WNL Preview: Galway WFC -v- Wexford Youths

Galway WFC

Galway welcome Wexford Youths to Eamonn Deacy Park for their final game of the 2015-16 season and Don O’Riordan’s side will be aiming to record their eighth victory of the season.

After a run of four straight defeats, three against UCD Waves and one against Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park the Westerners returned to winning ways last weekend, thanks to an impressive 6-1 victory away to Cork City Women.

With huge strides made this season by Galway, Don O’Riordan’s side will be hoping to cause an upset against Youths and earlier this season they showed teams they are not a pushover, destroying Shelbourne 3-0 in Morton Stadium in March.

Galway will be hoping that keeper Tina Hughes has recovered from an injury which forced her to be replaced against Cork while several of Don O’Riordan’s side have been forced to miss games recently due to college commitments.

Wexford Youths

Wexford head into Sunday’s clash knowing that a victory would secure Will Doyle’s side back-to-back League crowns and goalkeeper Tamara Furlong explained to Extratime.ie that her side will approach the game like any other.

“The game on Sunday is just like every other game we have played so far this season,” she said.

“Nothing will change, we will set a game plan and follow it.”

Sunday’s clash will see Youths playing their sixth game in 18 days and the shot-stopper feels while her side have played a lot of football as of late, the players will have to put this to the back of their mind. 

“Tiredness is just a factor of so much games being played in such little time. Every player has to deal with at this stage of the season so it'll be mind over matter on Sunday.”

After a 2-0 victory in Ferrycarrig Park two weeks ago when the side last clashed, the keeper does not expect the home side to lie down and gift Youths the victory on Sunday.

“I expect Galway to give it their all, they've always been a team that keep going right to the final whistle so I expect the same from them on Sunday.”

Match Stats

Claire O’Riordan has scored 16 league goals this season and is one goal behind top scorer Aine O’Gorman with two games remaining.

Galway have not defeated Wexford Youths in the league since February 2014 when they beat Youths by a goal to nil.

Youths won the sides’ last two league meetings, 2-0 two weeks ago and 1-0 in March 2015.