Wexford FC Women v Cork (Avenir Cup)

Draw probably a reasonable result as Wexford struggled to stamp their authority against a lively Cork side in Ferrycarrig this evening. Wexford made a number of changes from last week’s draw against Rovers and went with Maeve, Abby, Lolly, Della, Abbie, Emily, Ellen, Rossi, Nicola, Aoibheann and Freya. From the start, it was obvious that the home pitch has changed from very soft to decidedly bobbly within a week and it made passing particularly difficult. Wexford were pretty ropey for the first quarter hour or so as they struggled to make a decent attempt of playing out from the back. It led to Cork hitting the outside of Wexford’s post in the fourth minute and later having a goal disallowed for offside on 14 minutes. In a rare Wexford move upfield, Abbie Brophy had a lofted shot which hit Cork’s crossbar on nine minutes. Mainly through the attacking efforts of Ciara Rossiter, Wexford gradually got into the game and Nicola Sinnott had a header parried by Fitzgerald in the Cork goal on 17 minutes. Eight minutes later, Ellen Molloy was set up nicely by a cross by Emily Corbet inside the Cork area but shovelled her first-time effort over the Cork bar. On 32 minutes, Lolly Conlon, who had a really good game, had a fine reflex half-volley finish to put Wexford ahead when Fitzgerald palmed a Wexford corner out to her. Colleen Kennedy of Cork then could have done better on 39 minutes when she was put through one-on-one against Williams in the Wexford goal but could only pull her shot wide of the Wexford post. However, Cork got their equaliser on 44 minutes when Williams pushed away a Cork free and Cork’s Greulich finished from an acute angle. Surprisingly, there was enough time for Wexford to regain the lead when Ciara Rossiter broke down the left wing and her cross hit the back post and in to put Wexford 2-1 ahead at halftime.

Cork equalised again in the first minute of the second period when Cork made a break down their right and the cross left Kennedy with a tap-in finish. There were chances at both ends of the pitch thereafter with Cork going close when a block on a Maeve Williams clearance nearly ended up in Wexford’s goal and with Mia Lenihan and Ellen Molloy going close for Wexford. Wexford thought they had won the game with a minute to go when they scored from a Wexford free but it was ruled out for offside. About 17 minutes into the second half, Wexford made a triple substitution when Mia Lenihan, Kylie Murphy and Leah McGrath came on for Wexford. So 2-2 at fulltime with Rossi, Aoibheann, Della, Lolly and Ellen doing well for Wexford.