WNL Season Preview - Wexford Youths

How they did last season: Wexford Youths had a lot of positives to draw on from the inaugural Bus Éireann Women’s National League last season. Other than Raheny they were the only team to beat eventual winners Peamount United (a 2-1 win in Greenogue last March), while they only missed out on third spot to Cork on goal difference. (In the WNL, titles cannot be settled by goal difference, but every other place can be.)

The post-Christmas introduction of Cherelle Khassal also added an exciting dimension to the Youths attack – culminating in the English born striker scooping the March player of the month award.

How are they shaping up this year: There is every reason to be optimistic in Ferrycarrig, as Wexford Youths prepare for the second instalment of the Bus Eireann Women’s National League. First off is a tricky away trip to Greenogue this Sunday to take on the mighty Peamount – but having emerged with all three points on their last visit, confidence will be high in the Wexford camp.

This season should pose fewer surprises for Youths, and their end of season form proves that they have adjusted to the step up in level. On their day, they can compete with the best, and the challenge for John Flood will be to do this on a consistent basis.

There have been a few personnel changes, but Flood will be looking to carry their end of season form into the new season – starting with Sunday’s trip to Greenogue.

Key Player: Cherelle Khassal – Youths have quality all over the pitch with the likes of Nicola Dunphy (selected for team of the year last season) and Sadie Murphy, but the “jewel in the crown” for Wexford Youths is undoubtedly their striker Khassal. She scored the first and created the second in March’s win over Peamount, and her performances for the Youths saw her recently capped at full international level for Sue Ronan’s Republic of Ireland team.

Khassal brings with her a wealth of experience having played for Los Angeles Strikers and Canadian university side Capilano, and expect her to be one of the stars of not just this Wexford Youths side, but of the whole Women’s National League as her stock continues to rise.

One Two to Watch:  The summer break has seen John Flood add two exciting young players to the Youths squad. U17 Republic of Ireland internationals Lauren Dwyer (formerly of St. Fiacc’s FC in Carlow) and Ciara Rossiter (formerly of Forth Celtic in Wexford) have come in and both will breathe a youthful exuberance into last year’s fourth placed team. Both are tipped to go all the way to full international level and are two to watch for the future.

Prediction:  3^rd / 4^th – Wexford Youths are afraid of no team, and nor should they be. A strong finish to the season last year saw them just pipped to third place. They will most likely be battling Cork for third place again, but expect the gap between them and the top two to close with the teams more settled this year. Of course John Flood will say that the goal is to win the title, and who knows – with a bit of luck, such an ambition isn’t all that far-fetched!