League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Wexford Youths

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Having won their opening two games and drawn their most recent match away to last season’s double winners Shelbourne, it is another big test for the Hoops in this mid-week fixture when they welcome Wexford Youths to Tallaght (kick-off 7.45pm).

Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill has tipped the Wexford side to be champions at the end of the season.

"They're a very, very good side that have been together a number of years,” said O’Neill speaking to shamrockrovers.ie. “I said it in the off season that they'd be my favourites to win the league, particularly when you add in the quality of Emily Corbet and Rianna Jarrett.

“It means they have a very sharp attack at the end of all the good build up play that they have. They've players of quality all the way through from Aoibheann Clancy to Kylie Murphy to Corbet and Jarrett up top."

With an 11 team division, it was Rovers’ turn to be idle last week but reflecting on their draw in Tolka Park prior to that, O’Neill said: “I think Shels had some good chances, we had some good patterns of possession and some good chances so overall, I think a draw was a fair result.”

The Hoops went in front in the second half after Ireland centurion Áine O’Gorman got on the end of a fine run from player-of-the-match Jamie Thompson before Shelbourne equalised from a Jessie Stapleton header off a Shels corner.

Speaking about Thompson, O’Neill said: “She goes to the home of the current league champions, and she doesn’t look out of place; in fact, she looks a step above. She's going to have a really bright future ahead of her.

“For the goal, it was a great little drive by Jamie to get past the defenders and it was nice to have Áine coming in at the back post to tap it in. It was good attacking football."

Thompson will likely have an extended run in the side due to the fact that Stephanie Zambra is out for another six to eight weeks. Savannah McCarthy is close to availability in defence for Rovers on her return from long term injury but will miss out on Wednesday.

Collie O’Neill reflects on new chapter in the Ringsend rivalry - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/CSeUGaxwwv

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WEXFORD YOUTHS

Youths get the chance to jump above Shamrock Rovers in the table on Wednesday night should they get the win in Dublin 24.

They trail the third placed Hoops in the early season table by a point with a game in hand.

Stephen Quinn’s side have won both of their games played to date.

The began the season with a 1-0 away win in Galway before defeating Sligo Rovers 3-1 in Ferrycarrig Park thanks to goals from Michaela Lawrence, Rianna Jarrett and Emily Corbet.

Like the Hoops, Wexford had no game last week but that was due to a postponement as the Turner’s Cross pitch fell foul of the weather when Wexford were scheduled to take on Cork City.

That game has been refixed for Saturday 27^th May with a 5pm kick-off on Leeside.

While the home side are missing two players who are under-17 international duty with Ireland, the visitors are also down personnel - Grace Fitzpatrick-Ryan is part of the Ireland squad playing France on Wednesday.

Referee: Chris Sheehan

MATCH STATS

The sides last played each other in the top flight of the domestic women’s game in Ireland a decade ago. Youths won 2-1 in Tallaght Stadium in November 2013 with Amy Walsh scoring both goals for the visitors while Aisling Cusack scored for the Hoops.

When the sides met earlier that year in Dublin 24 it was a 3-0 win for Wexford with current Youths striker Rianna Jarrett opening the scoring inside two minutes.

PREDICTION

1-1

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Savannah McCarthy, Stephanie Zambra

Unavailable: Aoibhe Fleming, Aoife Kelly (on u-17 international duty)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Wexford Youths

Injured: n/a

Unavailable: Grace Fitzpatrick-Ryan (on u-17 international duty)

Suspended: None

LOIW Preview: Bohemians -v- DLR Waves https://t.co/Dbi0i3TFKHpic.twitter.com/pG8Nc0Skw6

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) March 28, 2023