WNL Preview: Castlebar Celtic v Wexford Youths Women's AFC

• Extratime Team
• Sat, Jan 31 2015




League leaders Wexford Youths Women’s AFC travel to Castlebar Celtic on Saturday evening knowing any slip-up can affect their Continental Tyres Women’s National League title challenge.

 

Wexford’s league challenge has gathered momentum with the Model County side taking no chances by travelling up on Friday night as they aim to bring all three points home.

 

“It’s a five and half hour trek for us,” explained Youths’ boss Willie Doyle. “We have arranged to stop off and train on the way up. We’ve seen our home crowds grow, so we wanted to utilize our recourse and treat our players like the best and feel that bit more special.”

 

Wexford have collected 10 points from 12 on the road this season, but Doyle is under no illusions over the challenge of Saturday’s game.

 

“Celtic are very good at home, their facilities are great and have picked up some good results,” said Doyle. “Adrian (Carberry) has a good crop of young players who are starting to become better known names and our girls know how difficult this game will be,” explained Doyle, whose team put 10 past Cork City Women’s last Sunday. “The Cork game changed when they went down to ten players. I don’t think they are really 10 goals worse than us, it was 1-0 after 40 minutes.”

 

Doyle has concerns over Edel Kennedy (ankle), while Shauna Wall picked up a head injury against Cork City Women’s and will be assed. Rhianna Jarrett and Jessica Gleeson are both long term unavailable for Wexford.

 

“Wexford deserve to be top of the table,” admitted Celtic boss Adrian Carberry. “It’s good for the league that a club outside Dublin are in the mix. They are a very good side and we know its going to be tough, we haven’t been struggling for consistency which is our problem at the moment. When we get going we’re a smashing young team, a really smashing side. We’ve been good at home and we have to continue to move forward.”

 

Celtic are without rising star Jess Nolan who was injured at an international training camp and is expected to be out for four weeks. Nicole Fowley is a doubt for tomorrow night with a hamstring strain while Carberry welcomes three players to his squad. Ciara Moran, Ellie Dillan and Sorcha Ludden have all been promoted from the club’s successful U16 team.