- Peter Doyle
- Sun, Apr 08 2012
Both these sides came into this league match on a high as Rovers had qualified for the final of the League Cup in their last match while Wexford Youths had shocked leaders Peamount in their last game. However, the earlier exchanges in this match did little to showcase how far both these sides had come since the kick off of the league in November as the opening fifteen minutes was very scrappy.
Rovers probably enjoyed the better possession in the opening period but did little to trouble Charlotte McCormack in the Wexford goal despite the Wexford defence making some very basic and unforced errors.
Ironically it was the visitors who had the best effort when the speedy Cherelle Khessal broke through a very tight Rovers defence but saw her effort well saved by the excellent Sarah Devlin. Five minutes later, Khessal broke through again and once again was unable to beat Devlin as she stretched full length to push the ball around the post.
After the initial scrappiness, both sides had settled into the game but were finding it difficult to create any clear cut chances until the tricky Noelle Murray found space but her long range effort beat McCormack in the Wexford goal but rebounded off the crossbar, much to the relief of the travelling contingent.
The breakthrough came on forty two minutes when Rianna Jarrett threaded a pass over the home defence for the hard working Khessal to chase on to and her well struck shot gave Devlin no chance to give Wexford the lead. Two minutes later, the lead was doubled when Jessica Gleeson floated in a high free kick which the Rovers keeper could only parry the shot and Edel Kennedy was on hand to knock the ball into the net for a two nil advantage
If Wexford had finished perfectly in the first half, Rovers got the ideal start to the second half when after just three minutes Rachel Jenkins capitalised on a ball over the top and clinically slotted the ball to the corner of the net. The following fifteen minutes saw Rovers work hard in search of an equaliser while Wexford work tirelessly to get their two goal advantage back and it was the visitors who were rewarded on sixty nine minutes. Kelley Claydon spread the ball wide to Linda Douglas who crossed for Edel Kennedy to head off the crossbar but also reacted quickest to nod the ball into the net.
Four minutes later, the Hoops were back in the hunt when once again, Rachel Jenkins raced onto a through ball and struck to the net to set up an exciting end to this pulsating tie. The final twenty minutes saw the game move to and fro as Rovers tried hard for to salvage a point while the Youths were determined to hold on for a valuable three points in their quest for third place. Referee Adriano Reale sounded the final whistle after four minutes injury time to give Wexford their fifth win of the season and keep them in the driving seat for third place with two games to go.
In a game that was not for the purist, both sides showed grit and determination with Noelle Murray, Sarah Devlin and Rachel Jenkins all standing out for Rovers while Wexford had a tireless performance from Cherelle Khessal plus strong displays from Edel Kennedy and Maria Delahunty
Shamrock Rovers: Sarah Devlin, Paula Doran, Niamh Nolan (Nicola Sinnott), Carol Conlon, Niamh Connolly, Joanne Ennis, Rachel Jenkins, Aoife Maloney, Grainne Walsh, Noelle Murray, Orlagh Nolan
Wexford Youths Women: Charlotte McCormack, Ciara O Brien, Jessica Gleeson, Nikki Dunphy, Clare Conlon (Katie White), Linda Douglas, Sadie Murphy, Edel Kennedy, Maria Delahunty, Cherelle Khessal, Rianna Jarrett (Keeley Claydon)
Referee: Adriano Reale
Attendance: 90 (Estimated)
