Women's National League Preview: Shelbourne LFC -v- Wexford Youths Ladies

• Extratime Team
• Tue, May 10 2016




It's all to play for on Wednesday night as Shelbourne Ladies FC take on Wexford Youths WFC in a Continental Tyres Women's National League title decider.

 

For Wexford the task is simple: win and they retain the title. Although, it won't be that easy to escape from Tolka Park with the three points against an in-form Shelbourne side.

 

Victory for Shelbourne would force a play-off and extend the season to another game, but Wexford striker Claire O'Riordan wants Wednesday to be their night of celebrations.

 

"It's a big game decider, which is always something special. We're hoping for no play-off, we want to win the title," said O'Riordan, who has netted 16 League goals.

 

"We go into every game looking for three points and this one is no different. It's been a tough last two weeks, but that's not stopping us, we're going to go for it."

 

For Shelbourne, there is no shortage of motivation as they will be the home team, they want to dethrone the champions, and they want to take the first step towards a domestic double - they face UCD Waves in Continental Tyres WNL Cup Final on Sunday.

 

Defender Niamh Walsh knows how difficult it will be to stop Wexford - who beat them on penalties in last year's Continental FAI Women's Senior Cup Final - but she is up for the challenge.

 

"We'll give it everything. We would always give it everything but the League title is on the line so we're going to step it up even more," said Walsh.

 

"We don't want them (Wexford) to be lifting the title in our ground. We've done everything we can so far. We've put in some good performances in the last few games. Everyone is on a high in the camp."

 

This game could provide the perfect finish to the fifth season of the WNL which has been packed full of thrilling fixtures and introduced a number of new star players.

 

Wexford have the opportunity to become just the second team to successfully defend the title, but Shelbourne certainly won't make it easy for them as they have ambitions of their own.

 

Shelbourne Ladies FC v Wexford Youths WFC
Wednesday May 11
Tolka Park
Kick-Off: 19:00
Referee: Paula Brady