Wexford Youths put seven past Birkirkara to finish second in their Champions League group

Wexford Youths wrapped up their Champions League qualifying campaign with a thumping 7-2 victory over Maltese side Birkirkara in Marijampole on Tuesday evening.

Captain Kylie Murphy scored a sensational hat-trick from midfield while McKenna Davidson, Edel Kennedy, Rianna Jarrett and Ciara Rossiter were also on target.

The result was redundant in the scheme of the group, however, as Tom Elmes’ side were already out of contention going into the game having lost 3-1 to Vllaznia of Albania in their opening game.

A 2-1 victory over top seeds and hosts Gintras and Tuesday’s thumping victory was enough to earn a very respectable second-place finish.

Elmes’ side will wonder what might have been, however, had they not fallen to defeat against a Vllaznia side they would in no way consider themselves inferior to.

An entertaining game between the third and fourth seeds saw Wexford take the lead just past the half hour when Murphy headed home from a corner.

Davidson added her second in as many games moments later as she converted Jarrett’s cross, before Raina Giusti pulled one back for Birkirkara on the stroke of half time.

Kennedy added a third eight minutes into the second half and Murphy headed home her second on the hour mark before Ylenia Carabott made it 4-2.

Murphy curled home her first Champions League hat-trick nine minutes later and Jarrett made it six late on before Rossiter, recently back from a long injury lay-off, scored a free kick in injury time.