WYW v Kilkenny WFC

[ForzaForth]

With four Wexford players still in Taipei on University duty, this was a potential banana-skin but proved not to be the case as Wexford attacked more at less at will, led by Katrina Parrock up front who improves with every game. With Jess Gleeson said to be recovering from illness, Wexford started with Sophie, Jenny, Nicola, Lolly, Lauren, Linda, Edel, Kylie, Orla, Emma andwith Katrina up front. Wexford started strongly and, on seven minutes, Katrina Parrock couldn’t direct a good cross by an excellent Emma Hansberry onto the target. Then, Emma Hansberry beat Tamara Furlong in the Kilkenny goal to a 50-50 ball, but her shot was deflected by the last Kilkenny defender for acorner. However, just before the quarter-hour mark, Edel Kennedy placed a through-ball to Kylie Murphy, who crunched Tamara Furlong in another 50-50, and the ball fell to Kylie for aneasy tap-in for 1-0 to Wexford. Wexford continued their pressure on the Kilkenny goal, and Jenny O’Keeffe clipped the top of the cross-bar with a shot/cross before Katrina Parrock headed over froma cross by Linda Douglas. On 28 minutes, Katrina Parrock seemed to make the game safe for Wexford as she headed home a cross by Wexford’s Jenny O’Keeffe as you couldn’t see Kilkenny getting two goals in the match. Two minutes later, an apparently nonchalant shot by Parrock with her left and presumed weaker foot, flew past Tamara Furlong in the Kilkenny goal from twenty yards out, and Wexford were three goals up. Kilkenny then had their first real effort on target when a volley from 35 yards out nearly caught Sophie Lenehan out in the Wexford goal but went wide. Orla Casey nearly added a fourth for Wexford with a header which went just wide of the Kilkenny upright and Wexford were three goals ahead at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford coasted the second half and started with a delicate chip by Emma Hansberry from the left wing which gave Tamara Furlong no chance for 4-0. On 55 minutes, Kilkenny pulled a goal back when substitute Plunkett did really well to stretch beyond the far post to volley home past Sophie Lenehan from the acutest of angles for 4-1. However, Kilkenny didn’t really threaten Wexford’s goal after that. First substitute for Wexford was Amy Wilson making her debut who impressed by using the ball really well on the left wing. Later substitutes for Wexford were Siobhan Doolan and Megan Cahill who also made her debut with Siobhan replacing Katrina Parrock who got a smack right in the face by a clearance from Tamara Furlong. So 4-1 to Wexford at full-time who now have four matches left and four wins will win them the title. Next up for Wexford is a tasty match next Saturday against Shelbourne who have been really impressing up in Belfast. Best for Wexford were Katrina Parrock, Emma Hansberry, Kylie Murphy and Edel Kennedy. For Kilkenny, a word of commendation for Sylvia Gee, an unsung hero of women’s football in Ireland who was still ready to battle with Edel Kennedy physically and verbally on ninety minutes and who was playing for Ireland before some of the Wexford players were even born. 4-1 to Wexford at full-time and three more valuable league points.