O’Riordan nets the winner
CORK CITY WEXFORD YOUTHS 1 2
CLAIRE O’RIORDAN fired Wexford Youths past Cork City and into the Continental Tyres Women’s National League Cup semi-finals with a last-gasp winner in Bishopstown on Sunday.
The visitors rang the changes for the trip to Leeside with Ciamh Dollard, Ciara Delaney, Becky Cassin, Becky Conroy and Rianna Jarrett all coming into the starting line-up. Some of those changes were enforced, some were tactical, but they didn’t blunt Wexford’s winning intent.
Indeed, despite the scoreline, apart from their opening league win against Limerick, this was as comfortable as Wexford have been this season.
They were rarely under pressure and were able to boss their hosts in a way they couldn’t quite manage in the league eight days earlier.
Psychologically Cork may have been damaged by the departure of manager Frank Kelleher since that encounter in Ferrycarrig Park. However, they were certainly destabilised by an injury to key midfielder Savannah McCarthy.
Still, Wexford were hardly at full strength either but their squad depth clearly shone through. They were the more dangerous side in the first-half, with the excellent Rianna Jarrett denied on one occasion by Cork goalkeeper Amanda Budden and on another by missing the target.
Despite controlling the game, Wexford fell behind against the run of play. It was an unfortunate goal too with defender Nicola Sinnott - a player of the month nominee - slipping when attempting to deal with a Becky Conroy pass. Michelle O’Driscoll latched onto it and fired City ahead in the 29th minute.
Youths introduced Edel Kennedy at the break and that only solidified them more. It resulted in a re-shuffle at the back but it was in attacking positions that Wexford continued to cause Cork problems.
After a couple of saves by Budden, Wexford found their equaliser in the 50th minute when Orlaith Conlon headed Aoibhín Webb’s right wing corner into the roof of the net from just outside the six-yard box.
Youths continued to boss the game and could have scored on any number of occasions as the half wore on.
However, the visitors lost Webb to a knee injury in the final ten minutes and they had to have another re-shuffle.
Just when it looked like extra-time was calling, Rianna Jarrett whipped in a low cross from the right. Budden and Ciara McNamara collided and with both on the ground the ball bounded out to Claire O’Riordan and she curled home from the edge of the area to win it for Wexford.
Youths go into the hat for the semi-final with U.C.D. Waves, Galway United and Peamount, winners over Shelbourne in the big tie of the round.
That draw will be made in the coming weeks with ties to be played on the week ending July 29.
It’s back on the road again this weekend when Wexford travel to the capital to face U.C.D. Waves on Sunday. They follow that with another away game, six days later against current league leaders Shelbourne.
Wexford Youths: Ciamh Dollard, Ciara Delaney, Nicola Sinnott (capt.), Lauren Dwyer, Orlaith Conlon, Becky Cassin, Orla Casey, Aoibhín Webb, Becky Conroy, Rianna Jarrett, Aisling Frawley. Subs. - Edel Kennedy for Delaney, Claire O’Riordan for Casey, Amy Walsh for Webb, inj., also Sophie Lenehan, Katrina Parrock, Cliodhna Ní Shé, Rachel Hutchinson.
Cork City: Amanda Budden; Courtney O’Keeffe, Maggie Duncliffe, Ciara McNamara, Natalie O’Brien, Kate O’Donovan, Saoirse Noonan, Michelle O’Driscoll, Eadaoin Lyons, Christina Dring. Subs. - Clare Shine for Lyons, Amy McCormack for O’Keeffe, Danielle Sheeny for O’Driscoll, also Eva Badana, Mary Barrett.
Referee: Jason Mannix (Cork).