Clean sheet remains elusive in handy south-east derby win
WEXFORD YOUTHS will go into Sunday’s FAI Women’s Cup final on the back of a comfortable victory over Kilkenny in their final home So Hotels Women’s National League game of the season in Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday.
However, Tom Elmes didn’t get the one thing he would have most wanted out of the game, the elusive clean sheet, after Ciamh Dollard fumbled Zara Lawless’ 50-yard free-kick into her own net in the 87th minute.
The goal could hardly sum up this run of 14 consecutive games without a clean sheet any more perfectly.
With the worst team in the league down to nine players, the Laois native allowed a nothing punt forward to slip past her into the net.
This run without a shut-out is by far the worst in the club’s history, having never even approached double figures since Youths were founded in 2011.
There were positives too, although against Kilkenny that should be a given.
With a bunch of changes, Wexford looked like a team just thrown together in the first 20 minutes.
When they did settle down, Kylie Murphy had the ball in the net in the 23rd minute, but a close offside call cancelled that one out.
McKenna Davidson was causing problems when coming central and picking her passes, and it was no surprise when she released Blessing Kingsley for the opener on the half-hour mark.
This was Kingsley’s best game for the first team, which is hardly surprising given she was playing in her best position through the middle for a change.
Davidson slipped Lauren Kelly in for the second in the 35th minute and sent Kylie Murphy clear to win a penalty that she converted herself.
Three up at the break, the second-half was always going to be a formality.
Youths had chances for a fourth, including a Kelly shot off the crossbar, before Ciara Rossiter drilled home in the 56th minute.
Nicola Sinnott tapped home the fifth after Murphy’s header was cleared off the line just before the hour mark.
Wexford managed to give Under-17 duo Kira Bates-Crosbie and Breda Cushen debuts from the bench and both acquitted themselves well.
With an undermanned Kilkenny side down to ten players, Rossiter sent Becky Cassin clear, and she cut in from the left and thumped past new ‘keeper Nicole Plunkett.
Kingsley dispossessed the stand-in stopper and made it seven before the visitors went down to nine when Tara Long followed Lia Reilly off injured.
Still, with two fewer players, Kilkenny battled away and were gifted a late goal from Dollard’s error.
Sunday’s final at the Aviva (12.05 p.m.) gives Wexford the chance to end the campaign with something to show for their efforts this season.
They must still squeeze in a back-fixture with Cork at some stage but that means next to nothing, with third spot in the league secured.
Wexford Youths: Ciamh Dollard; Lynn Craven, Lauren Dwyer, Nicola Sinnott, Ciara Rossiter; Aoife Slattery; McKenna Davidson, Kylie Murphy (capt.), Ciara Rossiter; Lauren Kelly, Blessing Kingsley. Subs. - Kira Bates-Crosbie for Murphy (61), Breda Cushen for Dwyer (65), Fiona Ryan for Rossiter (70), also Maeve Williams, Aisling Frawley, Orlaith Conlon, Edel Kennedy.
Kilkenny: Bronagh Kane (capt.); Aoife Brophy, Zara Lawless, Oleta Griffin, Alana Ruddy; Aisling Spillane; Lia Reilly, Tara Long, Kerri Duffy, Abigail Brophy; Nicole Plunkett. Sub. - Kayla Cooling for Brophy (46).
Referee: Brian Fenlon (Wexford).