WYW v Cork

[ForzaForth]

Wexford had to rely on some quality finishing by their star forward, Rianna Jarrett, and also benefit from a horrendous piece of refereeing at the end as they squeaked past Cork by two goals to one and thus keep their league challenge alive. Manager Tom Elmes made a number of changes and started with Maeve, Becky, Lolly, Ciara, Doireann, McKenna, Lauren, Kylie, Aoife, Katrina and with Rianna up front. Wexford had most of the ball in the first half but went in at the break at one goal apiece. On six minutes, the excellent Cork keeper, O’Sullivan, pulled off a great save to prevent Katrina Parrock of Wexford from scoring at the far post from a cross by Rianna Jarrett. On nine minutes, Cork themselves had a good chance to score but Dring of Cork volleyed wide when the ball came over her shoulder inside the Wexford area. On 28 minutes, Wexford went ahead when a long ball by Doireann Fahey was volleyed home sumptuously by Rianna Jarrett. Rianna then followed this by another volley which O’Sullivan pushed around her post for a corner. Out of the blue, Cork equalised on 41 minutes when they were awarded a peno and Eabha O’Mahoney knocked it off the spot cleanly past Maeve Williams in the Wexford goal. 1-1 at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford continued to press for their second goal straight from the kick-off and, on nine minutes, Rianna Jarrett missed a header at the far post from a Katrina Parrock cross that looked like an easy chance. Kylie Murphy than headed over the Cork bar from another Wexford cross. On 61 minutes, Edel Kennedy and Aisling Frawley came on for Wexford. Edel Kennedy had an early shot at the Cork goal, before Rianna Jarrett produced another quality finish when she allowed the ball to beat the Cork defender before smacking an unstoppable shot past O’Sullivan for 2-1. Rianna then had another effort a yard wide before forcing O’Sullivan to push another effort around her post for a corner. Wexford’s Lauren Kelly then lifted the ball over the Cork bar from close in and, as the game drifted towards the finish, Cork forced a break on the Wexford goal with only one defender to beat. Lolly Conlon as the last defender for Wexford tried to impede the Cork attacker who kept going despite the attempted foul. Just as the Cork attacker got her shot away, the referee, who had been fairly poor all day, blew for a free in and the justifiable Cork complaints were made even worse as the ball ended up in the Wexford net. The resulting free for Cork produced nothing and Wexford had got home by two goals to one. Late sub for Wexford was Lauren Dwyer with Rianna Jarrett, Lauren Kelly and Katrina Parrock impressing for Wexford on the day.