WNL Preview: Raheny United -v- Wexford Youths

Raheny United Vs Wexford Youths

Morton Stadium 28/03/15 Kick-Off 7:00pm

Match Referee: Rhona Daly

Morton Stadium on Saturday evening sees league leaders Wexford Youths make the trip to the capital aiming to secure their first Women’s National League title with a victory over defending champions Raheny United.

Raheny United

Raheny will be hoping to use home advantage as they aim to keep the race for the title alive for at least another seven days. The two sides are clashing for the second time within ten days after a highly entertaining League Cup semi-final which Raheny won 3-2.

The Pandas will be hoping to ensure they bring their cup form back into the league after suffering back to back defeats against Wexford Youths and then UCD Waves, Extratime.ie spoke to Raheny Captain Rebecca Creagh about her expectations for Saturday’s game.

“I always have high expectations when it comes to myself and Raheny obviously. We set high standards, so I expect nothing but our very best effort come Saturday. Yes things haven’t gone our way in the league this year, we lost the crucial game against Wexford Youths in the league after beating them on every other occasion,” Creagh explained.

Raheny have not played in the league since the defeat to UCD Waves and Creagh told Extratime.ie that mood is still very good within Raheny squad despite having seen games against Cork City and Castlebar Celtic being postponed within the past seven days.

“Mood in the camp is good yeah, this is football and these things happen. As players we focus solely on the football and leave all the background stuff to admin, obviously you want to play when your game is scheduled and we were disappointed when they were called off, but it's something you get over and look to the next game.”

Raheny boss Casey McQuillan must plan without the services of long term absentee Rachel Graham, while Pearl Slattery misses the game due to a suspension for the red card she received in the 3-1 defeat to UCD Waves. Clare Shine is continuing a phased recovery programme.

Wexford Youth’s

The visitors will be aiming to secure the title this week in Morton Stadium but are fully aware that while Raheny are playing catch up and hoping for results to go their way they are still a dangerous side,

Coach Willie Doyle is under no illusions as to the capabilities of Raheny.

“The cup semi-final was proof of how dangerous Raheny can be, Raheny are at the level we want to be at and we wanted to challenge them this season.”

Although the title is in touching distance Youth’s attacking wing back Claire O’Riordan spoke to Extratime.ie and explained that Wexford Youths are solely focused on their performances this weekend,

“Our main focus is on our performance, the game itself and what we need to do to get a result.”

O’Riordan also explained to Extratime.ie that in the cup game ten days ago, the players knew they didn’t perform to the best of their abilities against Raheny, but also getting a hard fought victory on the road in Galway has the camp on a high again.

“We have learned a lot from that game and will benefit us going forward. Not performing to our full potential but scoring two goals against the current league champions is still a positive we can take. Preparations are going very well ahead of Saturday's game, the players are focused and keen to get on the pitch.”

Wexford have doubts about Jess Gleeson and Claire O’Riordan who picked up knocks in a college game, while Becky Cassin faces a late fitness test to see if she can play any part in Saturdays encounter and Rianna Jarrett is a long term absentee as she recovers from a knee injury.

Match Stats

The two sides have clashed on four occasions so far this season with every game producing goals, Raheny have being victorious in three of these occasions including the most recent clash in the WNL league cup semi-final coming out on top 3-2.

In the sides’ previous league meeting which took place in Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford Youths were victorious coming out with a dominant 3-0 victory over the defending league champions.