WNL Cup Preview: Shelbourne Ladies -v- Wexford Youths Women

On Wednesday evening at Tolka Park Shelbourne Ladies host Wexford Youths in the Women’s National League Cup semi-finals in a repeat of the 2015 FAI Cup final and recent WNL Shield final, two games in which Youths emerged victorious.

SHELBOURNE LADIES

Shelbourne head into Wednesday’s game on the back of two strong results on the road after the Red Army won out 3-1 in Cork on Sunday afternoon thanks to goals from Noelle Murray, Leanne Kiernan and Rebecca Creagh.

Four days earlier, Shelbourne also notched up another impressive win when they put seven past Kilkenny United in Buckley Park and they will be hoping that these results can spur them on against Youths on Wednesday evening.

Despite the two victories, Shelbourne will be keeping an anxious eye on the fitness of both Creagh and Jamie Finn after the latter was forced off injured while Creagh sustained what appeared to be a broken nose when she collided with Cork goalkeeper Trish Fennelly.

After suffering defeats in both the FAI Cup final and the WNL Shield to Youths, Shelbourne will be hoping they can reproduce the form that saw the then Raheny United eliminate Youths at the same stage of the competition in 2015 before the Pandas went on to win a first League Cup crown.

Kick-off at Talka Park 7:30pm.

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford head into the clash knowing a victory against Shelbourne would keep Youths on course for a domestic clean sweep.

Willie Doyle’s side recently returned to the top of the Women’s National League with impressive victories against both Galway WFC and UCD Waves respectively to bring their run of unbeaten games to 18 in all competitions and defender Ruth Fahy explained to Extratime.ie that it is a team effort to keep the unbeaten run going.

“Very simply” She said when asked how they have kept this excellent run going. “An extremely hard working management team, a solid background support structure, and a group of very talented and motivated players who never forget that the team comes first.”

Despite Wednesday’s clash being the third game in seven days for Youths, the Galway native believes that it is about managing their squad rather than being concerned about fatigue. 

“I do think tiredness will be a factor, but it’s just something we have to manage rather than allow it to work against us. It is this stage of the season where squad depth is most important. The work has already been done in the past few months. Now it's just a matter of taking it game by game.”

Despite having not lost to the Dublin opposition this season, Fahy is still expecting a tough game, but she still expects her side to be victorious at the end of the game.

“No doubt it will be as tough as always.” she said when asked about her expectations for Wednesday’s game. 

“These games have been so tight. But we do not want to leave Tolka Park with anything less than a win. Hopefully the floodlights stay on for ninety minutes this time!”

After leaving Galway for Wexford during the summer transfer window, the defender who can also play in midfield has settled into her new surroundings and been a huge part of Youth's success. But she admits when she first made the move she wasn’t sure she would have got as much game time due to the competition with the Wexford squad.

“I appreciate every time I get to line out for Wexford. It's a very competitive squad. I didn't know when I joined how much game time I would actually get so am happy to have played a part so far this season.”

Referee: Paula Brady

MATCH FACTS

The side’s have clashed four times this season, Wexford has won once, there has been two draws while one game was abandoned due to a floodlight failure.

Claire O’Riordan is the country's top scorer in all competitions with 24 goals in all competitions, Shelbourne’s top score is Noelle Murray with 15 goals in all competitions.

At this stage in 2015’s competition Raheny United defeated Wexford Youths 3-2 in a game which both Noelle Murray and Claire O’Riordan found the back of the net.