Women claim win in Galway
Vital league tie Wednesday
GALWAY WEXFORD YOUTHS 1 2 WEXFORD YOUTHS claimed a crucial three points away to Galway ahead of a massive couple of weeks for the defending champions in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League.
Gary Hunt’s side host Shelbourne tomorrow (Wednesday), before travelling the Cork and league leaders UCD in the coming days as the race for the title in this shortened season hots up.
After a ropey start to the campaign, and with those fixtures upcoming, it was imperative that Youths managed to pick up the points in Eamonn Deacy Park. They managed to do just that after a tough battle with the westerners.
Keen to put a marker down after being held there last season when going for the title, Youths probed in search of an opener in the early stages.
The visitors took the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Jess Gleeson took a Maria Delahunty return from her own throw-in, whipped it into the box and Claire O’Riordan headed past Tina Hughes.
Wexford continued on the front foot and almost went two ahead five minutes later. Winger Linda Douglas broke through one- on-one with Galway goalkeeper Hughes but this time the hosts’ stopper won the battle, pulling off a fine save.
Just after the half-hour mark the home side drew level. Lynsey McKey sent a right-footed inswinging free-kick in from the left wing, and it almost evaded everyone but Shauna Fox got a touch to direct it past Sophie Lenehan in the Wexford goal.
Rachel Hutchinson drilled an effort from well outside the area that was spilled onto the crossbar by Hughes as the half wore down. Eventually the sides went in level at the break.
Jess Nolan had a great chance to put Galway in front early in the second-half but Lenehan made a superb save to deny the hosts. Youths lost Nicola Sinnott to injury early in the half but slowly found their feet again.
Wexford played some good football but couldn’t find the lead goal until Lenehan knocked long for Claire O’Riordan in the 75th minute.
Kylie Murphy gambled and made the run in behind the Galway defence, latching on to O’Riordan’s flick-through before smashing across goal to the net.
It capped a fantastic performance from Murphy who, along with the tireless defensive work of Maria Delahunty, really shone for the eventual victors. Galway forced a couple of corners but failed to create any clearcut chances.
With Delahunty, O’Riordan and Aisling Frawley doing a fantastic job of holding the ball up in the Galway half of the field, Wexford were able to see out the last five or so minutes without suffering any nervous moments.
Wednesday’s clash with Shelbourne in Ferrycarrig Park kicks-off at 7.30 p.m. and promises to be a cracking encounter.
Youths’ cup semi-final against Kilkenny has yet to be confirmed but it is expected to take place on the afternoon of Sunday, October 9.
Wexford Youths: Sophie Lenehan; Nicola Sinnott, Jess Gleeson, Lauren Dwyer; Rachel Hutchinson; Linda Douglas, Kylie Murphy, Emma Hansberry, Aisling Frawley; Maria Delahunty; Claire O’Riordan. Subs. - Amy Walsh for Sinnott, inj., Chelsee Snell for Dwyer, inj., Orla Casey for Hutchinson, also Aoibhín Webb, Tamara Furlong, Leanne Tumulty, Becky Cassin.
Galway: Tina Hughes; Shauna Fox, Therese Hartley, Keara Cormican, Ella O’Flaherty, Méabh de Búrca, Sabhdh Doyle, Caroline Carter, Lucy Hannon, Lynsey McKey, Jess Nolan. Subs. - Aoife Walsh for Nolan, also Jennifer Chambers, Yvonne Hedigan, Louise Craven, Grace Mullins, Chloe Maloney, Aislinn Meaney, Aoife Walsh.