Wexford FC Women vs Shamrock Rovers by wexfordfc

HUGH STRONG THE FANS

A MESSAGE TO

I firstly want to welcome Collie, his staff and all the players from Shamrock Rovers to Ferrycarrig tonight. It’s our last home league game of the season - against a very strong opposition team.

I watched Rovers a good few times this season and they play a really good brand of football and have probably not got the run of the green in games at times.

They are more than capable of beating any of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league and we will have to be at our very best to get something from the game tonight.

With it being our very last home game, I would like to firstly thank all the staff for all their work and dedication throughout the season.

Eddie the kit man looks after the players fantastically - the girls are very lucky to have him. Darine and Evan came to us half way through the season and have both been very welcome additions to the staff.

Damien- our S&C coach is absolutely second to none in his field. The manner in which he looks after any injured players has been fantastic.

I told our GKs when I brought Graham in that he was the best GK coach in the country (they will tell you that now too!!) and again they have been very lucky to be coached by him, and I have been very lucky to have him both on and off the pitch.

It has been a very challenging season at times and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better than Paul both on and off the pitch.

I have worked with so many great coaches and people over the years and I go as far to say Paul has been the absolute best.

Lastly, I want to thank all the players for their incredible dedication and commitment throughout the year.

We will have done over 100 sessions by the end of the season and they turn up to EVERY session with a huge appetite for hard work, that is the reason we have had a long unbeaten run during the year.

Add to that some of the fantastic characters that we have with the squad, it has been a pleasure working with them.

We aim to finish the season with as many points as possible so I hope you can get behind the girls against very tough opponents tonight and hopefully we can pick up the maximum points on offer.

Signing out, one last time, Hugh.

PREVIOUSLY… SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-1 WEXFORD FC

Wexford get their first point on the board with a battling performance in Dublin.

Rovers had opened their League campaign with a draw against DLR Waves so this match day two fixture was important for both sides.

The hosts began brightly and had a number of chances to go ahead but keeper Jayne Merren was in inspired form and kept them at bay with a number of top quality saves.

Wexford took the lead in the 33rd minute, Kylie Murphy heading in a Ciara Rossiter corner. In the second half the Slaneysiders had to withstand some serious pressure from the Hoops and the hosts finally broke through in the 63rd minute with an unfortunate OG.

Wexford hung on for a precious point in the end, Merren making yet another crucial save from Áine O’Gorman in the 90th minute to secure a share of the spoils.

Tallaght Stadium, 16th March, 2024

Wexford FC Women: Merren, Russell, Tuthill, Doherty, Conlon, Rossiter, Clancy (Lenihan 70’), Murphy (c) (Brophy 60’), Lawrence (Lynch 57’), Molloy, Bergin (Corbet 60’). Subs Not used: Williams, Nix, McGrath, Sinnott, De Mange

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-1 WEXFORD FC

Tallaght Stadium, 3rd August, 2024 Rovers win 6-5 on penalties)

Heartbreak for Wexford who exit a second Cup competition on penalties in the space of two weeks. Both sides were struggling for consistency in the League at the midway point of the League season making this FAI Cup First Round game a crucial clash. A hugely entertaining game filled with attacking football finished level after 90 minutes and 20 more in Extra Time.

After seeing an O’Gorman penalty saved by Jayne Merren in the opening minutes, Melissa O’Kane had put the hosts in front just before half time. Ellen Molloy eventually got Wexford a deserved equaliser in the 88th, her left foot free kick beating the keeper. Despite both teams best efforts in Extra Time a winner wasn’t forthcoming and the game went to penalties. After a tense shootout (6-5), the Hoops went through to the Quarter Finals.

Rovers: Budden, Fox

58’), McCarthy (Zambra

Hennessy, Reynolds, O’Leary, A Kelly, O’Kane, E Kelly (Corbet 105’), O’Gorman (c) (L Kelly 105’), Ralph Subs Not Used: Fanning, Owens, Prizeman, Butler, O’Reilly

Wexford FC Women: Merren, Russell, Tuthill, Conlon, Doherty, Clancy, Murphy (c), (White 73’) Lynch (Jarrett 59’), Fitzpatrick-Ryan (McGrath 73’), Molloy (Sinnott 116’), Bergin (Walsh 91’) Subs Not Used: Williams, Nix, Rossiter, Daly

Shamrock Rovers: Lawless, Fox, Hennessy, O’Leary, Herron, A Kelly, O’Kane, Thompson (Reynolds 90’), O’Gorman (c), Ralph, Zambra (Coady 81’) Subs Not Used: Fanning, L Kelly, E Kelly, Butler, Martin, O’Reilly

Shamrock

(Herron

62’),

BIG MATCH PREVIEW

Two sides in form meet at Ferrycarrig this evening

The battle for a top four finish continues with the visit of sixth placed Shamrock Rovers to Ferrycarrig Park this evening, Collie O’Neill’s side four points adrift of fourth placed Wexford. The Hoops come into todays game on the back of their best form of the season, now five games unbeaten in the League with three wins and two

Rovers had a strong finish last year as well, a similar run propelling them into third in the final standings, not a bad return for the Tallaght side on their return to Women’s football.

It has been a frustratingly inconsistent season for Rovers this year however, a poor start saw them wait till round eight for their first three points of the 2024 campaign. A sixth placed final finish this year would be very disappointing for a club with big ambitions.

Wexford had an equally frustrating start to the season, one win in the first six games. But the ship has been steadied and Hugh Strong’s team have been on a good run themselves in the second half of the season, a ten game unbeaten run coming to an end against League leaders Athlone at Ferrycarrig a fortnight ago. Last weeks come from behind win at Dalymount Park was another sign of progress for the Slaneysiders.

The 2023 season was a hugely disappointing one after all, a seventh placed finish the worst in the clubs history. With two games to go Wexford have surpassed last years points total and are three places higher.

So, still a lot to play for despite no silverware for either side for another year, both teams fighting for that fourth place spot.

The sides have met each other three times in the League since Rovers return, Wexford waiting on a first win after two draws and a Hoops victory at Tallaght in 2023. They have also met twice in the Cup, an All-Island Cup group game that Wexford won last year at Ferrycarrig and again in the FAI Cup first round of 2024 where the Dubliners came out victors after a penalty shoot out. So it couldn’t be much tighter.

The last time the sides met at Ferrycarrig Park was almost twelve months ago, an unfortunate 92nd minute own goal denying Wexford three points (the game ending 1-1, Kylie Murphy scoring in the first half).

AROUND THE CLUB

Leah McGrath was back in action with the Ireland U17s last week.

The friendly game with Wales in Dublin was part of Ireland’s prep for Novembers UEFA EURO Qualifiers.

Lily-Anne O’Meara from our U17 team also lined out for the girls in green in the double header against the Welsh.

Leah found the net in both games while Lily-Anne also netted her first goal at this level.

It was another successful camp for the girls, an invaluable experience. Well done to Leah, LilyAnne and the team on two good wins.

Ireland have been placed in a tough group for the R1 Qualifiers: the holders Spain amongst their opponents. Austria and Denmark are also in Group A6 with Ireland.

The first game in the group is set for November 14th against Spain.

James Scott will announce his final squad shortly.

Our Transition Year Course is well and truly up and running in the clubhouse at Ferrycarrig. The TY Football Programme offers a balance between player development, academic attainment and a holistic school based experience in line with the FAI Football Pathways Plan. By integrating academia with football we aim to empower boys and girls on the course with valuable skills both on and off the pitch. There has been great interaction from the students.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

GALLERY FOUR GOALS AND THREE POINTS IN DUBLIN

WELCOME SHAMROCK ROVERS

After a nine year absence from the League Shamrock Rovers made their return in 2023. The signings of Ireland internationals Áine O’Gorman, Stephanie Zambra, Abbie Larkin and Savannah McCarthy showing they meant business right from the start. The Tallaght club’s initial run in the Women’s National League a decade ago ended in failure, finishing bottom of the League twice and then second from bottom in the 2013/14 season before pulling out of the League. The Hoops were looking to make a big splash on their return to women’s football and the 2023 campaign, despite no silverware, was a relative success, finishing in third spot just seven points off champions Peamount United.

HOME GROUND:TALLAGHT

MANAGER:

Although Rovers will be disappointed with their current position in the League (sixth and nineteen points off leaders Athlone), their recent form has them in a great place coming into this evenings game at Ferrycarrig Park. Ahead of last weeks draw in Athlone Rovers Manager Collie O’Neill was confident of a strong end to the season saying “Our confidence has continually grown and grown…we’ve gone back to our original shape that we had last year and it seems to suit the team and the players an awful lot more.”