WYW v Limerick

[ForzaForth]

WYW kept the pressure on the chasing pack with a comprehensive win against Limerick in UL this evening which was as comfortable as the scoreline suggests. Wexford started with Ciamh, Nicola, Lauren, Lolly, Becky, Aisling, Kylie, Edel, Orla, Claire and with Rianna up front. Wexford found it difficult enough to break Limerick down in the first half on the hard pitch. Early on, Edel Kennedy had a good effort deflected the wrong side of the post for a corner. On ten minutes, Aisling Frawley could only help the ball over the bar in front of an empty net when the ball may have bounced more than she expected. Just as Wexford seemed to be struggling to get their first goal, it came about when Edel Kennedy just beat Trish Fennelly in the Limerick goal to get to the ball first, and Edel’s effort bobbled over the line before the final Limerick defender could clear it. 1-0 to the away side. Wexford continued to press and the second goal came on 33 minutes when Claire O’Riordan finished well a good cross by Aisling Frawley. 2-0 to Wexford at half-time with Limerick having hardly troubled Ciamh Dollard in the Wexford goal.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford brought on Amy Walsh at half-time in place of Lauren Dwyer who had got a few knocks in the first half and Amy’s natural left foot improved the shape of the team with Becky Cassin also moving to her correct right side. The game was over in the first minute of the second half when Aisling Frawley released Rianna Jarrett down the right wing, and her first-time low shot flew past Fennelly in the Limerick goal for 3-0. Emma Hansberry, making her very welcome first appearance of the season after a long injury lay-off, came on in place of Orla Casey around the hour mark and impressed right away with the range of her passing. It was 4-0 on 76 minutes when Rianna Jarrett buried a rebound off Fennelly into the Limerick net. Katrina Parrock came on for Aisling Frawley and almost scored with her first touch when her first-time effort just went the wrong side of the post. With eight minutes to go, Limerick got a nice goal back when Marie Curtin buried a free from just outside the Wexford penalty area. However, Rianna Jarrett again showed her predatory instinct to restore the four-goal advantage for Wexford by completing her hat-trick when she snapped up another rebound – this time off the cross-bar for 5-1 and that ended up as the final score following a decent performance by the Wexford side. Best for Wexford were Rianna, Nicola and Claire while Emma Hansberry had a great half-hour cameo on her return. For Limerick, Marie Curtin and Megan Kelleher showed well. 5-1 at full-time in front of a very good Gaynor Cup crowd.