WYW v Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Much better performance by Wexford against Shels than the insipid effort against the same opposition last week although Wexford will be disappointed by the concession of the crucial second goal in injury-time in the game tonight. Wexford started with Maeve, Nicola, Lolly, Lauren, Lynn, McKenna, Edel, Kylie, Ciara and with Aisling playing behind Rianna up front. Wexford began with a much better tempo than last week and Amanda McQuillan did well to push an early Edel Kennedy effort around the post for a corner. First Shels effort on goal came on 15 minutes but it was well over the Wexford cross-bar from the right-hand side. Like last week, chances were still hard to come by for both teams and Shels started to dominate possession through Alex Kavanagh and Chloe Mustaki in midfield. The first goal for Shels came on 28 minutes when the Wexford defence couldn’t clear and Jess Ziu prodded home from close range. Five minutes later, Wexford’s Edel Kennedy looked to have equalised but the goal was ruled out for a possible foul on the Shels keeper, McQuillan, which looked like a harsh call. Wexford then improved their game towards the end of the half and Rianna Jarrett had a free pushed around the post by McQuillan for a corner and Aisling Frawley scooped the ball over the Shels bar when well-placed. A late Shels shot then whistled just wide of the Wexford post to leave the score at 1-0 to Shels at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford again took the game to Shels in the second-half as they worked hard to press Shels high up the pitch. On six minutes, Rianna Jarrett forced McQuillan to make an excellent save with her legs from a low effort. The equaliser for Wexford came on 72 minutes when Jarrett turned inside the Shels box from a Wexford free, and her low shot left McQuillan with no chance for 1-1. Subs for Wexford during this half were Doireann Fahey, Aoife Slattery and Blessing Kingsley. Both sides went for the winner as Wexford’s Kylie Murphy smacked an effort a couple of feet over and then Maeve Williams pulled off a good save in the Wexford goal to prevent a certain Shels goal. Wexford then shouted hard for a peno for handball as a cross came into the Shels penalty area, but nothing was given. Alannah McEvoy for Shels then drove a shot wide as the ball came to her wide right. Just as the game seemed to be heading for a 1-1 draw, a cross by Shels found Jamie Finn alone in the Wexford box and her header into the corner of the net gave Maeve Williams no chance. So 2-1 for Shels who now are the only team who have a realistic chance of catching Peamount in the league. Last game, it seems, for Wexford’s Doireann Fahey who heads to the USA on a scholarship so best of luck to her – a super player for us since she moved to Wexford from Peamount.