WNL Report: Galway WFC 1 - 1 Wexford Youths Women

Wexford Youths will be forced to wait a little longer in their quest for a second Women’s National League crown. 

Will Doyle’s side were forced to show great character to fight back from a half-time deficit to earn a share of the spoils against Galway WFC at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Youths entered Sunday afternoon’s clash with Galway knowing a victory would see them crowned champions, and they had two brilliant early opportunities.

First, Ruth Fahy headed wide from a lovely flighted corner from Emma Hansberry before Claire O’Riordan attempted to head a low Linda Douglas cross towards goal. However, the forward failed to make connect with the ball from close range.

In the 13th minute, against the run of play, Galway took the lead after Lynsey McKey raced onto a cushioned header from Meabh De Burca before firing low past the onrushing Tamara Furlong with the outside of her right foot.

Despite being forced to work hard for a way back into the game, Youths should have drawn level in the 26th minute when Hansberry blazed over from close range after Chloe Moloney headed the ball towards her own goal.

In an evenly fought game, as half-time fast approached the sides exchanged excellent opportunities. First, a breakaway from Galway saw Jess Nolan finding Ellerose O’Flaherty with a defence splitting pass before the under 19 international raced onto a return ball, but she failed to get her shot off from close range.

Moments later, Tina Hughes was forced into an excellent save after the ball fell lovely to Youths skipper Kylie Murphy on the edge of the box and her first time volley had the Galway keeper scrambling to keep the ball out of the net.

From the resulting corner, Fahy rose highest inside the penalty area, but she could only direct her headed effort wide.

As Youths continued to press for an equaliser in the second period, Fahy would make amends for her earlier miss when Hansberry found the ex-Galway star unmarked from a corner and she made no mistake from six yards.

With ten minutes remaining, Fahy had a chance to write her name into the history books after Hansberry again found the defender unmarked from a corner. But this time her powerful headed effort was sublimely saved by Hughes in the Galway goal.

As injury time fast approached, Wexford had another great chance to secure league glory when Douglas found O’Riordan free in the penalty area, but she could only head wide from 15 yards.

In the seventh minute of additional time, Galway had a chance to snatch all three points after Alana Moran flashed a shot wide from an acute angle. In the 15th minute of injury time, Murphy should have sealed glory for her side after she raced through on goal unchallenged. However, her shot from the edge of the box sailed harmlessly wide.

After failing to collect all three points on Sunday, Wexford Youths travel to Dublin on Wednesday evening for their final league game knowing a victory or a draw would see them crowned league champions. However, a Shelbourne victory would see the sides being forced to play-off for the league title.

Galway WFC: Tina Hughes; Aoife Walsh, Keara Cormican, Shauna Fox, Chloe Moloney; Ellerose O’Flaherty (Aislinn Meaney 62), Meabh De Burca, Therese Hartley, Caroline Carter (Lisa Casserly 74); Jess Nolan (Alana Moran 81), Lynsey McKey.

Subs not used: Anesi Igunma, Sorcha Ni Bhraonain, Carol Manion.

Booked: Aoife Walsh.

Wexford Youths Women: Tamara Furlong; Nicola Sinnott, Jessica Gleeson, Edel Kennedy (Aoibhinn Webb 73), Ruth Fahy; Aisling Frawley, Kylie Murphy, Lauren Dwyer, Emma Hansberry, Linda Douglas; Claire O’Riordan.

Subs Not Used: Orlaith Conlon, Rachel Hutchinson, Amy Walsh, Becky Cassin, Megan Whitty, Shauna Wall.

Booked: Ruth Fahy (19), Claire O’Riordan (90+7).

Referee: Trevor Conlon.

Attendance: 125 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Emma Hansberry (Wexford Youths).

You can see Ciara Maher's pictures from the game here.