Wexford FC Women vs Peamount United by wexfordfc

300

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LEAGUES

HUGH STRONG

A MESSAGE TO

THE FANS

I would like to welcome everyone back to Ferrycarrig. We return to League duties tonight with a home game vs Peamount United.

I’d like to welcome James, his staff, players and all the supporters of Peamount.

It’s seven weeks since we last played in Ferrycarrig. So much has happened since our last home game vs Cork on June 29th.

A good win that night against a very dangerous Cork team was followed by a great point away to Shelbourne and a last-minute win away to Treaty in the League. And two heartbreaking penalty defeats vs Shamrock Rovers and Galway.

It’s difficult watching the build up on social media to the All–Island Cup this week after our Semi Final vs Galway, knowing just how close we came to getting to the Final.

Hard work is a necessity for us to pick up any points in every match we play, and that will be needed tonight again against the present Champions.

Let’s hope we can continue to keep moving up the table by getting points on the board again tonight. I hope everyone gets right behind the team.

Hugh

MATCHDAY

Wexford and Peamount find themselves in similar positions ahead of this evenings game - hanging on to the coat tails of the top three. The 2024 League looks like it’s destined to go to Shelbourne, Athlone or Galway but there’s still an outside chance of course. We haven’t given up hope and Peamount definitely haven’t either. Wexford and Peamount, despite eight League titles between the two clubs, have always been regarded as underdogs in the League and many observers have written both clubs off in the past (on and off the pitch) but we’ve proven them wrong time and time again.

Before kick off this evening there will be a presentation to mark Kylie Murphy’s astonishing achievement of 300 club appearances at Wexford. In 2011 she led us out in our very first game here at Ferrycarrig against Castlebar Celtic and thirteen years later Kylie will once again wear the armband and walk us out. She’s simply irreplaceable.

We have eight more games to play this season, next up is an away trip to the Bowl with DLR Waves the opponents. Then we host Galway at Ferrycarrig the first week of September in a game that will be shown on national television. It’s always great to welcome TG4 to the sunny south east, their coverage of our league has been exceptional and it should be a cracking game for the viewer as we try get a little bit of revenge on United after our Semi-Final Cup defeat at Eamonn Deacy Park. Please help us get the word out about the game, a big crowd on the night would be fantastic.

A couple of days before the Galway game, we have our annual Golf Classic of course. It’s a hugely important fundraiser for the club which goes a long way in helping the club to survive. It’s not too late to get involvedpriced at €300 for a team of four with a meal included at the wonderful Bunclody Golf Course. Or you can sponsor a tee. Your help in promoting this fundraiser would be greatly appreciated. Check out the ad later in the programme for more details!

BIG MATCH PREVIEW

At Ferrycarrig this evening Wexford will look to keep their good recent run in the League going but will face a determined Peamount side aiming to return to winning ways after last weeks League defeat at the Bowl and keep their Title retention hopes alive.

Wexford haven’t beaten Peamount in the League since 2020 when the Youths put three unanswered goals past the Peas (Ellen Molloy scoring a brace with Nicola Sinnott also on target at Ferrycarrig).

Wexford have edged the last two encounters in Cup competitions but it’s been three long years since the Slaneysiders took all three points in a League contest with Peamount. The sides have met 47 times (in all competitions) with Peamount coming out on top 22 times. Wexford winning 17 with 8 games drawn.

Wexford and Peamount were two of seven sides that competed in the inaugural Women’s National League back in 2011. The Peas had immediate success winning both the League and Cup that season. The Youths didn’t get off to the best of starts against the Dubliners initially - losing the first three encounters, outscored sixteen goals to none! The very first WNL meeting was at Greenogue on November 20th 2011 when the hosts put seven goals past Wexford. Karen Duggan started for the Peas while Kylie Murphy and Rianna Jarrett lined out for Wexford in Dublin that day. Wexford didn’t fare much better in the return fixture at Ferrycarrig with a 6-0 loss! Another 3-0 loss followed before a famous first win over the Peas - the Youths showing great character coming from a goal down to win 2-1 in Greenogue on March, 12th 2012 (Cherelle Khassal and Sadie Murphy scoring our goals).

There’s been many great battles between the sides since then. Who can forget Wexford beating League champions Peamount in the 2019 FAI Cup Final, Kylie scoring the winner in a five goal thriller at the Aviva Stadium. Peamount would get revenge the following year, knocking the Youths out in the Semis and beating Cork in the Cup Final. Peamount also famously won the League Cup at Ferrycarrig beating the Youths 2-1.

The Peas had another historic moment in the sunny south east last season of course, beating Wexford 2-0 (Ellen Dolan scoring a brace) at Ferrycarrig last October to secure their fourth League title.

James O’Callaghan’s team have a good record at Ferrycarrig, unbeaten in their last four visits (two wins and two draws) with their last defeat in Wexford in 2020. They come to Ferrycarrig today in need of three points as they defend their League crown. Currently ten points off top spot the Peas cannot afford to drop anymore points and will need the three sides above them to start losing games as we go into the business end of the season.

Peamount secured the League title at Ferrycarrig last year

They come into the game on the back of a disappointing 3-2 defeat against DLR Waves at the Bowl last week. The reigning champions were strong favourites ahead of the contest, particularly with Niamh Farrelly making her return, the Irish international left the Peas in 2002 and played in England, Italy and Scotland.

O’Callaghan has also added in Kerri Letmon from Shels and impressive young striker Michelle Doonan from DLR. Aoife Brophy also made the move from DLR.

Erin McLaughlin however moved on in the July transfer window, the international joining Portsmouth.

United have struggled for consistency this season. An impressive seven game unbeaten run came to an end in June when Shamrock Rovers ended their All-Island Cup run at the Quarter Final stage. Their record since that

They face a third defeat in a row in todays game at Ferrycarrig.

O’Callaghan will be hoping to avoid that of course, not only for their League hopes but also with next months UEFA Champions League Qualifiers where they face Belarussian Champions FC Dinamo-BUSPC in Round 1.

2023 Player of the Year Sadhbh Doyle has

The talented attacking midfielder came

Wexford in March but that proved to be her only League appearance this season

Wexford are on a six game unbeaten run in the Women’s Premier Division stretching all the way back to Mays home win over Treaty United. After that victory at Ferrycarrig Hugh Strong’s team have registered League wins Form at home this season has seen Wexford with five wins, three losses and one draw in all competitions.

With exits from both Cups, Wexford will have eight more games to play in 2024. Four at home (including the still to be rearranged fixture against Athlone) and four away. Twenty four points up for grabs. The Slaneysiders are eleven points behind current leaders Shelbourne but do have a game in hand on the Reds. Wexford of course have a very long shot of winning their first League title since 2019 but they will keep fighting till the end.

In Wexford team news - Michaela Lawrence and Siún Murdiff are unavailbe for todays game as they recover from long term injuries but Ciara Rossiter may return after missing our Cup game in Tallaght through injury.

PEAMOUNT UNITED 1-0 WEXFORD FC

Wexford travelled to Dublin on match day three looking for their first win of the season after a loss and draw in their opening two games. The hosts also looking for a win after a home defeat to Shels the week before.

Peamount had the better chances in the first half, Ellen Dolan coming the closest to scoring with a right foot effort that hit the woodwork in the 30th minute. Wexford were brighter in the second, Ellen Molloy almost giving them the lead with a left foot rasper in the 63rd minute. With little between the teams, the game looked destined to end scoreless but the Peas were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute, Kylie Murphy sent off after handling on the goal line. Erin McLaughlin stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to give her side the three points at PRL Park.

Peamount United: Reid-Burke, O’Callaghan, Merrill, McLaughlin, Healy, Fitzgerald, Dolan, Duggan (c), Beirne, Maher, McGonnell (Doyle 75’) Subs Not Used: Richardson, Coombes, Masterson, Muldoon, Dermody, Noonan, Connaughton, Ceno

Wexford FC Women: Merren, Tuthill, Conlon, Doherty, Rossiter (Lynch 68’), Russell, Clancy (Walsh 90’), Murphy (c), Molloy, Corbet (McGrath 57’), Bergin (Lenihan 68’) Subs Not Used: Williams, Nix, Lawrence, Sinnott, De Mange

(Right) Kylie Murphy and Karen Duggan in 2018 League Cup Final action at Ferrycarrig Park, Peamount winning the Cup by two goals to one. Lauren Dwyer put the Youths in front but second half goals from Áine O’Gorman and Megan Smyth-Lynch win it for the Peas. 15th September, 2018

300 KYLIE MURPHY

This evening at Ferrycarrig Park we celebrate our captain on making her 300th appearance for the club

A footballing career that could have ended at the age of 24 - a back injury picked up in a pre-match warm up. It happened in Greenogue as Wexford Youths Women prepared for kick off against Peamount United, Kylie jumping up for a header but in pain immediately after a disc in her back slipped. The leading spinal injury consultant in the country advised her that it was time to unfortunately look beyond football and hang up the boots. But she defied the odds and with the help of Wexford Chartered Physio Miriam Rowlands our number six returned to action the following season. Over a decade later, Kylie is still playing at the highest level in the country. A captain who leads by example, constantly striving to raise the standards within the team to ensure continued success. A captain who wears the armband with a huge amount of pride and respect. Talent and leadership are rare attributes. We are so lucky to have Kylie at our club.

Her love for sports started early, playing soccer with St Pats Boys in Carlow from about the age of six. Kylie also played football with Laois right up to minor level. By the time Wexford Youths came about she had fallen out of love with sport and stopped playing for a couple of years but a phone call from Youths manager John Flood reignited the passion and led to a trial at Ferrycarrig with a club who were about to embark on their debut campaign in the newly launched Women’s National league. Immediately after that first trial, she was signed. The year - 2011.

Mainly consisting of young inexperienced players from Wexford and Waterford, the Youths needed a strong leader on the pitch as they stepped into the newly launched WNL. Kylie was that person. Teams like Raheny and Peamount were well established in the women’s game and at the time most observers thought the Wexford club would not last. Who could blame them after a slow start and some heavy hammerings in that first season. But with Kylie’s leadership the Youths learned quickly and soon began to close the gap on their rivals. Kylie ended that debut season as our Player of the Year. The following season her career came to a crashing halt with that back injury but she made a triumphant return a year later. By coincidence it was away to Peamount again and the Dubliners gave her a guard of honour as she walked back onto the pitch.

Kylie led us to a first trophy in 2014 when the Youths beat Castlebar in the League Cup Final, Rianna Jarrett scoring a hat-trick in front of over 1,000 spectators at Ferrycarrig. The first of four League titles came the following season - Kylie also named on the WNL Team of the Year for the first time.

Kylie also led us on our first ever UEFA Champions League campaign with a memorable group stage in Poland. Another European highlight was the Youths hosting their Champions League Qualifies at Ferrycarrig in 2018. There was also a Champions League hat-trick against Birkirkara in Lithiania, not to mention our clash with the legendary Ajax team in our European campaign in 2018.

The silverware kept on coming for Kylie and the Youths - four FAI Cups included. Another big highlight of Kylie’s career was her winner against Peamount in the 2019 Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium. She grabbed another Cup Final goal in the 2021 win over Shelbourne at the Aviva Stadium. Kylie scored a career high fifteen League goals that season (in all she has found the net 114 times for Wexford).

Kylie was also the very first recipient of the Sports Writers of Ireland Women’s Personality of the Year in 2021. She also picked up the WNL Player of the Year for the first time that season. What a journey it’s been and it continues this evening. A player with fantastic positional sense, great passing ability, an eye for goal and plenty of grit and determination. Straight talking, honest and modest.

And to play with the one team is truly truly special. The Leagues longest serving player. A true leader and an inspiration to all young players, A class act. Congratulations Kylie.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

WELCOME ALYSSA

We

were delighted to add attacking midfielder Alyssa White to our squad in the summer transfer window.

The 20 year old who hails from Nashville, Tennessee has now made four appearance for the club after making her League of Ireland debut against Shelbourne at Tolka Park in July.

The exciting attacker who loves to take opponents on already has an assist to her name after her defence splitting pass to Kylie Murphy for her goal in Galway.

After growing up watching Barcelona and Real Madrid from the States Alyssa saw one of her dreams come true when she played for Spanish side FC Malaga City Feminino in Spain in 2022.

After her senior year with BGA in Tennessee Alyssa made the trip over to Europe on a 10 month soccer program with the Spanish side. The USA national has had misfortune in her young career as well, suffering two ACL tears but is now getting back to where she wants to be and Wexford fans are super excited to see her in action at Ferrycarrig for the first time with our Women’s team this evening. Welcome to Wexford Alyssa!

Alyssa in action for BGA in USAJoining FC Malaga in SpainIn action for Wexford against Treaty

ACADEMY ROUND UP

This week we start off by saying a massive well done to Molly Kirwan, Niamh White, Lily-Anne O’Meara and Leah McGrath who were called up to Ireland U16 and U17 National Assessments at FAI HQ in Abbotstown last week.

Lily-Anne and Leah were later selected for the Ireland U17 team that will travel to Belfast for an international friendly with Northern Ireland. The game is part of the girls in green prep for upcoming UEFA WU17 EURO Qualifiers.

Both our Wexford U17 and U19 teams have qualified for Tier One, a super achievement. The top eight teams in the country kicked off U17 Tier One three weeks ago, our girls putting in a great match day one performance against Bohemians at Ferrycarrig Park. Unfortunately the girls lost out to the Dubliners on a 4-2 scoreline, Molly Kirwan and Niamh White scoring our goals. That game was followed by a cracking seven goal thriller with Treaty at Ferrycarrig which ended in a victory for Noel Martin’s team with Niamh White (2), Molly Kirwan and Meah Cuddihy all scoring.

That result places the girls in fourth place in the table going into todays third Tier One League game in Cork.

Last week the girls faced a strong Shamrock Rovers team in the Cup and lost out on a 5-1 scoreline.

Niamh White scored yet again for the girls. So their Cup campaign ends in the last sixteen but plenty of great football action to look forward to in the next few months.

Our U19 team are grouped with the five best teams in the country at this level for Tier One. Stephen Quinn’s team opened their Tier One campaign with a super 4-1 win over Shamrock Rovers in Dublin, Leah McGrath (2), Emma Walker and Millie Daly scoring. Last week they were beaten by Athlone in their second game, Leah again scoring in a 3-1 loss at Ferrycarrig.

It was their first loss of the 2024 season, in fact, their first defeat in over a year so what an incredible run they had.

The girls have no game this weekend but will face Shelbourne in the League and U19 Cup over the next two weeks. We wish our U17 and U19 teams the best of luck and as always we would encourage you to go and give our young future stars your support as they take on the best Academy teams in the country.

LEAGUE ROUND UP

After a bight opening Peamount found themselves a goal down in the 26th minute after Isabel Finnegan got on the end of a Jess Gleeson free kick and converted past Reid-Burle. James 0’Callaghan would have been disappointed with how they conceded, a long ball straight down the middle. It didn’t take long for the champions to equalise, Ellen Dolan heading in a Jetta Berrill cross five minutes later. The Peas were unable to get the lead in a first half they dominated. The hosts got their noses in front again in the 58th minute, another scrappy goal with Keelin Dodd getting the final touch after a goalmouth scramble. The Waves shocked Peamount again a minute later with a third goal, Laura Heffernan’s side winning back possession on the restart and awarded a penalty after a push in the box, Amber Cosgrove making no mistake with the pen.

DLR defended their lead superbly but conceded a late goal when Berill lobbed the keeper with a right foot shot in added time. Peamount ran out of time and there was to be no comeback as they suffered their fourth league defeat of the season.

Bohemians had a good away win in Limerick, Aoibhe Fleming’s goal in the 60th minute enough for Ken Kiernan’s side to take the three points. The hosts probably deserved a share of the spoils in an even entertaining game but an unfortunate mistake from goalkeeper Annie Ulliac decided the game in the end. Treaty began the game with only one Irish player in their starting eleven.

Shelbourne retained top spot with a comfortable 4-1 win over Cork City at Turners Cross. Eoin Wearen’s side had to wait till the 42nd minute to find the net, Hannah Healy cooly converting in a one on one with the keeper. A second goal for the Reds arrived in the 59th minute, Leah Doyle converting from close range. Eva Mangan gave the home team some hope in the 76th minute when she followed up Kennedy’s saved shot and found the net to reduce Shels lead but Megan Smyth-Lynch gave the Reds their two goal advantage back in the 85th converting from the penalty spot. Pearl Slattery rounded off a good away performance with a 4th in added time.

At Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway United came out on top with a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers. Jenna Slattery scored her eight goal of the season in the 59th minute, slotting a penalty past Amanda Budden. The three points would see the Tribeswomen jump above Peamount and Wexford and place them them third in the Premier Division table. Rovers and United will meet again this evening - silverware up for grabs with the All-Island Cup Final at Tallaght Stadium.

Sligos disappointing season continued with a heavy away defeat in Athlone. Bonnie McKiernan received a red card in the first minute of the game, the Rovers keeper mistiming a challenge after coming off her line. Athlone were two goals up at the break with Roisin Molloy and Brenda Tabe on the scoresheet. Molloy grabbed her second of the day in the 50th minute to make it 3-0 and Kerryanne Brown and Jessi Rossman completed the home teams scoring. Anna McDaniel scored a late consolation goal for Sligo in the 88th minute, the gamed ending on a 5-1 scoreline.

Wexford not in action last week but there was plenty of goals in round 15 starting with Peamount taking on DLR at the Bowl

WELCOME PEAMOUNT UNITED

HOME GROUND: PRL PARK

MANAGER: JAMES O’CALLAGHAN

Established in 1983 Peamount United were one of seven founding teams of the Women’s National League in 2011, becoming its first ever Champions. In all the Peas have won four League titles with their other titles coming in 2019, 2020 and 2023.

Peamount have also won two FAI Cups, in 2010 and 2020 and captured the League Cup beating Wexford in the 2018 Final. Peamount were also the first team from Ireland to qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, doing so in 2012.

James O’Callaghan is the Leagues longest serving manager (and most successful manager in women’s football) having been at the helm for nine years.

Peamount are currently placed fourth in the Women’s Premier Division with a record of six wins, three draws and four defeats in their thirteen League games played.

United were beaten by Bohemians in the FAI Cup First Round and exited the All-Island Cup at the Quarter Final stage losing out to Shamrock Rovers.