Raheny United 1 - 1 Wexford Youths
Credit:
Wexford put their recent poor run of form behind them and continued their impressive run away from home when holding league leaders Raheny United to a draw in Morton Stadium on Sunday.
After the disappointing defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers last Sunday, the Youths Women were eager to show their true potential and they started this game with vigour and Kylie Murphy saw a header saved after just two minutes.
The opening ten minutes belonged to Wexford although they did little to trouble Lynn Bradley in the Raheny goal with the best chance falling once again to Kylie Murphy who could not connect properly with an excellent Linda Douglas cross.
Although they were creating very little, the home side were being very patient and knew their chance would come and on twenty five minutes, they scored on their first real attack when Siobhan Killeen was not closed down quickly enough on the edge of the box and she shot to the corner of the net.
This did unsettle Wexford for a period but they quickly regained their composure and Cherelle Khessel went close before the break while Mary Waldron should have done better in a one on one just before the break but shot over the crossbar.
Ciara Grant replaced the injured Rebecca Creagh minutes before half time as Raheny went in leaders at the break.
The second half saw Wexford continue their attacking style of football with Linda Douglas, Edel Kennedy, Maria Delahunty and Cherelle Khessel all having chances within the opening ten minutes.
The turning point came on the hour when Wexford keeper Charlotte McCormack made a full length save from Ciara Grant and moments later Lynn Bradley in the home goal also excelled as she saved from Kylie Murphy after good work from Delahunty and Ciara O'Brien put her through.
The visitors were now working hard for that equaliser and Khessel was unlucky not to find the net when her swerving run got her in front of goal but her shot went wide of the post.
The equaliser came on the seventy six minutes when Linda Douglas, who had been working hard on the right wing all day, raced on to a Ciara O'Brien through ball and her swerving shot evaded Bradley in the Raheny goal and into the back of the net.
Sixteen year old Katie White made her debut for Wexford as she replaced Sadie Murphy on the eightieth minute and immediately showed why she is one of the most exciting young players in the county by immediately putting Khessel through to bring a good save from the Raheny keeper.
Charlotte McCormack was called on to make one more save to keep the sides level. As the game moved into injury time, both sides were still searching for a late winner but both defences held firm and after four minutes injury team referee Rhona Daly brought an exciting end to end encounter to a finish.
Raheny United: Lynn Bradley, Elaine Murray, Seana Cooke, Kate Flood, Megan Campbell, Mary Waldron, Katie McCabe, Rachel Graham, Joan Daly, Siobhan Killeen, Rebecca Creagh (Ciara Grant)
Wexford Youths Women: Charlotte McCormack, Ciara O Brien, Claire Conlon (Rachel Hutchinson), Jessica Gleeson, Nikki Dunphy, Kylie Murphy, Edel Kennedy (Laura Heffernan), Linda Douglas, Sadie Murphy (Katie White) Cherelle Khessel, Maria Delahunty
Referee: Rhona Daly
Assistants: Michelle O Neill and Paula Brady
Attendance: 110
