Wexford Youths 1 - 1 Castlebar Celtic

Wexford Youths and Castlebar Celtic met for the second time in eight days and the opening exchanges in this league game were very similar to last week’s cup semi-final.

Wexford enjoyed the larger percentage of the possession but found it difficult to penetrate the visitors’ well organised defence. Castlebar seemed content to let the home side have the ball and were happy to attack on the break.

However, in this game Wexford were playing with more enthusiasm and intensity than the previous week’s defeat and were unlucky not to score when Ashling Frawley brought a top class save from Castlebar keeper Caoimhe O Reilly and Jessica Gleeson was unfortunate to see her header from the resultant corner just go wide of the post.

The visitors came more into the game after that let off and on fifteen minutes, Mary Rose Kelly flicked a Rachel Kearns shot just over the crossbar and three minutes later, the Wexford keeper was unable to prevent Kearns from sending an almost carbon copy shot to the roof of the net to give her side the lead.

The home side did not allow this setback to deflect them from their game plan and continued to work hard at opening the Castlebar defence with Linda Douglas, Ciara Rossiter and Katie McCarthy in particular working very hard, using their speed and agility to create all sort of problems.

Before half time, both keepers were called into action and both dealt very efficiently with what the opposition had to offer. Mary Rose Kelly has proven herself by making it to the National League team of the year last season and she will be pushed very hard this season by the Castlebar keeper who has shown in both games against Wexford to be very talented.

The second half began at much the same pace as the first and the Mayo side started the best as they looked to build on their first half advantage but the Youths Women showed some of the team character that has seen them finish just behind the top two in the last two seasons and began to turn the game around.

After enjoying some constant pressure, they were rewarded on sixty three minutes when Linda Douglas swung in a corner which Castlebar failed to clear and Ciara Rossiter rifled the ball to the net for a deserved equaliser.

Both sides went in search of a winner but neither troubled their opponent’s defences too much and the game played out to a draw and a well-deserved point each.

Castlebar were delighted to see the return of Emma Mullin who came on as a sub while O Reilly in the goal, Aileen Gilroy and Rachel King were all very impressive for the visitors.

Wexford showed a lot of their famous spirit and tenacity and were good value for the point as they put in an excellent team display. They will be worried by the injury to Clare Conlon late in the game but manager John Flood will be happy with the overall team performance despite still missing several key players through injury.

Next Sunday will see Wexford Youth Women host Peamount United in Ferrycarrig Park at 2pm for what will be a crucial league match for both teams.

Wexford Youth Women: Mary Rose Kelly, Lauren Dwyer, Clare Conlon (Clare O Riordan), Jessica Gleeson, Edel Kennedy, Linda Douglas, Ciara Rossiter, Julia Testorp (Rachel Hutchinson), Lucy Sherwin (Amy Walsh), Ashling Frawley, Katie McCarthy.

Subs: Tamara Furlong, Niamh Nolan, Aoibheann Webb, Laura Heffernan

Castlebar Celtic: Caoimhe O Reilly, Yvonne Hedigan, Nicole Fowley, Kim Flood, Aisling Egan, Rachel King, Aileen Gilroy, Trish Coyle, Sara McGeough, Emma Hansberry, Rachel Kearns.

Subs: Niamh Kierans, Haley Diveks, Maz Sweeney, Sarah Rowe, Katie Walsh, Emma Mullin.

Referee: Rhona Daly               

Assistants: Michelle O Neill and Sinead Forde

Attendance: 80 (estimated)