WYW v Cork City (Wexford Champions)

Wexford continued their fantastic league form and retained their league title with an emphatic display against Cork City Women in Ferrycarrig tonight. Although Cork were missing their U17 league players and main goal threat, Saoirse Noonan, up front, they still had a strong defence ably marshalled by the excellent Savannah McCarthy. Wexford were missing Rianna Jarrett and Becky Cassin through injury and started with Sophie, Nicola, Lauren, Lolly, Doireann, Emma, Kylie, Aoife, Edel, Katrina and with Aisling up front. The necessary switches worked a dream for Wexford’s manager, Tom Elmes, as Emma Hansberry and Aisling Frawley, in particular, looked completely revitalised by their new positions while U19 international, Aoife Slattery, was a revelation in midfield for Wexford and deserved her player of the match award. WYW started on the front foot and should have gone ahead on nine minutes when Aisling Frawley “out-muscled” Savannah McCarthy on the Cork end-line but Katrina Parrock, coming off her left-wing, couldn’t finish at the far post. However, Wexford got the goal they deserved on the quarter-hour mark when a cross from the right by Kylie Murphy was volleyed home neatly by Katrina Parrock. With Wexford looking good in possession, Cork were limited to two long-range efforts by Maggie Duncliffe, but on neither occasion was she able to trouble Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal. With 27 minutes gone, Wexgord got what looked like the league-winning goal when the excellent Emma Hansberry’s effort from distance took a nasty arc over Amanda Budden’s head in the Cork goal as a result of a major deflection off a Cork defender. With Cork not really able to threaten the Wexford goal, Wexford glided serenely to the half-time whistle with a 2-0 lead.

Second half started with what looked like a bad injury to Wexford's Edel Kennedy but she was eventually able to hobble off without the need for a stretcher and was replaced by McKenna Davidson. McKenna soon had the ball in the Cork net but it was ruled out for offside. With 26 minutes gone in the half, a great Wexford one-touch move left Aisling Frawley free in front of goal, but Cork sub keeper, Eve Badana, did well to push Aisling’s effort over the bar for a Wexford corner. Coming into injury-time, Wexford got their third when a corner to the far post by Emma Hansberry seemed to be nudged into the Cork net by Lauren Dwyer. Late subs for Wexford were Orla Casey returning from injury and Cliodhna Ni She. An outstanding retention of the title by Wexford in a league where standards seem to be rising all the time and they can now look forward to the cup final in the Aviva in a fortnight’s time. Presentation of the league trophy and medals followed at the end of the game.