Wexford Youths 2 - 3 Raheny United

Title holders Raheny United recorded their ninth win of the season when they came away from Ferrycarrig Park with all three points after an incident filled encounter that saw plenty of drama, especially in the second half.

Wexford began the game with the stronger desire and were unlucky not to go ahead on twelve minutes when Amy Walsh’s left foot strike rebounded off the crossbar. At that point in the game, it would have been no more than Wexford deserved as they had dominated the opening exchanges, not allowing Raheny time to settle on the ball. Unfortunately, aside from Walsh’s shot off the crossbar and a half chance for Julia Testorp, they had little to show for their efforts and on twenty two minutes, they were dealt their first blow when Testorp had to come off injured to be replaced by Rachel Hutchinson.

Five minutes later, the visitors created their first chance of the game and scored when Katie McCabe intercepted a wayward pass and pushed through to slot the ball past Mary Rose Kelly.

Although this did knock the home side back on their heels, they once again pushed forward and were unlucky not to be back on level terms when Kylie Murphy was unable to connect with a high looping ball into the area.

The second half began in dramatic circumstances when seven minutes in, goalscorer Katie McCabe picked up her second yellow card for a tackle on Edel Kennedy and referee Brian Fenlon had no hesitation issuing the red card. Raheny reacted the better to being reduced to ten players and turned up the heat on the home defence and on fifty two minutes Claire Shine doubled their advantage with a well struck effort that Kelly in the Wexford goal could do nothing about.

Just past the hour mark, Wexford lost influential defender Lauren Dwyer with an ankle injury and was replaced by Linda Douglas and moments later, Wexford winger Amy Walsh picked up her second yellow card and also had to take the long walk to the dressing room.

Clare Shine scored her second and Rahenys third goal with twenty minutes to go and it looked like the North Dublin side were home and dry and would be heading home with a comfortable three points. Katie McCarthy returned from injury when coming on to replace Claire O Riordan who had put in a tireless performance and three minutes later, Kylie Murphy found space just inside the penalty area and fired home to give Wexford a lifeline.

The home sides were unlucky not to pull another goal back when Raheny had to defend strongly to keep a string of shots out of the net with Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy and Katie McCarthy all seeing their efforts cleared away within seconds of each other.

Defender Laura Heffernan picked up a nasty knock to her leg with ten minutes remaining and was unable to continue and as Wexford had already made their three substitutions, they had to finish out the game with nine players. As the game entered injury time, Wexford pulled another goal back when Edel Kennedy fired the ball to the net and although the ref played three minutes of injury, the home side were unable to break down a resolute Raheny defence who were in no mood to relinquish their one hundred per cent record and held on for the three two win.

The home side can be proud of their performance under pressure as on current form, Raheny are the team to beat and this was always going to be a difficult tie for the Youths Women. They started and finished the game strongly but the visitors dominated before and after half time and scored at vital times. Clare Shine, Niamh Reid Burke and Noelle Murray were as impressive as always for Raheny while Lauren Dwyer, Mary Rose Kelly and Kylie Murphy all worked hard for the home side who will be disappointed not to have taken something from this game.

Wexford head to Castlebar for next Sunday and will be looking to leapfrog the home side into third place with a win.

Wexford Youths Women: Mary Rose Kelly, Lauren Dwyer (Linda Douglas), Lucy Sherwin, Laura Heffernan, Ciara Rossiter, Kylie Murphy, Edel Kennedy, Amy Walsh, Ashling Frawley, Claire O Riordan (Katie McCarthy), Julia Testorp (Rachel Hutchinson). Subs not used: Clare Conlon, Tamara Furlong, Aoibheann Webb

Raheny United: Niamh Reid Burke, Ciara Grant, Shauna Newman, Rachel Graham, Katie McCabe, Noelle Murray, Siobhan Killeen, Claire Shine, Pearl Slattery, Kerrie Ryan, Christine Byrne, Rebecca Creagh, Sinead O Farrelly, Laura Ryan, Niamh Walsh, Catherine Cronin, Joan Daly

Referee: Brian Fenlon

Attendance: 80 (Est)