Wexford Youths Women v Cork City Women

Untidy game in Ferrycarrig this evening in which neither side probably played at their best, but Wexford just about did enough to edge past a battling Cork side by the solitary goal of the game. Wexford began with Sophie, Nicola, Lolly, Lauren, Amy, Aisling, Edel, Kylie, Aoibhin and with Orla Casey playing behind Claire O’Riordan up front. Wexford started well and Aoibhin Webb nearly scored on four minutes but ref. Michelle O’Neill gave a free-kick to the away team. Wexford then created their goal on eight minutes when Orla Casey, looking comfortable in a forward position, broke down the left wing and crossed low for the unmarked Aisling Frawley inside the area who knocked it past Budden in the Cork goal for 1-0. However, Wexford rarely reached the same heights during the remainder of the game. On ten minutes, Sophie Lenehan was called into action in the Wexford goal when she pushed a terrific Saoirse Noonan free onto the top of the crossbar for a corner to Cork. On 21 minutes, Kylie Murphy had the ball in the net with an easy header from a Wexford free, but it was ruled out for offside. Cork then looked for a peno on the half-hourwhen a Cork forward attempted to round Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal but only a corner to Cork was awarded. Kylie Murphy then had a shot from distance pushed over the bar by Budden in the Cork goal for a Wexford corner and half ended shortly afterwards with Wexford having started well but having fallen away somewhat as the half wore on. 1-0 to Wexford at half-time.

Second half continued in the same untidy manner with both sides giving the ball away a bit too easily and chances were extremely scarce. Just before the hour mark Rianna Jarrett came on in place of Aoibhin Webb. Rianna had a rare chance a few minutes later when she side-footed a cross by Aisling Frawley wide of the target. SophieLenehan then made another excellent save in the Wexford goal when she pushed a good effort by Saoirse Noonan over her own cross-bar for a corner. Aisling Frawley then attempted to chip Budden in the Cork goal but sent it wide and Savannah McCarthy and Claire O’Riordan both got yellows for squaring up to each other. Cork’s real chance to go away with a point then occurred when a Cork forward couldn’t get a first-time shot on target from a reasonable angle from fairly close in. Late Wexford subs were Becky Cassin and Becky Conroy. Best for Wexford were Claire O’Riordan, Kylie Murphy and Edel Kennedy with the back five also doing well to largely snuff out any Cork threat with Nicola Sinnott using the ball particularly well down her side of the pitch. For Cork, Savannah McCarthy, Saoirse Noonan and particularly Danielle Sheehy impressed. 1-0 to Wexford at full-time.