Wexford FC Women v Waterford

First South-East derby and Wexford pushed all the way by a very game Waterford team with the home side needing a few crucial interventions by their keeper, Maria O’Sullivan, to ensure that they secured the three points. Wexford started with Maria, Lolly, Della, Lauren D, Becky, Aoife, Leah, Ellen, Lauren K, Freya and Siun. Wexford started brightly and, on three minutes, Siun Murdiff was set up with a chance of a volley, but it wasn’t kept on target. Waterford then got close to an opening goal on 14 minutes when Jess Lawler hit a good effort from outside the area following a partially-cleared Waterford corner, but Maria O’Sullivan was able to tip it over the bar. Wexford probably looked the more likely to score as the half progressed but Waterford collectively have a good engine and made Wexford work hard for their chances. On 24 minutes, Leah McGrath was sent free down Wexford’s left but, with her weaker left-foot, she pulled her shot wide of Waterford’s far post. Six minutes later, a hard-working Lauren Kelly had a headed chance from a Siun Murdiff cross, but also headed wide. With six minutes to go in the half, Maeve Williams in the Waterford goal did well to keep out a Siun Murdiff effort. Just as the game appeared to be going scoreless into halftime, Wexford won a corner which was taken by Ellen Molloy and Della Doherty managed to convert with a far-post header. 1-0 to Wexford at halftime.

Game got a bit more stretched as the second half went on with chances at both ends. After an Ellen Molloy shot went wide of the Waterford goal, a stray back-pass by Wexford gave Waterford a clear one-on-one with Maria O’Sullivan, but the latter saved really well with her feet. Wexford then came close to getting a second through both Lauren Kelly and Leah McGrath. On 24 minutes, Millie Daly came on in place of Siun Murdiff for Wexford. Immediately after the Wexford substitution, Wexford’s Maria O’Sullivan prevented Waterford getting an equaliser with another one-on-one save. Wexford then got their security second goal on 34 minutes but it had a touch of controversy. The ball bounced outside the Waterford area and both Maeve Williams and Ellen Molloy challenged but neither made contact with the ball but instead made contact with each other. The loose ball then fell to Wexford’s Millie Daly and she deftly chipped it into the empty Waterford net for 2-0 to Wexford. Game over at this stage but further Wexford sub, Aine Walsh, had a good chance very late on when she ran in from the right but her shot cannoned off the Waterford bar. 2-0 to Wexford at fulltime with a very impressive effort by the newly formed Waterford side. Best for Wexford, together with netminder, Maria O’Sullivan, were Aoife Kelly, Becky Cassin, Della Doherty and Lolly Conlon.