WNL Shield Preview: Wexford Youths -v- UCD Waves

Wexford Youths host UCD Waves at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday afternoon in Group A of the Continental Tyres Women’s National League Shield, Kick-off 15:00pm.

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Saturday afternoon sees defending Continental Tyres Women’s National League champions Wexford Youths begin their Shield campaign when they host UCD Waves at Ferrycarrig Park.

The defending champions will be aiming to build on the momentum they picked up when finishing in their recent UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign in Poland and defender Ciara Rossiter believes the experience in Europe will help her side to hit the ground running when they welcome Waves to Wexford.

“I do feel it would help with our start,” she told Extratime.ie “We learned so much from Poland both on and off the field. Especially from the second game where we really got to experience the standard of football that we thrive to reach. I really think the three games in Poland helped us come along as a team and improve greatly, so I think it will help us especially against such tough opposition.”

Despite starting their campaign against their nearest rival from the previous campaign, when asked if she would have preferred an easier start Rossiter was declined and said Saturday will give her side an indication of where they are ahead of the new campaign.

“No, starting against one of the country's top sides gives us a chance to see where we are at so early on in the season and weather little changes need to be made/fixed in order for us to compete for the league title again this season. I am buzzing for the game on Saturday, it's going to be great to get back into league football after the short break over the summer.

“The atmosphere has been immense in the camp, ever since Poland training has been upped so much, more so in the past two weeks everyone is itching to go and buzzing to go out and have another great season.”

UCD WAVES

UCD travel to Wexford with ambitions of starting the new campaign with a victory and continue building on the moment they picked up in the second half of the previous season where they reeled off seven straight victories.

“I think we really gelled together and showed our true colours in the second half of the season.” Julie-Ann Russell told Extratime.ie “We showed great team performances and had some super wins. I believe that we can hit the ground running again and take off from where we left - winning and performing.”

During the closed season, Waves boss Eileen Gleeson was busy adding additional youth to her squad and Julie-Ann believes that having underage internationals stars like Eleanor Ryan Doyle and Niamh Prior is great for the Waves as both have excelled during pre-season and bright futures ahead.

“It is fantastic to have the new additions of the young girls such as Eleanor Ryan Doyle and Niamh Prior. They are both brilliant players with a bright future ahead. They have been excellent in pre-season and have really gelled into the team with ease. It is great to have them on board and I can't wait to play alongside them this season.”

With the Waves first game of the season been away to Youths, Russell is looking forward to Saturday’s game after pre-season - but when asked if Youths would have an advantage having played three competitive games in Europe the Ireland international was unsure and said we’d have to wait and see.

“Pre-season was brilliant. Eileen Gleeson is a top manager and nailed down preseason to a tee. All the girls are flying it in training and buzzing for the game on Saturday, both my team and I are all really looking forward to the game on Saturday and to kick off the season.

“It is always a great competitive game against Wexford and I am sure they will be up for it as much as we are. In terms of the extra games in the Champions League giving them an edge - who knows? We will just have to wait till the game and find out.”

MATCH STATS

UCD Waves head into Saturday’s game on a seven game unbeaten streak stretching back to January 18th.

Youths defeated Waves in three of the sides’ four meetings last season, but Waves were victorious in the most recent clash.

Aine O’Gorman was the league's top scorer last season with twenty-one goals, while Youths Claire O’Riordan netted sixteen times for the champions.