WYW v Galway (Cup Semi-Final)

Massive game for Wexford in order to prolong their season as they faced Galway in the first of the women’s FAI Cup semi-finals in Ferrycarrig this evening. And it turned out to be a dramatic tie although Wexford should have probably got home in an easier manner than they did as they dominated the game for long periods. Wexford began with Maeve, Lynn, Lolly, Nicola, Ciara, Aisling, Edel, Kylie, Lauren Kelly, McKenna and with Rianna up front. Wexford began on the front foot early on before Galway had a shout for a peno as a Galway shot struck Lolly Conlon but it didn’t look like handball to me. Wexford’s Lauren Kelly then was almost put free in on the Galway goal but Abbey Ronayne in the Galway goal got down well to save. Galway then went in front when a bad error in the Wexford defence allowed Chloe Singleton to score although I may be wrong with that goalscorer. Wexford needed to respond and did so on 24 minutes when McKenna Davidson won the ball in the Galway area and then when it rebounded to her, she managed to steer it into the corner of the net with her left foot and it was 1-1. This gave Wexford an obvious lift in their game and four minutes later, Rianna Jarrett tucked home a cross by McKenna Davidson close in for 2-1. Wexford continued to dominate and Lauren Kelly smashed a shot off the Galway crossbar before Rianna blasted a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the Galway goal. With two minutes to go in the half, Edel Kennedy then tested the strength of the Galway crossbar again. Wexford 2-1 ahead at half-time and deserving to be in front.

Just as the second half started, Rianna pounced on a short kick-out by Galway, smacked the Galway crossbar again but put in the rebound after it came back to her and it was 3-1 to Wexford. Rianna then teed up Aisling Frawley who couldn’t keep her shot on target. A rare Galway attack then produced a corner which was finished close in by Galway’s Aoife Thompson and it was game on again at 3-2 for the home side. Rianna Jarrett is now becoming virtually unplayable at this level when she runs at defenders with the ball at her feet and, with nine minutes to go in the game, drove hard into the Galway area where she was taken down with a peno for Wexford. Kylie Murphy despatched the spotter with ease and it was 4-2 to Wexford. Rianna unfortunately was unable to continue after this hefty challenge with what looked like a thigh injury and was replaced by Vanessa Ogbonna. Other subs for Wexford were Lauren Dwyer and Becky Cassin. Wexford had secured their final berth at this stage and got home at the final whistle by four goals to two. In addition to Rianna Jarrett, good performances by Kylie Murphy and Edel Kennedy in the midfield for Wexford and by the back four, with Nicola Sinnott outstanding. Maybe, 100 or so at the game.