WYW v Shamrock Rovers

[ForzaForth]

For the second week in a row, Wexford showed that they can mix it with the teams ahead of them, particularly the Dublin ‘Big Three’, provided they play with sufficient intensity. On a difficult pitch, but not too bad, Wexford started with Claudia, Lolly, Lauren, Kylie, Emily, Ellen, Meabh, Michaela, Nicola, Aoibheann and Shauna. Shamrock Rovers started with a controlled passing game while Wexford harried to put the away side under pressure. Both sides largely cancelled each other out and chances were extremely scarce as a result. It took 26 minutes before a decent shot was got away by either side when Melissa O’Kane of Shamrock Rovers had a decent effort which went about a yard wide of Claudia Keenan’s goal. Wexford’s first genuine attack came on 33 minutes and led to the opening goal when Emily Corbet was sent free down Wexford’s right and her low cross was converted close in by Kylie Murphy to put the home side a goal ahead. Two more chances more or less finished the first half. Firstly, a good Wexford move nearly put Shauna Carroll in the clear but she was ruled offside on forty minutes. Then, Aine O’Gorman of Rovers fashioned a shot on her left but it proved an easy pick-up save for Claudia Keenan. 1-0 to Wexford at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Second half saw the game open up slightly but it still proved to be very attritional. After a yellow for Michaela Lawrence for a tackle on 15 minutes, Rovers’ Jaime Thompson had a good chance with a snapshot on twenty minutes but put it a yard wide of the Wexford post. With 20 minutes to go, Wexford brought on Abbie Brophy and Aine Walsh. Lolly Conlon manufactured a good block with ten minutes to go to keep Rovers out. Emily Corbet and Ellen Molloy then combined well to create a Wexford chance before Aine O’Gorman had a yard of space but blasted it well over the Wexford bar. After Lolly Conlon blocked another Rovers cross, a further cross by Rovers from the right was deflected into her own net by Wexford's Lauren Dwyer. 1-1 at this stage with Aine Walsh having a half-chance for Wexford late on to secure a second goal for the home side and Freya DeMange appearing for Wexford right at the end. Best for Wexford were Michaela Lawrence who was the most energetic of the midfielders on show while Aoibheann Clancy had her best game for some time for Wexford alongside Michaela. Also to the fore for Wexford were Meabh Russell and Lolly Conlon who had right games at full-back for the home side. For Rovers, Aine O’Gorman, Savannah McCarthy and Maria Reynolds impressed. 1-1 at fulltime.