Jun 30 2024
Wexford were led from the front by Player of the Match Holly Dooley and ran out comprehensive winners over a gutsy Galway side to win their third FAI Women’s Under 19 Inter-League Cup in four years.
The first chance of the game fell to the eventual winners in the ninth minute as an Abbie Gaffney effort resulted in a good save from Eabha Ní Choisdealbha in the Galway goal.
From there came a dominant spell from Galway as Ciara Connolly and Clodagh O’Neill had good efforts on goal. O’Neill capitalised on a mistake in the Wexford defence on the quarter-hour mark, forcing a save from Ella Crotty to keep the game scoreless. From the resulting corner, Clodagh Crowley had her effort frantically blocked on the line.
Ten minutes later Daisy O’Neill drove a powerful effort from distance but her shot drifted harmlessly over the bar.
Wexford then took the lead in the 35th minute when Shannon McGuire latched onto a Mia Denton flick to give Wexford the advantage. Denton knocked the in-swinging free kick into the path of McGuire who coolly slotted the ball past Ní Choisdealbha.
Moments later Ciara Murphy came close to doubling the Wexford lead after her shot was parried by Ní Choisdealbha after a terrific solo run from Dooley.
Just three minutes after the restart another free-kick doubled the Wexford lead when Dooley got on the end of a Denton cross. Just four minutes later the game as a contest was as good as over when Connolly flicked the ball passed the on-rushing Ní Choisdealbha after another piercing Dooley run.
Four minutes later the ever-dangerous Dooley forced a diving save from Ní Choisdealbha after another driving run through the heart of the Galway defence.
In the 65th minute, Dooley got her deserved second goal in what was the moment of the game as she lobbed the hapless Ní Choisdealbha from outside the box to cap off a flawless display as Wexford and District League ran out worthy 4-0 victors.
Wexford and District: Ella Crotty (Holly May O’Sullivan 81), Nicole Murphy, Tegan Fortune, Caoimhe Byrne, Abbie Gaffney (Emma Keenan 71), Ciara Murphy (Ava Wallace 71), Mia Denton (Ava Stapleton 62), Ciara Connolly, Holly Dooley, Shannon McGuire (Katie Collins 77), Hannah Kehoe.
Galway FA: Eabha Ni Choisdealbha (Kara O’Connor 89), Isobel Whyte, Anna Daly (Eadaoin Brannelly 80), Niamh Donovan, Chelsea Nolan, Abby Martha Kavanaugh, Clodagh Crowley (Kaelah Tobin 65), Ciara Fahy, Leah Moran (Joy Erugo 53), Daisy O’Connell, Caoimhe O’Neil (Rhia Stone 58).
Referee: Shane O’Donoghue.
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