WYW v Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Game of high intensity and tension in this top-three clash in Ferrycarrig this evening with a dramatic finale as Wexford, despite being down to ten players, nicked a goal in the last minute of normal time through Lynn Marie Grant to keep the home side’s interest in the league very much alive. With Sinead Taylor and Lynn Craven out through injury, Wexford started with Kiev, Della, Nicola, Lauren, Lolly, Aisling, Edel, Aoibheann, Rossi and with Ellen and Kylie up front. Shels had the wind in their favour in the first half and probably shaded it although they couldn’t get past the strong showing of Kiev Gray in the home goal who was really excellent all game. Saoirse Noonan had an early shot for Shels which went a yard over, before on six minutes, Wexford’s Aisling Frawley was sent free down Wexford’s right, but her shot past Budden in the Shels goal was pulled a yard wide. Wexford had a decent spell in the middle of the half with a good effort from a free by Aoibheann Clancy and a header just over by Kylie Murphy. But Shels then forced Gray in the Wexford goal to make an excellent save to tip away a volley by Emily Whelan and a minute later, Gray was forced to make another save to push away a Shels effort on goal for a corner. As the first half entered its final minutes, the two skippers (Murphy and Slattery) got yellows for squaring up and Murray for Shels also got a yellow for a tackle. 0-0 at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford had the advantage of the breeze in the second period and forced Budden into a double save on ten minutes when she tipped a great free by Clancy onto her own crossbar and then to push away the headed rebound by Edel Kennedy of Wexford. Soon after that chance for Wexford, the home side were down to ten players when Kylie Murphy picked up a second yellow for a tackle. It took Wexford a while to come to terms with the player disadvantage, but midway through the half created two decent chances when Edel Kennedy and Ellen Molloy both came close to scoring. In contrast, Kiev Gray only had to show some decent handling skills during this time and looked entirely safe with all of them. Edel Kennedy then got a yellow for Wexford and Lynn Marie Grant came on as a sub for Wexford in place of Aisling Frawley. With a minute or two of normal time remaining, Wexford played the ball across the edge of Shels penalty area where Lynn Marie Grant slotted it coolly into the top-left corner to beat Budden and Wexford were ahead in a dramatic ending of a tight game. Wexford managed to play out the additional time to give the home side a needed victory by 1-0. Best for Wexford were Gray in goal, Della Doherty and particularly Lauren Dwyer who were magnificent in defence and Kennedy, Clancy and Molloy who worked enormously hard in midfield. For Shels, Jessie Stapleton, Pearl Slattery and Saoirse Noonan impressed. A new name on the Wexford teamsheet was Teegan Lynch who has signed from Sion Swifts.