WLOI Analysis: Wexford 3 - 1 DLR Waves

“Hard work will be at the heart of everything we do and I can’t wait to get going,” - Hugh Strong, Wexford FC Women’s Senior Manager.

Wexford are certainly going strong under the tutelage of their senior manager Hugh Strong, generating nine points from their last three league fixtures.

View the LOITV stream here of the game to follow the clips (LOITV pass or subscription needed).

On June 8th, Wexford shocked the league with a 2-1 upset over then table toppers Galway United in the fortress that is Eamonn Deacy Park against an eleven who had been motoring this campaign until Ceola Bergin and Aoibheann Clancy spoiled the party.

The women from the South were narrowly beaten in May by an in-form Shelbourne who now sit in pole position of the Premier Division league table and almost secured an equaliser through an Ellen Molloy left footed missile that pushed goal minder Amanda McQuillan to full stretch.

Strong’s side now sit comfortably amongst the top 5 teams in the table in 5th place, two points off the defending league champions Peamount United and have an Avenir Sports All-Island quarter-final fixture against Linfield Ladies to look forward to up North on the 22nd of June.

Fixture: Wexford FC v DLR Waves

Competition: SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division (Round 10)

Location: Ferrycarrig Park

Result: Wexford 3-1 DLR Waves. 

Goalscorers: Freya De Mange WWFC  (23’), Michelle Doonan DLRW (57’), Ciara Rossiter WWFC (70’), Ceola Bergin WWFC (75’)

Best of the action from last nights superb win over DLR Waves can now be viewed on our YouTube Channel, click the image for the link

— Wexford FC Women (@WexfordFCWomen) June 16, 2024

Team: DLR Waves

Clip time: 50:17

Player: Michelle Doonan stars in ‘The Shephard’

Skill/s:Footwork and field awareness

Context: Michelle Doonan misleads three purple shirts in one direction before cutting inside and punting the ball across the field to the former Cork City flyer Nadine Seward who has thrown her arm in the air as she signals for the ball - finding herself in acres of space thanks to Doonan’s deception.

Clip time: 3:30

Player: Michelle Doonan stars in ‘Texas Hold em - and deal’

Skills: Strength and next play vision

Context: Michelle Doonan uses her strength to guard the ball from Laois native Della Doherty and holds up play, allowing Seward to sprint through a minute gap in the home side's defence.

The number 20 then curls the ball at precisely the right moment over the lilac rampart yet goal minder Jayne Merren is alert to the danger and collects.

Clip time: 55’+

Players:Isobel Finnegan, Taylor White and Michelle Doonan star in ‘Shortest Path First’

Skills: Ball control, vision, timely runs and teamwork

Context: Hampton University graduate Finnegan intercepts a Wexford FC pass and plays it to White who whips the ball into the path of the sprinting Doonan first time. 

The deadly Doonan has timed her run perfectly and pedals past the three purple shirts - ensuring that Orlaith Conlan’s calls for offside are a mute point before cooly converting.

Goal!

Not enough for a result but another fine finish from Michelle Doonan in yesterday's game.

We came from behind to equalise early in the second half but two quick fire goals in the 70th and 75th minute from Wexford settled the result.

Next up we face Bohemians FC pic.twitter.com/inpy5D5T8J

— DLRWaves (@DLRWaves) June 16, 2024

Clip time: 75: 50

Player: Michelle Doonan stars in ‘Never gonna give you up’

Skills: Ball control, persistence

Context: Doonan once again uses her strength to hold up a Wexford defender and keeps Abby Tuthill at bay with her first touch. Doonan then stops the ball dead with the sole of her boot before it can go out of play for a throw to the opposition.

Team: Wexford

Clip time: 14:35.

Player/s: Ceola Bergin, Ciara Rossiter and Ellen Molloy star in ‘triple threat’

Skill/s: Teamwork, ball control and quick footwork

Context: Wexford throw-in bounces awkwardly ahead of Bergin who does well to guide it with her head back to Rossiter.

The number 12 controls the ball with the outside of her boot first time and spins it to Molloy who muscles past the azure and white shirt of Isobel Finnegan to beat her to the touch, punting it back to Bergin who spins Nadine Seward.

Clip time: 21: 40.

Player: Freya De Mange

Skills: Feint and precision point striking acumen

Context: Teegan Lynch works well on the right lane to dink the ball to De Mange who does really well to keep her composure, turning Cliodhna Donnelly and powering the ball into the bottom left hand corner of Eve Badana’s net. Goal!

Freya De Mange scored her first Senior goal for Wexford in last nights win over DLR Waves.

Freya has scored scome cracking goals for our U17 and U19 teams and this one was right up there - a brilliant turn and finish into the corner. pic.twitter.com/UDuDQpSoYd

— Wexford FC Women (@WexfordFCWomen) June 16, 2024

Extratime.com Player of the Match: Former Thomastown United ace Ellen Molloy stars in ‘Got to turn around’

Clip Time: 86:54. 

Context: Molloy utilises the outside of her left boot to turn and spin past the Waves number 14 Amber Cosgrove. Sublime.