Wexford Youths 1 - 2 Castlebar Celtic
Credit:
A sunny Ferrycarrig Park saw Wexford Women get the ideal start in this game when after just fifteen seconds, Maria Delahunty sent a swerving shot to the roof of the net without a Castlebar player touching the ball. For the opening twenty minutes, it looked as if Wexford were going to overrun the Mayo girls as they launched wave after wave of attacks with Ciara Rossiter, Ashling Frawley and goal scorer Delahunty causing the visitors defence all sort of problems.
Ashling Concannon in the Castlebar goal was called on twice to make good saves from Frawley and Amy Walsh and the home side were disappointed not to increase their early lead. The visitors slowly began to gain a foothold in the game and Ailbhe Clancy brought a good save from Mary Rose Kelly with their first real attack while Emma Mullin was beginning to cause some problems coming in from the right.
Despite only being a goal ahead, the home management would have been happy with the first half performance and while its well documented that a one goal lead is always dangerous, Wexford were playing well and were definitely enjoying the lion's share of the possession.
The second half began well for Castlebar when just six minutes in, Clancy was sharpest on the edge of the area and put the ball beyond Kelly’s reach and into the corner of the net. The home side reacted well and went in search of regaining their lead with Delahunty going close as did Frawley and Rossiter with Krista Minto, who had replaced Amy Walsh, also causing Castlebar problems.
Both sides went in search of the winner and it was the visitors who got the break on the eighty ninth minute when substitute Emma Hansberry took advantage of space on the edge of the area and fired home what proved to be the winner. Wexford did everything possible to get back on level terms but time was not on their side and referee Michelle O'Neill sounded the final whistle after three minutes of injury time.
Wexford will be disappointed not to have taken something from this game, especially after such a good start, and it leaves the race for third place still open. The overall team performance was good and it was just finishing in front of goal that let them down and to their credit, Castlebar never gave up and were much sharper with their finishing.
Maria Delahunty, Lauren Dwyer and Claire Conlon were all excellent for the home side on the day while Katie Walsh, Emma Mullin and Ailbhe Clancy all stood out for the visitors.
Wexford Youth Women: Mary Rose Kelly, Lauren dwyer, Clare Conlon, Lucy Sherwin, Jessica Gleeson, Ashling Frawley, Ciara Rossiter, Edel Kennedy, Kylie Murphy, Maria Delahunty, Amy Walsh (Krista Minto)
Castlebar Celtic: Ashling Concannon, Shauna Cox, Theresa Fahy, Katie Walsh, Trish Moran, Nicole Fawley, Sarah Rowe, Ashling Hughes, Emma Mullin, Shaunagh Jackson (Amy Hopkins) Ailbhe Clancy (Emma Hansberry)
Referee: Michelle O Neill
Attendance: 110
