League campaign finishes with draw
WEXFORD YOUTHS ended their title-winning Continental Tyres Women’s National League season with a creditable draw against U.C.D. Waves in Jackson Park on Sunday.
Tom Elmes was able to dip as deep as possible into his squad with the cup final just seven days away, and he was rewarded with hugely promising outings by several of his young squad players.
That was particularly noticeable in defence, where Lauren Dwyer, captain for the day, was the only starter in her twenties.
Doireann Fahey has been a big contributor for a while, but Cliodhna Ní Shé and Ciara Delaney haven’t had too many opportunities to show their quality.
The duo’s composure and willingness to get the ball down and play football was just as impressive as the way they kept U.C.D. at bay for most of the afternoon. Their efforts didn’t deserve Sinéad Gaynor’s 88th-minute equaliser but that’s football.
Rachel Hutchinson, Becky Cassin and Aoife Slattery held the fort admirably in midfield with Kylie Murphy, Edel Kennedy and Emma Hansberry all out. In fact, just three of this eleven started the critical league win against Shelbourne, less than five weeks earlier.
While there wasn’t anything hugely important riding on the outcome, Youths were still keen to keep the momentum going. As well as that, the record for goals conceded ratio was within their grasp and would have been a nice added reward for a fantastic season.
Gaynor’s goal, a half volley from the edge of the area that gave Ciamh Dollard no chance, took the outright record away from Wexford, but their 14 goals allowed in 21 games matches the ratio of Shelbourne with eight conceded in twelve games in the shortened 2016 season.
Dollard was called into action a couple of times early on but Wexford were hardly under the cosh. The visitors went close in the 15th minute when Lauren Dwyer drifted to the back post and headed Becky Cassin’s free-kick onto the crossbar.
Aoife Slattery saw her shot from Rachel Hutchinson’s corner cannon off Cassin to safety in the 34th minute as Wexford started to increase the pressure.
Ní Shé stole the ball in defence, broke out and played a fantastic long, low ball to release Frawley three minutes before the interval. Her pull-back was met by Cassin on the half-volley but she sliced it wide.
Wexford had an even better chance two minutes later, as Cassin weighted a perfect ball through the middle, and the U.C.D. defence stood and watched as an offside Frawley showed no interest and Katrina Parrock raced through from deep.
The winger probably didn’t realise how much time she had, shot early, and Erica Turner was able to make the save.
Goal-less at the break, Waves dominated possession in the opening 15 minutes on the restart. They created a couple of half chances but Wexford took the lead when Cassin fed Frawley down the right and she squared across the box for Parrock to fire home, despite Ally O’Keeffe’s best efforts on the line.
Ní Shé sent Frawley through in the 78th minute but her shot whizzed over the angle of bar and post.
Just when it looked like Wexford would survive, Naima Chemaou forced the ball across the box, Gaynor connected on the edge of the area, and it flew into the net to give U.C.D. the draw.
Wexford Youths: Ciamh Dollard; Cliodhna Ní Shé, Ciara Delaney, Lauren Dwyer (capt.), Doireann Fahey; Aoife Slattery; Katrina Parrock, Rachel Hutchison, Becky Cassin, McKenna Davidson; Aisling Frawley. Subs. - Orlaith Conlon for Dwyer (46), Orla Casey for Davidson (58), Nicola Sinnott for Frawley (80), also Sophie Lenehan, Rianna Jarrett, Kylie Murphy.
U.C.D. Waves: Erica Turner (capt.); Keelan McEntee, Róisín McGovern, Ally O’Keeffe, Katie Burdis; Chloe Mustaki, Sinéad Gaynor; Rachel Doyle, Sophie O’Donoghue, Naimi Chemaou; Leanne Payne. Subs. - Kerri Letmon for O’Donoghue (88), also Paula Doran, Aisling Dunbar, Lauren Kelly, Orla Haran, Aisling Spillane, Jess Morrissey.