WYW v Shelbourne (League)

WYW took a massive step towards retaining their league title with a crucial 1-0 victory over nearest challengers, Shelbourne, in Ferrycarrig tonight. In what was a very tense nervy affair, whichever team could force a goal looked like grabbing the three points on offer. Wexford started with Sophie, Nicola, Lauren, Lolly, Doireann, McKenna, Edel, Emma, Kylie, Katrina and with Rianna up front. First half had very few chances with neither keeper being called into any meaningful action. On eight minutes, Wexford’s Katrina Parrock had a volley which was well wide. Shel’s impressive Rachel Graham then had a volley a yard over. With 14 minutes gone, Rianna Jarrett got on the end of an Edel Kennedy cross but the effort flew past the top corner of the goal. Katrina Parrock then had a good header just wide and after a yellow card for Wexford’s Emma Hansberry it was soon to be half-time with Shels only really looking a threat from rare set-pieces. 0-0 at half-time.

Second half opened up a bit more and it looked like Wexford were the more likely to score. Doireann Fahey had a free which went a yard over the bar early on with Wexford dominating possession more than Shels. The decisive goal for Wexford came from a corner. Taken by Emma Hansberry, it sailed to the far post almost under the cross-bar where two Wexford attackers and two Shels defenders all jumped. The ball seemed to get a couple of touches before going over the line with nobody sure who got the final touch. Kylie Murphy then put another corner by Wexford over the Shels bar with a header before Shels had their best spell of the game. It began with Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal grabbing a good half-volley by a Shels attacker with her first meaningful save of the game. Lenehan then got a touch to push a dangerous Shels effort away for a corner and the Wexford defence found it hard to clear the resulting corner but eventually got it away. With three subs used by Shels, Malinda Allan then limped off to leave Shels with ten players and it took a good save by Amanda McQuillan in the Shels goal to keep out a cracking volley by Rianna Jarrett to leave the score at 1-0 to Wexford at the final whistle. Subs used by Wexford in the second half were Aisling Frawley and Becky Cassin. Good performances by Wexford all over the pitch but I thought that Lauren Dwyer at the back for Wexford was again outstanding. Two wins from the final three matches will now be enough for Wexford for this remarkable side to retain the title.