Dream move for Rianna
Striker snapped up by Brighton for six months
TWO AND a half months after Rianna Jarrett helped her Wexford Youths team to FAI Cup final glory, the Irish international striker has been snapped up by FA Women’s Super League side Brighton and Hove Albion.
Jarrett joined up with the seasiders in the last few days after putting pen to paper on a sixmonth contract.
The Wexford star will hope to impress in her time on the south coast as she attempts to turn the short term deal into a longer stint in England.
The striker, who is the all-time leading scorer for Wexford Youths, joined the Ferrycarrig Park club at the start of the inaugural season of the Women’s National League back in 2011.
She scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw in the first match of the season against Castlebar at Ferrycarrig Park and went on to get close to one hundred goals for Wexford. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Jarrett.
She suffered the first of three ACL injuries in 2013 but returned to head over to University of Tennessee Martin to play a season for the Skyhawks.
Second and third crippling knee injuries followed in 2015 and ‘16, meaning Jarrett got very little time on the field for two full years.
When she recovered from the third ACL tear, Jarrett chipped away with her fitness and was able to complete the 2018 season without any major setbacks.
She got back into the international set-up under Colin Bell and was named WNL player of the year at the end of Youths’ fourth title-winning season.
The Wexford attacker developed her game further in 2019 and was unplayable at times.
She won a second WNL player of the year award, finished as the league’s top scorer, and notched her first international goal in a sensational individual performance against Ukraine.
Jarrett travelled to Brighton for a two-day trial recently and impressed enough to get the offer of a short term contract from manager Hope Powell. The Brighton boss was previously England national team manager for 15 years from 1998.
Jarrett told the English club’s website: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that Brighton are willing to take a chance on me and I’m hoping that a move into a full-time environment will help me reach my potential. There’s definitely a lot more to come from me.’
The news will not be unexpected at Ferrycarrig Park but it has added another spanner in the works for Tom Elmes as he prepares his side for the new season. Jarrett is not the first player he has lost from last season’s squad.
Hawaiian McKenna Davidson, who left at the end of last term, has signed with Lithuanian outfit Gintra Universitetas.
It’s anticipated that youngster Blessing Kingsley will look for scholarship opportunities in the U.S. after finishing her Leaving Cert.
On top of that, Wexford also lost the long-serving, reliable Becky Cassin during the week.
The Wicklow native will head down to Cork City for the new term, having spent almost six seasons at Ferrycarrig Park.
Under-14 Division 2B: Coolboy Rangers v. Tombrack United; Fastnet Rovers v. Enniscorthy United; Corach Ramblers v. New Ross Celtic.
Under-14 Division 3: Curracloe United seconds v. All Blacks seconds; Kilmore United v. St. Leonards; Ferns United v. Shamrock Rovers.
Under-18 Premier Division: Aughrim Rangers v. North End United; St. Leonards v. Moyne Rangers; Seaview United idle.
Under-18 Division 1: Bree United v. Arklow Town; Courtown Hibs v. Forth Celtic; Curracloe United idle.
SUN. FEB. 2 Wexford Women’s Cup first round: Wexford Bohs v. Fastnet Rovers.
Wexford Women’s Cup second round: Tombrack United v. Courtown Hibs; Forth Celtic v. Ferns United; Corach Ramblers v. Kiltealy Celtic; Bunclody AFC v. St. Joseph’s (11 a.m.); Ajax Athletic v. New Ross Town; Bree United v. North End United.
Women’s Division 1 (11 a.m.): Adamstown v. Camolin Celtic.