WYW v Cork City WFC (League)

The destination of the WNL title goes fittingly to the final game of the season after a campaign in which the width of a cigarette paper separated the top four or five teams. Wexford did enough in Cork this afternoon to secure a 1-0 win and thereby ensure that the title will be decidedfollowing Peamount’s visit to Ferrycarrig Park next Saturday. However, Peamount’s late winner against UCD Waves means that a draw or win for the Peas will be enough for them, while only a win will lead to Wexford re-gaining the title which they last won two years ago. Wexford manager, Laura Heffernan,made a few brave calls at the start of the Cork game by giving starting jerseys to Orla Casey, Rianna Jarrett, Aoibhin Webb and Katrina Parrock and went with Sophie, Linda, Lolly, Jess, Lauren, Katrina, Edel, Kylie, Orla, Aoibhin, Orla and with Rianna up front. It was clear from early on that Cork weren’t playing with the same intensity as in the WFAI cup semi-final against Wexford as they had undoubtedly one eye on the cup final in the Aviva next Sunday and had also played away to Galway last Thursday. It allowed Wexford to start brightly with Edel Kennedy volleying over the bar from a Wexford corner after two minutes and then Amanda Budden in the Cork goal doing well to smother a one-on-one from Orla Casey after five minutes. Edel Kennedy flashed another volley over the Cork bar on 15 minutes while Wexford’s keeper, Sophie Lenehan, was then called into action to grab a dangerous Cork cross on 20 minutes. The decisive goal for Wexford came on 22 minutes when Orla Casey was sent free down the left and her partially blocked cross fell invitingly to Aoibhin Webb at the near post who stabbed it home for 1-0 to the away side. Wexford continued their relative dominance in the first half as Rianna Jarrett had a chance to chip Amanda Budden but hit it too low and Kylie Murphy had a free header at the far post but couldn’t get it on target. The nearest Cork came to scoring in the first half came on 35 minutes when Sophie Lenehan had to dash outside her penalty area to tackle the oncoming Cork forward, and her sturdy tackle proved to be enough to prevent Cork from scoring. A late snap-shot from Wexford’s Lauren Dwyer was again a yard off the target to leave Wexford holding a deserved 1-0 lead at half-time.

Clare Shine, the glue which binds the Cork team together, came on as a substitute at the start of the second half and Cork’s forward play improved immediately as a result. However ,Wexford’s defence, with the versatile Linda Douglas replacing the injured Nicola Sinnott at right-full, generally held firm. Just before the hour mark, Aisling Frawley replaced Katrina Parrock for Wexford. Cork’s only chance of the second half came when a clever pull-back from the end-line found Clare Shine in space, but her first-time left-footed effort was blocked by the closing Wexford defender. Wexford then went close to getting a second when Orla Casey poked a shot wide after being set up by Aisling Frawley; Aisling tried a left-footed curling shot which hadn’t enough curl; and late substitute Emma Hansberry made Amanda Budden stretch to push a low shot around the post for a corner.

So 1-0 for Wexford at full-time and a win against Peamount next Saturday ensures that the title returns to Slaneyside. Best for Wexford, in addition to the stout defence was the tigerish Edel Kennedy in midfield, while Aoibhin Webb and Orla Casey also put their hands up for inclusion in the big match next Saturday. However, I’ll give my nod as player of the match to Rianna Jarrett who proved to be a major handful for the Cork defence for the 75 minutes she was on the pitch before being replaced by Claire O’Riordan and looks to be regaining more and more of her form from pre-ACL injury days.