WYW v UCD Waves

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Absorbing game in Ferrycarrig tonight between two of thetitle contenders but WYW were probably value for their 2-1 win and the vital three points. Wexford started with Sophie, Nicola, Jess, Lolly, Lauren, Linda, Katrina, Kylie, Becky, Aisling and with Claire up front. Unfortunately missed a good chunk of the first half but was told that the match was pretty even. On the half hour, Wexford had a good corner which nobody on the home side could convert as it bounced across the UCD goal. This was followed by a long-range shot by UCD’s dangerous forward, Aine O’Gorman, but it proved an easy catch for Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal. A good cross by Linda Douglas then had Brooke Dunne scurrying backwards in the UCD goal but she managed to hold on well. 0-0 at half-time with both sides looking even enough from the limited time there.

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Wexford had an early corner in the first minute of thesecond half and again couldn’t convert and this was followed by Rianna Jarrett coming on in place of Katrina Parrock. Wexford then tended to dominate the remainder of the game to eventually merit the three points. Soon afterwards, Aisling Frawley was almost through on goal after a good Wexford move, but a last-ditch tackle led only to a corner. This was followed by a Lauren Dwyer chip which went a foot over the UCD crossbar. With 21 minutes to go in the game, Wexford went deservedly ahead when Rianna Jarrett got her head first to a cross, which put Claire O’Riordan in the clear, and her shot, which cut across the ball, hit the underside of the crossbar and in to put Wexford ahead. UCD then hit back almost immediately when a shot from 20 yards out hit the Wexford post but stayed out. Emma Hansberry, coming back after about six weeks injury, then came on in place of an excellent Linda Douglas. With 12 minutes to go in the game, Wexford looked to make the game safe when a Wexford corner fell to Rianna Jarrett after a run by Kylie Murphy had distracted the UCD defence. It may have taken a touch on the way in but they all count and Rianna had notched a goal after her long lay-off and Wexford were 2-0 up. With six minutes to go, another long-term absentee of more than a year, Edel Kennedy, made a very welcome return in place of Claire O’Riordan and immediately showed her tigerish ability to win back ball in the middle of midfield. After a yellow for Lauren Dwyer of Wexford for a jersey-pull, UCD got a late goal back when a curling shot beat Sophie Lenehan who got her fingertips to it but couldn’t keep it out. 2-1 at that stage but the last chance was to fall to Rianna Jarrett who was through on goal but it was saved by Brooke Dunne.

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So 2-1 to Wexford at full-time who now go top of the table and suddenly have a lot of fire-power on the bench with the returning absentees. Impressed, in particular, by Jess Gleeson who had a smashing game stalking the ever-impressive Aine O’Gorman for UCD and Becky Cassin who had her best-ever game in midfield for Wexford while Claire O’Riordan’s hold-up play was without parallel at times. About 100 at the game, I reckon.