Two goal hero Claire O'Riordan delighted with back to back WNL titles

On Sunday afternoon a brace from Continental Tyres Player of the Match Claire O’Riordan helped Wexford Youths to claim back-to-back league title wins, and after getting her hands on the league title the forward spoke to Extratime.ie about scoring twice in the league play-off.

Yes, definitely” She said when asked if she would have taken two goals at the start of the game after failing to score in her previous two outings.

“It takes so much work and at the end of the day I was just the last player to touch the ball before it went into the net, but the effort that the girls and everyone put in was just phenomenal. We kept fighting till the very end, even when we went a goal down we just kept going and I’m just glad it paid off.”

When speaking to Extratime.ie ahead of the game on Friday evening, O’Riordan explained that her side expected Shels to start strong and after the game she was delighted with how her side handled Shelbourne forward Leanne Kiernan, a player who had previously been a thorn in the Youths side in the previous meetings. 

“We identified her as one of Shels treats and we looked to counteract that and I think we done it very well again as I said Shels did come out all guns blazing - exactly what we were looking for. I do think it took us a while to get going, but the last seven minutes of the first-half we got going and got the goal and then we carried on into the second-half with it.”

With 20 minutes remaining, O’Riordan found herself through one-on-one with Shelbourne keeper Amanda McQuillan and the forward explained that she was determined not to miss after firing wide in a similar position 11 days previously in her sides 3-1 defeat at Tolka Park.

“That I wasn’t going to miss this time” she said when asked what her thoughts were when on goal. “I’ve been one-on-one with her in other situations and there is only going to be one winner, it's either her or me and thankfully it was me on the day. I'm just delighted something I can give to the girls, it’s something that I was focused on doing throughout this game and I’m just thrilled.”

After a run of seven games in 22 days with six of these outing being on the road O’Riordan like many of her Youths teammates left Tolka Park in desperate need of a break and the forward explained that the break was huge for her side as they had been training for the last 11 months.

“It was massive, it’s something as I said we were really longing for. I don’t think it was long enough. But look, it’s the end of the season and we’ve been going for a really long time - 11 months now and it showed we couldn’t go that 100% that we needed, but we managed the game to suit us and it was just fantastic.”

With admission to Tallaght Stadium on Sunday afternoon free of charge, 710 fans flocked to the South Dublin venue and the Limerick native was extremely thankful to those who turned out to watch a fantastic game of football.

“Unbelievable” she smiled when told the attendance. “I am delighted and I am so thankful for every single person that has come and shown their support for this Wexford Youths team.

“They are coming literally from every side of the country because there’s about seven players from Wexford and we’re branching from everywhere. I have my family and friends up from Limerick, people coming to support us from Galway, there’s some Cork players here it’s just phenomenal.”

A victory on Sunday also secured Wexford Youths a place in the 2016-17 UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers and the Youths player explained her side, took a lot from finishing second in their group last August and she believes that her side will be better prepared for the challenge that lies ahead second time round.

“We learned so much it was unbelievable how much we learned, like not only the players, but the management and even some of the supporters that came over with us they were able to get a look for it as well.

“I think we’ll be a little bit more organised, I think it is going to help that the season is going to be starting back before the Champions League qualifiers are on so look we’re just going to go away and get our well needed recovery that we need now and we’ll get everything going in a couple of weeks.”

Earlier in the week O’Riordan, like teammates Ruth Fahy and Emma Hansberry, was named in the Team of the Season and when asked if it was nice that her 16 goals in 12 games was recognised the forward explained it was, but the main target was always league glory.

“They were recognised to an extent, but look they weren’t going to count for anything but going towards the Women’s National League and that is what I was focused on. Yeah, I was delighted to make the Team of the Season for the second year, it’s being recognised for doing something well and I’m glad for that, but at the end of the day this trophy this is what it’s all about.”