WYW v Peamount (Wexford League Champions)

Deserved win and third league title in four years for an exceptional bunch of players as WYW physically dominated a Peamount side and finished comfortable 2-0 winners. Wexford made one change from the XI which started against Cork last weekwith Emma Hansberry getting a jersey in place of Katrina Parrock and started with Sophie, Linda, Jess, Lolly, Lauren, Orla, Edel, Kylie, Emma and with Aoibhin Webb playing behind Rianna Jarrett up front. Wexford started the better and seemed to benefit from the fact that they had to go for the win. On four minutes, player of the match, Emma Hansberry had a shot a yard wide and followed it up with another shot a minute later but it was a comfortable save for McAloon in the Peamount goal. On six minutes, Rianna Jarrett powered through the Peamount defence but her shot was blocked for a corner. Peamount’s goal threat came mostly fromAmber Barrett and her run and left-footed effort went wide but gave Wexford a timely warning. Wexford then survived two penalty appeals when Linda Douglas played the ball onto an arm and Heather Payne went down inside the Wexford penalty area but nothing was given in either case. Jess Gleeson then went off injured for Wexford and was replaced by Becky Cassin who went left full with Lauren Dwyer moving into the centre of defence. Sophie Lenehan then had to push a Peamount effort over her own bar. Just as the first half looked to be ending in a 0-0 stalemate, Emma Hansberry got the ball wide left and her by now trademark curling effort finished in the top corner at the far post and Wexford were 1-0 ahead at half-time.

Wexford generally looked comfortable in the second half as Amber Barrett continued to look isolated up front for Peamount. Wexford’s passing and movement looked better in this half also as Emma Hansberry and Aoibhin Webb used the ball to good effect. It led to an early headed chance for Rianna Jarrett on 48 minutes but it went straight to the hands of McAloon in the Peamount goal. Peamount’s Heather Payne then shot over from a tight angle but Wexford looked the more likely to get a second goal as Edel Kennedy’s shot was deflected to allow McAloon to grab it and Rianna Jarrett’s attempted flick past McAloon was caught by the latter. The insurance goal then came for Wexford on 68 minutes when Rianna Jarrett out-jumped an advancing McAloon and the ball trickled into the net to put Wexford in a comfortable position. Rianna, with another impressive performance under her belt, was immediately replaced by Claire O’Riordan. Amber Barrett’s best chance to get Peamount back into the game came on 70 minutes but a brave diving block by Sophie Lenehan prevented the Peamount ace from getting a goal back. Aisling Frawley replaced Orla Casey for Wexford who saw the game off comfortably to the end from then on to ensure that the league title returned to the South-East after a gap of a year. Wexford’s spine dominated on the day with Kylie Murphy and Edel Kennedy bossing midfield and Lolly Conlon and Lauren Dwyer ensuring that the injured Jess Gleeson was hardly missed in the middle of the back four. However, as well as scoring the crucial first goal, some of Emma Hansberry’s plays wide left were of the highest level on the night and I’ll give her the nod as my player of the match with a happy crowd of about 650 present to see the league trophy being secured by the home team. 2-0 to Wexford at full-time.