Wexford Youths Women v UCD Waves

Competent display by WYW on the all-weather pitch in Jackson Park this afternoon as they disposed of a game UCD Waves team in the Shield by the odd goal in three, but I reckon WYW manager, Tom Elmes, will want further improvement as they face sterner tests in the future. Tom made a couple of changes from the XI which started against Limerick and gave Ciamh Dollard her debut in goal, a back-fourof Nicola, Lolly, Lauren and Amy, a midfield five of Aisling, Edel, Kylie, Becky and Katrina and with Rianna Jarrett up front. The all-weather pitch in Jackson has a surprising amount of slope in it, and it book both teams quite a while to settle down and get used to the pace of the pitch. Ciamh Dollard had a quiet first 45 minute period as Wexford looked the more likely to score. First chance fell to Wexford on ten minutes when Katrina Parrock put in a low cross but the UCD defence cleared before Rianna Jarrett was able to pounce. This was followed by a first-time effort by Rianna with her left on 22 minutes but it was pulled wide. Kylie Murphy then tried to profit from a first-time clearance by Monica McGurk in the UCD goal but the latter got back to save well. On the half-hour, Aisling Frawley allowed a throw to run past her cleverly, and her low left-footed effort beat McGurk at her near post for 1-0 to Wexford. A few more half-chances followed for Wexford and it was 1-0 to the away side at half-time.

Second half started with Rebekah Carroll replacing Lolly Conlon with Rebekah impressing in defence for the second half. Three minutes into the half, good inter-play between Parrock and Murphy forced McGurk to save and then UCD had their first real threat on goal when Lauren Dwyer had to deflect a dangerous effort on theWexford goal away from danger for a UCD corner. Just after the hour mark, Aoibhin Webb replaced Katrina Parrock and went wide left. Shortly afterwards, Wexford forced three corners in a row and, from the third, Aoibhin Webb rose highest at the far post to head in for 2-0 to Wexford. You expected Wexford to cruise home from that point, but UCD had other ideas as they pulled a goal back with 12 minutes to go, when a through-ball was knocked past Dollard in the Wexford goal. Wexford then didn’t really take a grip of the game again and UCD nearly equalised when Dollard had to dive at a UCD attacker’s feet to smother a shot and the rebound fell to another UCD attacker who knocked it over the bar. Final sub for Wexford was, subject to correction, Cliodhna Ni She, also making her debut. You probably would have liked to see Wexford adjust their game to the conditions more than they did. Edel Kennedy and Kylie Murphy played well for Wexford while Rebekah Carroll had a good half following her entry onto the pitch and Ciamh Dollard looked very competent between the sticks for Wexford. But I’ll give my player of the match award jointly to Lauren Dwyer who was completely dominant at the back for Wexford and Rianna Jarrett whose technical ability shone brightly in the difficult conditions. 2-1 to Wexford at full-time who now progress to the semi-final. Good also to see the number of spectators on the increase at Jackson Park.