Youths Women make a winning start in league

WEXFORD YOUTHS WOMEN 1 CORK CITY WOMEN 0

WEXFORD YOUTHS Women kicked off their fourth league campaign with a win, although not by the same margin as when the sides met two weeks earlier, as they overcame a determined Cork City side on Sunday last in Ferrycarrig.

After their 7-0 win in the F.A.I. Senior Cup, Wexford knew they would be up against a more determined Cork side this time around but would have preferred to have been a bit more clinical in front of goal and would have not been flattered with at least a 5-0 victory.

The home side dominated from the kickoff with Nicola Sinnott going close in the opening minutes, while Ashling Frawley brought a good save from Trish Fennelly in the Cork goal. In fact, Fennelly put in a good stint and midway through the first-half she denied Ciara Rossiter’s effort when she tipped her well-struck shot onto the crossbar.

However, she could do nothing to prevent the hard-working Aoibheann Webb from eventually putting Wexford ahead six minutes before the break when she broke down the right wing and fired the ball to the roof of the net.

Cork created little in the first-half and Wexford ’keeper Tamara Furlong comfortably dealt with the one long-range effort they did have.

The second-half continued much as the first-half with the Youths pressing for a second goal, but the visitors had now decided to resolutely defend and frustrated the home side’s several efforts. Edel Kennedy was the closest as she saw her shot come back off the crossbar but while Wexford dominated, they eventually had to settle for the 1-0 win while Cork headed home probably content with their day’s work.

Saturday next sees Wexford head to Castlebar Celtic.

Wexford Youth Women: Tamara Furlong, Lucy Sherwin, Ciara Rossiter, Nicola Sinnott, Orlaith Conlon (Nikki Dunphy), Rachel Hutchinson, Kylie Murphy, Edel Kennedy, Aisling Frawley, Aoibheann Webb, Amy Walsh (Clare O’Riordan). Subs. not used - Laura Heffernan, Becky Hayden, Shauna Carley, Meghan Whitty.

Former Wexford Youth players Clare ‘Bosco’ Conlon and Lauren Dwyer were both on the Raheny United squad which qualified for the last 32 of the U.E.F.A. Women’s Champions’ League. The National League champions won all three of their group games in Romania and have now been drawn against Bristol Academy in the next round, with a possible match against Barcelona awaiting the winners in the last 16.

Any clubs who have not done so are reminded to return their affiliation forms to the Wexford Women’s and Schoolgirls’ league this week. Forms should have been back on Friday last so any clubs who have failed to do so are in danger of being excluded from the league.

The Wexford Women’s League are hosting a beginners’ refereeing course in Bunclody on Saturday and Sunday. Anyone interested in refereeing in the league must complete a course and register with the F.A.I., so anyone interested should go onto www.fai.ie and register. If you require any further information, contact 087-2697074.

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