Peamount United 4 - 1 Wexford Youths Women

Wexford Youths kicked off their second season in the Women’s National League against league champions Peamount United in Greenogue and despite losing by three goals, they gave a good account of themselves against the home side.

Wexford had four players making their debut at this level but in the opening fifteen minutes, one would never have guessed as they held their own against their more experienced opponents.

The breakthrough came on twenty minutes when last season’s highest scorer, Stephanie Roche, was sharpest in a crowded penalty area and struck the ball into the corner of the net to give Peamount the lead.

Wexford did not allow this to affect their composure and continued to press at the home defence; but with eight minutes to go to half time, Sara Lawlor broke through to double the home sides advantage when getting on the end of a Julie Ann Russell cross.

The visitors struck back quickly when some excellent work between Maria Delahunty and Cherelle Khassel put the latter through to slot the ball past Linda Meehan and put Wexford right back in the game with two minutes to go to half time.

The second half began disastrously for Youths when they lost their goalscorer to a knee injury and she had to come off to be replaced by the youthful Amy Walsh, another of the club’s new signings.

Things went from bad to worse just on the hour mark when the experienced Jessica Gleeson picked up a head injury and had to come off to be replaced by another debutante in Rachel Wall.

The home side capitalised on the depleted Wexford team with Sara Lawlor grabbing her second of the game on sixty three minutes to put her side 3-1 ahead.  At this point, Peamount closed down the game and prevented Wexford from creating any serious chances.

They could have increased their lead when awarded a penalty on 72 minutes but Wexford keeper Aimee Jordan saved a Sara Lawlor penalty. Peamount wrapped up the points with five minutes remaining when new signing Solene Barbance scored to give the home side a 4-1 victory.

Peamount United: Linda Meehan, Melissa Haughton, Karen Duggan, Amy Corcoran, Susan Byrne, Jenny Ferrari, Ruth Comerford, Solene Barbance, Julie Ann Russell, Stephanie Roche, Sara Lawlor
Subs: Emma Donohue, Sarah Devlin, Louise Corrigan, Emily Cahill

Wexford Youths Women: Aimee Jordan, Catherine Power, Jessica Gleeson, Clare Conlon, Lucy Sherwin, Edel Kennedy, Lynn Marie Grant, Linda Douglas, Maria Delahunty, Sadie Murphy, Chrelle Khassell
Subs: Rianna Jarrett, Rachel Hutchinson, Laura Heffernan, Tamara Furlong, Ciara Rossiter, Rachel Wall, Amy Walsh