Wexford produced some fine flowing football on Tuesday winning both their opening group games.
After
a bye on Monday and an early scare in this opening game Wexford eventually came
out comfortable winners.
Kildare
1
Wexford
3
Within
four minutes of this game starting the Lillywhites had taken the lead with a
strike from Anna Martin. This kicked the southwest side into gear as the
wrestled back control and deservedly drew level fifteen minutes in when Kayla
Coade Flynn hit the back of the net. With all the momentum now the south east
side pushed forward and grabbed the lead just before the interval when Emma
Fitzpatrick's effort from range flew into the net.
Once
this opening group game resumed it was much the same from Wexford and they
piled on the pressure before eventually netting the final goal of the game when
Ellie Byrne found herself in the perfect position to find the back of the net.
The last ten minutes the purple and gold defence stood strong withstanding any
effort the Kildare created to narrow the
gap.
Wexford
3
South
Belfast 0
After
a strong defensive display in the opening quarter of this game two set piece
goals before the break were the catalyst behind the second win in the group.
After
creating a number of early chances it was the Belfast side who controlled the
majority of the first half. They created a number of chances but couldn't break
through a resolute Wexford defensive effort.
With
five minutes to go in the half and against the run of play the southeast side
took the lead when a free kick from Emma Fitzpatrick found its way into the
net. Just on the cusp of half time it was the Courtown Hibs player Fitzpatick
who doubled the lead this time directly from a corner.
After
the break it was all Wexford as they piled pressure on the opposition defence
from the opening whistle . The pressure finally paid off when Fiadh Daly
dispossessed the defender before finding Ellie Byrne who tapped into an empty
net. This was the end of the scoring as the tie petered out in what was a
comfortable victory in the end.
Wednesday
Cup Quarter Final
Wexford
1 Pens (3)
Cork
1 Pens (4 )
It
wasn't to be as penalties were the difference in this enthralling encounter.
It
was the Munster side who had the better of the opening quarter as Amy Dwyer
pulled off three outstanding saves to keep her side in this knockout game. Just
as it looked like Cork were going to net, Wexford had other ideas when a short
corner was expertly converted by Ellie Byrne. This gave her side the momentum
which was kept up until the break.
After
keeping up the intensity and pressure early in the half , the yellow bellies
nearly doubled their lead with a free kick before a last ditch block / save
from the Cork defense.
Midway
through the half it was clear that the tie wasn't over as Cork startled to gain
a foothold and began to mount numerous attacks on the opposition goal. With
four minutes to go a croner was swung in and headed into the net by Amy Nash.
Penalties
were coming and Wexford made what they thought would be an inspired sub
bringing on Caoimhe Keating for the penalties.
First
up was Ellie Byrne who fired into the net. Then things got interesting as
Keating produced two outstanding full
length saves just to have them retaken due to an infringement. Eventually the
tie was leveled. Up next was Emma Fitzptrick whose effort was saved before
Orlaith Burke and Carla Fox netted. Unfortunately it wasn't to be as Cork fired
in the winner with the fifth spot kick.
Thursday
Mayo
0
Wexford
3
After
a tough loss yesterday , Wexford came out all guns blazing running out
comfortable winners on Thursday morning.
Ity
was clear from the outset that the southeast girls wanted to avenge yesterday's
defeat and they did this expertly. It was midfielder Emma Fitzptrick who fired
the first shot in anger over the bar. With ten minutes left to go in the half
they eventually broke the deadlock when an Ellie Byrne strike was deflected
into the net. There were five minutes left in the half when Amelia Tobin
doubled their advantage when she finished well from a narrow angle.
After
the break Wexford's defence stood strong as Mayo created a number of chances
but couldn't break through. Up the other end Byrne along with Oralith Burke
were causing havoc . Eventually after a number of chances that tie was finished
as a contest when Fitzpatricj unleashed a rocket with the aid of the wind which
found the roof of the net.
This
left one more game for this side against neighbours Waterford to see who would
finish in fifth place.
Wexford
4
Waterford
1
A
strong second half performance saw Wexford finish fifth in this year's Gaynor
Cup.
From
the opening whistle it was clear that the yellow bellies wanted to finish in
the highest seeding they could. Within a couple of minutes they had
created a couple of efforts on goal but
they were well thwarted by the opposition defence.
This
pressure finally resulted in the lead when Ellie Byrne ran onto a through ball
to finish neatly. As the half was about to come to a close, a cross came across the Waterford box before
Fiadh Daly swept it home from a narrow angle.
In
their final half of the tournament they kept pushing forward and looked
dangerous anytime the ball went near the opposition goal. The tie was finally
put to bed with twelve minutes when a long ball was sent up which Aisha Samidi
managed to get her toe to which doubled her sides advantage. Not to be outdone,
Waterford narrowed the gap before a final goal from the aforementioned Byrne
who finished well from a Fitzpatrick corner.
After
the final whistle we got the thoughts of the manager and coaches. They
explained how they were extremely proud of the team and how they played well in
every single match. “ From the start of the tournament the girls have been
fantastic, only conceding three goals in the whole tournament.”
They
go on to explain how no matter what happened the team fought right to the end.
“The girls have made us so proud and were well deserving of this finish.”
Finally
looking back the coaching team explain how they would loved to have a game
against the finalists DDSL.
“ We
would have loved to have played DDSL as we believe we could have given them a
great game and played some fantastic football along the way.
Wexford
Squad: Amy Dwyer Kilkenny Utd, Charlotte Stafford Curracloe Utd, Broke Clancy
North End Utd, Tabitha Byrne Courtown Hibs, Kayleigh KavanaghCourtown Hibs ,
Emma Fitzpatrick Courtown Hibs, Fiadh Daly Courtown Hibs, Alanna Ivanoff
Courtown Hibs, Orlaith Burke St Leonards Fc, Carla Fox All Blacks Fc , Ellie
Byrne Courtown Hibs, Abigal Ireton Courtown Hibs, Alisha Samadi Courtown Hibs,
Sophia O’ Dwyer Kilkenny Utd, Kayla Coade Flynn Courtown Hibs , Amelia Tobin
Curracloe Utd , Caoimhe Keating Ford Celtic.
Manager
Bernard Clancy,
Coaches
: Wes Fitzpatrick,
Anto Byrne,
No comments:
Post a Comment