Shels shatter latest title bid
Wexford tumble out of contention after crushing defeat
WEXFORD YOUTHS 2 SHELBOURNE 5
WEXFORD YOUTHS Women’s National League title challenge flatlined in Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday as they crashed to a crushing defeat versus Shelbourne.
Unfortunately for Tom Elmes’ side, they got the result their performance deserved as the visitors from the capital shredded them at will, scoring five times but threatening on many other occasions.
It’s now two years in a row that Wexford Youths have tumbled out of contention for the title before things even got close to a conclusion, and a lot of soul-searching needs to happen in the coming months because this is simply not good enough.
The disappointing thing about this performance was that Wexford were so slack in what was their biggest game of the season to date. From the first minute there was a serious lack of urgency and they paid the price soon and often.
None of the five goals Wexford conceded were exactly pretty, but the first and the last aptly bookended a defensive shambles. Given that Youths played two holding midfielders, it was alarming how easily their back line was penetrated.
Wexford were particularly off down their right, with both Lynn Craven and Lauren Dwyer well below par. The whole defence probably hasn’t been helped by the constant chopping and changing this season, with the quartet lacking cohesion.
The understanding wasn’t good, with players stepping up, and others dropping in, meaning they made a complete mess of dealing with the excellent Emily Whelan. The Shelbourne attacker latched herself to Nicola Sinnott, who had her caught offside multiple times, only for someone else to
be deeper keeping her on.
Realistically only Ciara Rossiter’s performance was good enough, particularly in the first-half when the local star had former Youth Jess Gleeson at sixes and sevens on the right side of the Shelbourne back three.
The way the visitors set up invited Wexford to attack wide areas, with the back three not getting a huge amount of protection on the flanks. That’s what made Ellen Molloy’s position on the right a little perplexing.
The uber-talented Kilkenny youngster naturally wants to cut inside, but that played right into Shelbourne’s hands. They kept the youngster boxed up and extremely quiet; there were a few nice moments but the Tolka Park side would have been delighted with how they defended that threat.
Molloy as a false nine with a natural winger like Aisling Frawley, regardless of her up and down
form, might have given Wexford a better platform to attack. In fairness, they looked constantly threatening attacking down the left and might have expected two goals to be enough, but it wasn’t even close.
The opening sixth-minute goal summed up a surprising lack of bite in Wexford. Edel Kennedy was beaten in a one-on-one by Whelan, and from there things opened up for the visitors. The attacker cut in from the left, slid a pass to Jessica Ziu and she sent a composed finish past Ciamh Dollard.
Kennedy responded well at the other end, and seven minutes later she slid Ciara Rossiter in on the left. The left winger’s first touch was perfect which made the second a lot easier than it looked, a calm finish past Rachel Kelly to level the scores.
Wexford were split apart in the 19th minute when Murray slipped a ball through that Whelan galloped on to, but Dollard did superbly well to get there, smothering the ball at the attacker’s feet to prevent a certain goal.
The hosts were getting some lovely balls into the box but there was generally a lack of numbers arriving to take advantage.
They were probably having the better of it until Aoibheann Clancy gave the ball away 30 yards from goal. Ciara Grant slipped Ziu in and she got just enough power on her shot to find the net off Dollard’s outstretched paw.
Had Wexford been able to get in at half-time just a goal down, things might have been different, but late pressure created a third Shelbourne goal. Ziu’s initial shot bounded off Dwyer’s head, and Wexford were still under pressure when Conlon blocked Gargan’s strike.
However, the ball came back to the Shels winger, who tangled with Edel Kennedy and went to ground.
Linesperson Michelle O’Neill gave the penalty, although there wasn’t enough contact to cause the theatrical dive, but Kennedy was naive grasping at Gargan’s arm and could have few complaints in the circumstances. Referee Derek Campion incorrectly booked Conlon.
Initially Ziu stepped up to the spot-kick and saw her penalty saved, but Dollard had advanced off her line prematurely. Michelle O’Neill signalled for a re-take and Murray smashed the second one in off the crossbar.
Down 3-1 at half-time, Wexford didn’t start the second period like a side with their title hopes hanging by a thread.
Conlon did have a long-range strike that was easily saved, but Shelbourne looked more likely to score the game’s fifth goal.
Grant had a shot saved by Dollard, Murray flashed one over the bar, and Isabeal Atkinson also missed the target with a strike.
Vanessa Ogbonna did give Wexford a little boost when she entered the fray as they improved as the game hit the hour mark.
They pulled themselves within a goal in the 63rd minute. Molloy knocked a free-kick into the box, Rossiter saw her header saved, but Kylie Murphy was able to turn in the rebound to make it game on again.
It didn’t last long. A simple long ball over the top sent Whelan away in the 68th minute.
There were calls for offside but it was far from clear, and Dollard came off her line, missed the ball and brought the Shelbourne striker down.
Murray stepped up again and coolly converted to make it 4-2. Tom Elmes rolled the dice and threw on the experienced attacking options he had on his bench. Wexford did okay, created some good chances, with Sinéad Taylor and Murphy spurning the best two.
It was somewhat fitting that Shelbourne finished with a clinching fifth. Comically, Craven stalled with her hand up for offside, despite keeping Ziu on by a full five yards, and the Shelbourne youngster strolled away and calmly completed her hat-trick to finish off the Wexford title challenge.
Youths have this coming weekend off for the international break but return to action on Saturday week when they host Galway. Realistically, all eggs need to go in the cup basket now, and their semi-final against Peamount follows at Ferrycarrig Park seven days later.
Wexford Youths: Ciamh Dollard; Lynn Craven, Lauren Dwyer, Nicola Sinnott, Orlaith Conlon; Edel Kennedy, Aoibheann Clancy; Ellen Molloy, Kylie Murphy (capt.), Ciara Rossiter; Blessing Kingsley. Subs. - Vanessa Ogbonna for Clancy (56), Aisling Frawley for Conlon (70), Sinéad Taylor for Kingsley (70), Lauren Kelly for Molloy (78), also Kira Bates-Crosbie, Fiona Ryan, Maeve Williams.
Shelbourne: Rachel Kelly; Jess Gleeson, Pearl Slattery (capt.), Jamie Finn; Rachel Graham, Ciara Grant; Jess Gargan, Noelle Murray, Jessica Ziu, Isbeal Atkinson; Emily Whelan. Subs. - Rebecca Cooke for Gargan (78), Alex Kavanagh for Murray (81), Kate Mooney for Graham (87), also Leah Doyle, Mia Dodd, Taylor White, Ella O’Connell.
Referee: Derek Campion.