Wexford Youths 2 - 3 DLR Waves

The girls in Pink started well and after just three minutes, Krista Minto brought a good save from visiting keeper Amy Corcoran and five minutes, she was called on again to make two saves in quick succession, first from Maria Delahunty and then from Rianna Jarrett. However the strong pressure from the home side paid dividends and after a goalmouth scramble, they were awarded a penalty for handball which was duly dispatched to the net by Jarrett. A minute later, Kylie Murphy marked her return to the side when she was sharpest in a crowded penalty area to find the corner of the net.

On their first real attack of the game, DLR were awarded a free kick which was floated into the area by the experienced Sylvia Gee and Katy McCarthy managed to get a head to it and flicked it over Mary Rose Kelly in the Wexford goal to pull a goal back on nineteen miutes. The Waves enjoyed the better of the next ten minutes and Kelly and her defence had to be sharp to keep them at bay.

However, Wexford took control again and the hard working Rianna was disappointed to see her free kick clear the crossbar and minutes later she wriggled her way into the area before laying the ball off to Linda Douglas whose shot went over the bar. At the other end Sylvia Gee sent a free over the bar before the final real action of the half saw Minto once again bring a full length save from Corcoran.

The second half began badly for Wexford when two minutes in, Caroline Healy bravely got her head to a high ball and flicked the ball over Kelly into the net to bring the sides level. Twelve minutes later, the South Dublin side were in front when Katie McCarthy was on target with her second goal when she capitalised on some shaky defending.

This goal did wake up the home side who went in search of an equaliser but DLR showed great spirit and determination to keep them at bay with Rianna Jarrett seeing her header go just wide of the post while Maria Delahunty worked her way into the area before the visitors defence scrambled the ball clear.

The home side made two changes just before the end with Amy Walsh replacing Linda Douglas while Spaniard Helena Hernanz Sanchez made  her debut when replacing Krista Minto. Despite Wexford exerting pressure in the closing minutes, the Waves defence held firm for their fourth win of the season.

Wexford could probably take positives from the game as they saw Kylie Murphy and Nikki Dunphy return from long term absences while Laura Heffernan also put in a solid ninety minutes at centre back. However, the absence of the three under seventeen internationals who are in Austria with the Republic of Ireland and also missing Jessica Gleeson through injury caused the side to be unsettled and proved to be their undoing in the end.

Best for DLR on the day were keeper Amy Corcoran, plus goal scorers Katy McCarthy and Caroline Healy while best for Wexford was Rianna Jarrett, Edel Kennedy and Maria Delahunty also showed a return to her old form.

Wexford Youth Women: Mary Rose Kelly, Clare Conlon, Laura Heffernan, Kylie Murphy, Linda Douglas (Amy Walsh) Edel Kennedy, Rianna Jarrett, Maria Delahunty, Krista Minto (Helena Hernanz Sanchez), Lucy sherwin, Nikki Dunphy.

DLR Waves: Amy Corcoran, Louise Kearney, Lauren Cavanagh, Niamh Connolly, Alison Brien, Sylvia Gee, Rachel Jenkins, Michelle Dunne, Caroline Healy, Katie McCarthy, Avril Kilkelly

Referee: Michelle O Neill      
Assistants: Darren Ennis and Peter Rowlands

Attendance: 125 (est)