WYW v Shelbourne LFC

[ForzaForth]

Engrossing game in the AUL Complex last night, but whileWexford got two late goals to force an exciting finish, in truth they left themselves with too much to do and paid the penalty for a curate’s egg performance – good in parts and poor in other parts. With Linda Douglas unfortunately missing, Wexford started with Sophie, Nicola, Jess, Lolly, Lauren, Aoibhin, Kylie,Becky, Aisling, and with Claire playing behind Rianna. Wexford started the brighter and, with some good passing, created a few chances. Onten minutes, Jess Gleeson took a long free which fell to Rianna Jarrett on the bounce, but the angle became too difficult to get her volley on target. Rianna than had another sighter on goal soon after but her shot was half-blocked and Amanda McQuillan, who had an impressive night in the Shelbourne goals, was able to gather easily. Wexford won’t be happy with the standard ofthe goals they conceded and the first came on 15 minutes when a long free fell in oceans of space to the one player you must get tight to, Leanne Kiernan, and she was able to knock it part Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal for 1-0 toShels. Rianna then had a good turn and shot but it went over the bar before Wexford nearly gifted another goal to Shels when a blind back-pass fell to Leanne Kiernan, but it resulted in only a Shelscorner. Wexford then had another bout of wayward passing before, on 35 minutes, Niamh Prior hit over a cross from the left which found Leanne Kiernan unmarked again in front of goal and it was2-0. With six minutes to go in the half, Rianna Jarrett turned her marker again but with only McQuillan to beat,the latter was just able to get a fingertip to it and it trickled just the other side of the post for a Wexford corner. Wexford then had a couple of more efforts on goal but all proved easy practice for McQuillan and the half finished with Shelbourne ahead by 2-0.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford had a decent spell at the start of the second period and Claire O’Riordan hit the bottom of the post when coming at McQuillan at an angle before a minute later, Becky Cassin hit the bar from 25 yards out with McQuillan well beaten. It looked like it wouldn’t be Wexford’s day at that stage and, just on the hour mark, Edel Kennedy came on for Rianna. With eighteen to go, Emma Hansberry came on in place of Aoibhin and both subs made a difference although both are just back from long-term injuries, particularly in the case of Edel. Orla Casey then replaced Lauren Dwyer who hobbled off before Sophie Lenehan, who had been getting glowing comments from fans near me, touched over acrobatically a good effort on goal from Roma McLoughlin of Shels. Just on eighty minutes, Sophie, who had been looking rock solid catching the high ball, dropped the easiest one of the night, a below waist corner, and Shels were three up. A minute later,Emma Hansberry put in a cross from the left which landed on a plate for a Claire O’Riordan header and Wexford had a goal back. McQuillan then pulled off the save of the night to touch away an Orla Casey rocket which looked to be going into the top corner. However, Wexford continued to press with the urgency which they hadn’t shown for the whole match and Jess Glesson turned on the ball inside the penalty area and her shot was deflected off a defender into the other side of the Shels goal and there was nowonly a goal in it. There was only injury time left and Wexford didn’t really look like getting a third in the few minutes that were left to leave Shelbourne winners by 3-2. Best for Wexford on the night were Aisling Frawley, Nicola Sinnott, Sophie Lenehan (excepting the one error), and Jess Gleeson while McQuillan, Kiernan, Kavanagh and McLoughlin looked good for Shelbourne. The league is still in Wexford’s hands with six games to go, but you wouldn’t rule out Shelbourne yet particularly with Gloria Douglas warming up on the pitch beforehand.