WYW v Peamount (Cup)

Wexford progressed to the FAI Cup final after a really absorbing game against Peamount in Greenogue this evening, but the away side will probably be puzzled as to how they needed to go to extra-time. With the return of Lauren Dwyer and Lynn Marie Grant from absences, the Wexford panel looked stronger than it has been for some time and Wexford started with Kiev, Della, Lauren, Nicola, Lolly, Teegan, Edel, Aoibheann, Ciara and with Ellen playing behind Kylie up front. In contrast, the Peas were without key players such as Karen Duggan, Tiegan Ruddy and Megan Smith Lynch. If ever Wexford were to get past Peamount, surely this evening was going to be the occasion. The first half was relatively even. The first half began with an early Peas effort on target which was pushed away by the excellent Kiev Gray in the Wexford goal. First real effort on the Peas goal came for Wexford on 18 minutes when Lolly Conlon drilled an effort from distance a yard or two wide. Wexford then won two corners and between which they shouted for a peno, but nothing was given. Wexford’s Ellen Molloy and Peamount’s Lucy McCartan then came close to scoring with McCartan getting the closer of the two as she scraped the outside of the Wexford post with a good shot. More chances were exchanged when Wexford’s Kylie Murphy had a goal-bound flick which was pushed away for a corner by Niamh Reid Burke in the Peamount goal and Kiev Gray in the Wexford goal had to save an Alannah McEvoy volley. Another couple of chances followed for either side as Kiev Gray produced her best save of the game up till then as she pushed away an Aine O’Gorman shot with an athletic one-handed stretch. Then Wexford’s Ciara Rossiter went through on goal but Reid Burke was able to claw the shot away for a Wexford corner. The first goal, when it came, was from an expected source as Wexford’s Kylie Murphy produced a bullet header from a Wexford corner which thumped off the bottom of the crossbar and in to put Wexford ahead. Ciara Rossiter then had another chance to put Wexford further ahead but couldn’t finish past Reid Burke and it was 1-0 to Wexford at half-time.

If the first half was relatively even, Wexford dominated the second period, and the only criticism you could make of the Slaneysiders was that they didn’t make the game safe. With Wexford dominating midfield, the ball remained largely in Peamount’s own half as Wexford’s Teegan Lynch had a shot pushed away for a corner and Ciara Rossiter had two decent chances, the latter of which was saved by Reid Burke at the expense of another Wexford corner. From that corner, the ball pinged around the Peamount six yard area, but Wexford couldn’t convert a number of headed efforts. With fifteen minutes left in the game, Lynn Marie Grant came on for a welcome return for Wexford and was later followed onto the Wexford side by Sinead Taylor. However, Peamount rallied in the final ten minutes with former Wexford player, Lauren Kelly, going close for the Peas and Stephanie Roche having a shot just pushed around the post by an ever-vigilant Kiev Gray in the Wexford goal. Just as you thought Wexford were in the final, the Peas best player, Aine O’Gorman, produced a shot/cross from an acute angle to finish just inside’s Wexford far post and it was 1-1.

Game then moved to ten minutes each way of extra-time but it was Wexford which soon regained dominance as, inside the first minute, Ellen Molloy set up Kylie Murphy inside Peamount’s penalty area and her calm finish restored Wexford’s lead at 2-1. After Nicola Sinnott had picked up a yellow and Peamount’s Aine O’Gorman couldn’t keep a free on target, it was Wexford who went a further goal ahead when Lynn Marie Grant was sent free down Wexford’s right and her lovely chipped finish gave Reid Burke no chance and it was 3-1 to Wexford. The second half of extra-time finished with Peamount’s Chloe Moloney heading over from close range, Kiev Gray in the Wexford goal catching a dangerous cross brilliantly to keep Peamount out, and Ellen Molloy for Wexford going close with two chances. Final late sub for Wexford was Lynn Craven. Wexford will therefore meet Shelbourne in the final on 21 November in Tallaght. Really dominant display by Wexford with Kiev Gray impressing in goal, the Wexford defence of Della, Nicola, Lauren and Lolly looking better and better as the game went on, Kylie Murphy being the deadly finisher in front of goal and Ciara Rossiter and Ellen Molloy getting close to notching a brace apiece during the game. But I’ll reserve my player of the match award for Wexford’s Edel Kennedy who was nothing short of extraordinary in her ability to win the ball and close Peamount’s players down in all areas of the pitch. For the Peas, Aine O’Gorman was head and shoulders the best player but was ably supported by Alannah McEvoy and Stephanie Roche. 3-1 to Wexford after extra-time.