Women made swift impact
Fourth and third place finishes in first two campaigns
WEXFORD YOUTHS Women have left an indelible imprint on the football landscape in Ireland since coming into existence in late 2011.
Eddie Cullen has enjoyed a long involvement with the club behind the scenes and, in the first of a series of articles on their proud history to date, he starts by recalling their first two campaigns.
Rianna Jarrett was nominated for the Under-17 international player of the year, having played in the World Cup at that level in 2010, and also featuring in two friendlies in Austria, scoring in one of the matches.
Jessica Gleeson and Ciara O’Brien were also in that Ireland squad.
Cherelle Khassel, who joined the club in December, 2011, from L.A. Strikers, collected the Bus Eireann player of the month award for March, 2012.
Cherelle, a former Republic of Ireland Under-19 international player, was nominated for the international player of the year at that grade in early 2011. Nikki Dunphy was named on the first Bus Eireann team of the year.
All in all, the season 2011-’12 proved to be a very solid start by the Wexford Youths Women. and centre-half Ciara O’ Brien left the club, having secured full-time soccer scholarships in America.
The closed season saw a big turnaround of players, with Celine Slye, Sadie Murphy, Fiona Bennett and Amy Devereux being among a large number that departed, while Cherelle Khassel moved on in November, having signed for English side Brighton & Hove Albion.
On a very positive note, Youths added an impressive array of new talent to their ranks.
In came goalkeepers Mary Rose Kelly and Tamara Furlong, and the squad was further strengthened with the introduction of Lauren Dwyer, Ciara Rossiter, Aisling Frawley, Aoibhín Webb, Amy Walsh, Lucy Sherwin, Aideen Egan and Krista Minto.
Showing the potential of some of the new signings, Lauren Dwyer, Ciara Rossiter and Aisling Frawley were all part of the Irish Under-17 squad that qualified for the elite phase of the UEFA European Championship.
All three played in the final game against Finland, with Aisling scoring the winning goal.
It proved to be a very successful season for Lauren Dwyer, the Bus Eireann player of the month for March. She also won the Under-17 Irish international player of the year award.
She was deservedly named on the Bus Eireann team of the year along with Wexford colleagues Mary Rose Kelly and Rianna Jarrett, with the latter recognised further for her individual ability.
As well as her place on the team of the year, she was also named as the Bus Eireann National League young player of the year, as well as winning January’s player of the month.
On the international scene, Rianna was a member of the Irish Under-19 squad that qualified for the elite stage of the UEFA European Championship, getting on the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory over Cyprus.
She went on to score again in the first elite qualifying game against Italy that Ireland won 1-0.
Unfortunately, Rianna picked up a serious ACL injury in that game which kept her out of action for the rest of the season.
Even so, she still finished as Youths’ leading goalscorer for the campaign with 15 league goals.
Jess Gleeson - sister of Austin, the Waterford hurling star - travelled to Cyprus
with the Senior Irish squad, gaining great experience.
Wexford Youths Women improved on their first season’s league position, finishing in third place behind Raheny United who overcame the reigning champions, Peamount, who filled second spot.
Youths’ record for the season saw them win an impressive nine games, drawing four and losing only five of their 18 league games.
Under the strong leadership of John Flood and Lizzy Kent and their backroom team, Wexford Youths Women - in only the second season in the Bus Eireann National League - were already looking like strong contenders to become one of the leading lights in the top echelons of women’s senior soccer in Ireland.
TO BE CONTINUED