Molloy nets two as women draw
DLR WAVES 2 WEXFORD YOUTHS WOMEN 2
AN ELLEN Molloy double saw the teenage Ireland international start the new season as she finished the old one when Wexford Youths Women drew 2-2 with DLR Waves in their first pre-season friendly in the UCD Bowl on Sunday.
The teenager from Kilkenny got the first and the last goal on an afternoon when new signing Lynn-Marie Grant made her debut in midfield for the Ferrycarrig Park club.
Molloy was in fine form all the way up to the conclusion of last year’s disappointing campaign, and on this showing she intends carrying on in that vein in 2021.
She put her side ahead in the 19th minute, rattling the net with her left foot after getting on the end of an assist from Ciara Rossiter.
It was no more than Wexford deserved, because they started on the front foot and did most of the early pressing.
The experienced Kylie Murphy wasn’t too far away from opening their account on two occasions, first from an eighth-minute header and then from a wickedly curling strike.
Grant, who was partnered by Aoibheann Clancy at midfield, almost doubled her side’s lead after Molloy’s opener, really testing netminder Eve Badana after a smart turn on the edge of the box.
Clancy’s effort from distance also made the DLR Waves number one earn her keep, and Aisling Frawley was the next player to keep her on her toes.
The hosts only threatened once, when Ciamh Gray wasn’t tested by a flick at the near post by Kate Mooney, with Nicola Sinnott, Lauren Dwyer, Orlaith Conlon and Ciara Rossiter defending solidly throughout the opening half.
And it was more of the same on the re-start, with Kira Bates-Crosbie and Kylie Murphy combining for the latter to get a shot away that was again dealt with by Badana, the busiest player on the pitch.
Murphy must have wondered what she had to do to score, because her header from a Lynn-Marie Grant cross was kept out on the 60-minute mark.
Three more new faces were introduced – centre-halves Kim Flood and Katie O’Regan, along with Freya De Mange who was one of the stand-out performers with last year’s Under-17 side.
With both teams chopping and changing, the momentum gradually shifted towards DLR Waves, and they equalised in the 65th minute courtesy of substitute Zoe Leonard.
And they quickly hit the front, with striker Carla McManus keeping her composure after a neat pass to beat Maeve Williams who had replaced Ciamh Gray between the Wexford posts at half-time.
Williams went on to make a vital save, and it proved key as just two minutes later Ellen Molloy let fly – this time with her right peg – and secured the equaliser.
Next up for Wexford is another trip to Dublin on Saturday, this time to meet Bohemians in their second friendly. The game will start in the Oscar Traynor Centre at 2 p.m.
Wexford Youths Women: Ciamh Gray, Nicola Sinnott, Lauren Dwyer, Orlaith Conlon, Ciara Rossiter, Edel Kennedy, Aoibheann Clancy, Lynn-Marie Grant, Aisling Frawley, Ellen Molloy, Kylie Murphy (capt.). Subs. (all used) - Maeve Williams, Lauren Kelly, Sinéad Taylor, Lynn Craven, Kira Bates-Crosbie, Freya De Mange, Kim Flood, Katie O’Regan.