Cork Women 0 - 4 Wexford Youths Women

Rianna Jarrett scored a hat-trick for Wexford Youths Women’s AFC as they comfortably defeated Cork Women’s FC at Turner’s Cross on Sunday afternoon in the Bus Éireann FAI Women’s National League.

John Flood’s unit have now scored seven goals without reply in their last two matches and appear to have grown as a team mentally.

They lost out on third spot last season on goal difference from the Leesiders but on this evidence they seem better placed, for the moment at least, to improve on their previous season’s finish.

In defender Lucy Sherwin the Slaneysiders possess a strong tackler and player that attackers will struggle to get much change out of this term.

And in Jarrett they have a poacher that they can rely upon to get into goalscoring positions at crucial periods.

Cork, on the other hand, have much improving to do.

Outside of Sarah O’Donovan’s determination to curtail Wexford’s midfield, Amy McCarthy’s tireless work ethic and Denise O’Sullivan’s flashes of brilliance, few positives could be gleaned from Sunday’s game for the Leesiders.

Wexford led through Jarrett’s 23rd minute opener but as Cork chased the game in the second half the visitors caught them on the counter in the final quarter scoring three goals between the 73rd minute and 90th minutes – two from Jarrett and another courtesy of Maria Delahunty.

Wexford were the more dominant team in the opening half of the first-half and deservedly edged in front 23 minutes into the contest.

Rachel Hutchinson’s corner which was floating towards the far post was tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper Trisha Fennelly but when it came down from the air Wexford striker Rianna Jarrett prodded the ball into the net.

Following the introductions of defender Zoe Murphy and attacker Clare Shine Cork improved, however.

Yet Maurice Farrell’s side failed to engineer a single attempt on target in the entire match despite having plenty of the possession in the second half.

Lauren Murphy’s 25-yard free-kick for Cork on 34 minutes went inches over Aimee Jordan’s bar and Shauna McCarthy’s instinctive shot from outside the area also went over with three minutes of regulation time remaining in the first-half.

Cork were much improved after the interval without testing Jordan and eventually they paid the price, Jarrett turning the ball into the net after indecision in the Cork defence led to Zoe Murphy steering it into her path while trying to clear her lines on 73.

That was a killer blow to Cork’s chances of getting back into the game and with five minutes of normal time left on the clock Maria Delahunty put the result beyond doubt with a shot from distance that flew past Fennelly when the goalkeeper should have dealt with the effort far better.

Five minutes later Wexford added a fourth as Jarrett completed her hat-trick turning the ball into the net after Fennelly excellently parried Linda Douglas’s stinging shot from the right.

Wexford deserved their away victory.

Cork Women’s Fc: Trisha Fennelly, Orla Barry, Lauren Murphy, Angie Carry, Emma Farmer (capt), Sarah O’Donovan, Lynsey McKey, Amy McCarthy, Denise O’Sullivan, Shauna McCarthy, Claudia Hudner.
Subs: Zoe Murphy for Carry (35), Clare Shine for Barry (35).

Wexford Youths Women’s FC: Aimee Jordan, Lucy Sherwin, Jessica Gleeson, Catherine Power, Clare Conlon, Linda Douglas (capt), Edel Kennedy, Laura Heffernan, Amy Walsh, Rachel Hutchinson, Rianna Jarrett.
Subs: Lynn Marie Grant for Heffernan (45), Maria Delahunty for Walsh (61), Sadie Murphy for Hutchinson (71).

Referee: Chrissie Buckley (Cork).