Women’s fantastic first
European football secured with league glory
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL was secured by a Wexford team for the first time when the Youths Women were crowned FAI Continental Tyres National League champions with a 2-1 victory over titleholders Raheny United at Morton Stadium in Santry on Saturday, March 28, 2015.
Goals from Amy Walsh and Claire O’Riordan – now playing professionally in Germany – confirmed Willie Doyle’s side as outright winners with two games remaining in the campaign.
And their prize for a magnificent success was a place in the prestigious UEFA Women’s Champions League for 2016.
Hosts Raheny had the best of the first-half exchanges, with a run by Sarah Rowe – the Mayo all-rounder who is playing Australian Rules football down under at present – creating an opportunity for Siobhán Killeen, who disclosed her positive test for Covid-19 last week.
A block by Ciara Rossiter saved the Wexford women on that occasion, while netminder Mary Rose Kelly was at full stretch as a dipping volley by Rebecca Creagh swerved just wide of the post.
It was a different story on the re-start, with Youths taking the game to the Dubliners from the off.
Amy Walsh struck the crossbar, and a Carol Breen pot-shot from 30 yards missed the target, but a major setback followed as Siobhán Killeen’s lay-off put Under-16 international Jamie Finn through for the lead goal for Raheny.
The heavy rain which had engulfed Morton Stadium since just before half-time drew to a welcome halt, and Wexford were back on level terms four minutes later.
Amy Walsh’s sweetly-struck 30-yard free-kick flew into the net to drive the large visiting support wild with delight.
Two minutes later, Walsh turned provider as she slipped Claire O’Riordan in to grab her 16th goal of the season and seal the title for the first time.
Interestingly, the prolific scorer from Limerick has been transformed from attacker into defender since her move to MSV Duisburg in Germany in 2018.
She has made 15 international appearances since 2016, and is currently a member of Vera Pauw’s squad along with our own Rianna Jarrett, who was recovering from injury when Youths Women made the breakthrough five years ago.
The history-making Wexford Youths Women’s squad in 2015 was: Mary Rose Kelly, Aisling Frawley, Nicola Sinnott, Edel Kennedy, Jess Gleeson, Ciara Rossiter, Kylie Murphy, Becky Cassin, Amy Walsh, Claire O’Riordan, Carol Breen. Subs. - Aoife Cantwell, Rachel Hutchinson, Aoibhin Webb (all used), also Tamara Furlong, Orla Hickey, Meghan Whitty, Orlaith Conlon.