Wexford Youths 1 - 3 Cork Women
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The Bus Eireann Women's National League continues to surprise. Wexford won in Cork in the closing game before the long Christmas break but they missed the bus during the first half at a blustery Ferrycarrig and seemed punctured by the interval. Home keeper Charlotte McCormack did well to turn over an early Cork effort but was beaten after only three minutes when Claudia Hudner forced the ball home after one of series of corners from the right which the Wexford defence had difficulty in defending.
To line up with Nicola Dunphy shielding the back four and Keeley Clayden a lone figure up front was negative enough for a side playing at home; not to make any adjustment until half time after going behind so early looked like tactical naivety. So, whilst Cork keeper Rachel Mullins was virtually unemployed her opposite number was forced to make several key saves.
The first of these was spawned by her own weak goal kick which looped straight to a Cork player well inside the Wexford half. A single pass found Kate McCarthy in the clear and McCormack did well to save with her legs as the striker raced in on goal. Then a mix up between normally reliable central defenders Jessica Gleeson and Trish Cleary gifted the ball to McCarthy who slipped in Hudner on the left but again McCormack rescued the situation.
Just before the half hour a rare break by the home side was denied a penalty when Ciara O’Brien seemed to be pulled down from behind when cutting in on goal. But the action was soon restored to the other end and, after Hudner had gone close after a fine Cork passing movement Clare Shine, given the freedom of the park, buried a feisty drive from outside the box.
At half time Wexford brought on Cherelle Khazgal and Edel Kennedy, switching Nicola Dunphy to left back. This staunched the Cork flow down the right but removed her combative presence from midfield and with Delahunty, wasted on the right during the first period, taking over the thankless task of lone striker, the immediate initiative remained with the visitors with Sylvia Gee a strong presence in the middle of the park. In fact, the Cork women played almost all the good football on view, assisted by the generous amount of space afforded to them.
But approaching the hour they lost control of a game that they had seemed to dominate at will as Wexford caused animation on the Cork bench. How did they do it? Khazgal on the left showed potential, firing just over, but was a little too isolated on the extreme flank without decent service. Mostly the improvement was down to a revival of spirit which culminated in defender Gleeson firing wide at the far post when Delahunty’s cross from the left had skinned the Cork defence after sixty four minutes. Seven minutes later Denise O’Sullivan consolidated a Cork victory with a header that McCormack reached but could not keep out yet Wexford could have reduced the margin in the following minute when Cork keeper Mullins chickened out of the contest for a through ball only for Kylie Murphy to put the ball wide of an empty goal.
It was left to Dunphy to get Wexford on to the score sheet. Mullins made a fine full length save to push Delahunty’s low drive round the post. Delahunty took the kick on the left and the diminutive Dunphy rose to head the flag kick home, celebrating with a double somersault. Only five minutes earlier she had been back in her own goalmouth to prevent a certain goal. You can’t fault Nikki Dunphy for effort!
Wexford Youths Women: Charlotte McCormack; Linda Douglas, Trish Cleary, Jessica Gleeson, Celine Slye (Brianne O’Connor 75); Nicola Dunphy; Maria Delahunty, Ciara O’Brien, Kylie Murphy (capt), Sadie Murphy (Cherelle Khazgal h/t); Keeley Clayden (Edel Kennedy h/t).
Cork Women: Rachel Mullins; Amy McCarthy (Susan Donovan 79), Marie Curtin, Emma Farmer, Lauren Murphy; Denise O’Sullivan (capt), Clare Shine (Mary Barrett 79), Sylvia Gee, Laura Lynch (Erica O’Sullivan 79),; Kate McCarthy, Claudia Hudner.
Referee: Michelle O’Neill
Attendance: (est) 150
