Encouraging effort by the home side in a sun-drenched Ferrycarrig this evening, but ultimately the strength of Athlone’s forward line proved the difference in a reasonably close game. Wexford started with Maria, Lolly, Della, Lauren D, Becky, Aoife, Ellen, Lauren K, Rossi, Freya and Aisling. However, the shape of the home side wasn’t as expected with the usual left-full, Lolly Conlon, being pushed further up the pitch and Rossi, our traditional left-winger, switching wings to the right flank from the start. It left Wexford with two inexperienced full-backs facing Athlone’s key wide players, Madie Gibson and Roisin Molloy, although both Wexford players came out well in their respective battles. The threat out wide from Athlone manifested itself right from the start when a Madie Gibson cross just went past the Wexford far post, and then a cross from Athlone’s right went right across the Wexford goal without anyone getting a touch on it. Wexford’s main threat, Ellen Molloy, then had a good effort on goal but straight at Plaschko. On eleven minutes, Wexford looked to have scored when a low cross from the left by Lolly Conlon was turned goalwards by Aoife Kelly, but Plaschko managed to grab hold of the ball before it crossed the Athlone goal-line. More dangerous crosses by Athlone led to a diving header by Athlone which went just past the Wexford post and then Gibson had a cross/shot which was turned over the Wexford bar for a corner. Ellen Molloy next had a clear run in on the Athlone goal but a heavy touch allowed the ball to run into the grateful arms of Plashko. As the half progressed, Wexford found it difficult to keep Athlone out, with O’Sullivan and Dwyer making a wonderful double save to keep the ball out of the Wexford net. However, the goal eventually came for Athlone on 39 minutes, when what may have been a high foot on Lolly Conlon was let go unpunished, and the ball reached Mooney of Athlone inside the Wexford penalty area who knocked it home for 1-0 to Athlone. Another excellent goal-line clearance by Freya De Mange then prevented Athlone from increasing the margin and Athlone were a goal to the good at halftime.
Wexford found it hard to get back into the game at the start of the second half and it took the introduction of Siun Murdiff after 15 minutes to put a better shape on Wexford with Rossi being moved to her normal place on the left wing. Wexford did manage to get some shots on target as the half progressed but they generally proved to be easy saves for Plaschko in the Athlone goal. Wexford did have the ball in the net at one stage but it was ruled out for offside. Towards the end of the game, Athlone made the game safe when a half-clearance by the Wexford defence enabled Mooney to get her second with a gentle lob over Maria O’Sullivan in the Wexford goal. So, 2-0 to Athlone at the end with an important win for the away side in their bid to retain the title.
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