW v Cork City WFC (Cup Semi-Final)

Wexford paid the price for a very disjointed performance in Bunclody this afternoon as they conceded three second-half goals to allow Cork book the coveted place in the Aviva on cup-final day. As expected, manager Laura Heffernan started with the same XI which had played so well against UCD Waves in the last game and went with Sophie, Nicola, Lolly, Jess, Lauren, Linda, Emma, Edel, Kylie,Aisling and with Claire up front. The surface in Bunclody wasn’t great with the grass longer than normal but it’s also a huge pitch. Both sides found it hard to come to terms with the conditions in a scrappy first half but Wexford were the dominant team in the first period. Wexford applied the early pressure and had two shouts for penalties in the first couple of minutes as a ball bounced up and hit the hand of a Cork defender and then Nicola Sinnott was prevented from attacking an Emma Hansberry corner, but referee Michelle O’Neill was not persuaded by either shout. Wexford then nearly scored when Cork keeper, Amanda Budden, couldn’t collect another Emma Hansberry corner, but Cork managed to clear. Edel Kennedy nearly connected with a Linda Douglas cross before Cork had their first effort on target with a free from 30 yards out after about 41 minutes, but Sophie Lenehan in theWexford goal had a relatively easy save to make for 0-0 at half-time but Wexford looking the better.

The warning signs for Wexford started with the beginning of the second period as Wexford, for some reason, never came out of the dressing-room. On two minutes, the talented Clare Shine of Cork met a cross from the right but put her curling effort a yard wide. On five minutes,Clare Shine then met a similar cross from the left but her shot hit the post of the Wexford goal and stayed out. Then, Wexford conceded a soft goal on eight minutes when Bourke of Cork met a Cork free at the far post with a free header and Cork were a goal ahead. Rianna Jarrett immediately replaced Linda Douglas for Wexford as the home team tried to magnify their attacking threat. However, a Wexford header from a free by Emma Hansberry free was the nearest the home team came to scoring a goal before Clare Shine was sent free with a through-ball and she managed to knock the ball past Sophie Lenehan for 2-0 to Cork. Wexford then brought on Katrina Parrock but a collection of hopeful long balls by Wexford either went too long or were cleaned up by a resolute Cork defence as Wexford’s ability to notch a goal look more far-fetched as the game went on. Cork then had a decent shout for a penalty which wasn’t given before, in injury-time, a Cork effort from an angle flew in at the near post to put Cork 3-0 ahead. So, 3-0 to Cork at full-time and a trip to the Aviva secured for the Lee-siders, with Wexford’s inability to use the ball properly looking like the major weakness on the day. Best for Cork were Clare Shine and Saoirse Noonan who looked like the only two players on the pitch playing on the same wave-length. For Wexford, Emma Hansberry, Lauren Dwyer and Edel Kennedy were the most impressive, but Wexford need to play higher-quality football as a team, and use the ball better, if they are to secure the league title.