It was a Cup Final masterclass from Wexford Youths Women’s U19 Girls on Sunday as they were crowned EA Sports Cup Champions after a 4-0 win over Shelbourne at Athlone Town Stadium.
It completed a super season for Aoife Lynch’s team, a record of 20 wins, 4 draws and just 2 defeats in all competitions. The girls finished runners up in League Tier One but captured much deserved silverware with a fantastic win in the Cup Final at the weekend.
The Youths had a great start, one up inside two minutes when Ellen Molloy drilled a left foot shot past the keeper. The teenager almost added another minutes later but her shot came back off the crossbar.
A second goal did come in the 17th minute for Wexford – Mia Lenihan with a terrific free kick into the top corner. The Dublin side reacted well and brought a couple of good saves out of Claudia Keenan.
With the Reds pressing it left a lot of space behind and Wexford exploited it with a super counter attack in the 34th minute. Ceola Bergin scoring her 28th goal of the season to put the Youths 3-0 up at the break.
Wexford were professional in their approach in the second half and defended in numbers, opting to attack on the break. Credit to Shelbourne, they never gave up and created some goal scoring chances but Keenan was equal to them, the one time she was beaten by a Hannah Healy shot, the ball hit the crossbar. Wexford had their chances on the break too, Siún Murdiff coming close with a well struck volley.
Mia Lenihan put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute scoring her second of the day with a thunderous right foot shot past the keeper.
Jubilant celebrations at the final whistle as Wexford Youths Women captured their first Cup title at underage level (our U19s won the Shield in 2021).
Jess Lawler was also named as the Player of the Match after an outstanding performance.
Wexford Youths Women FC: Keenan, O’Connell (Redmond 87′), DeMange (c), Russell, Lawler, Ryan, Lawrence (Garland 72′), Walsh (Walker 56′), Molloy (Law 87′), Lenihan and Bergin (Murdiff 65′).
Subs Not Used: Nix, Fitzpatrick-Ryan and Delaney
Shelbourne FC: Willoughby (Laughton-Tyler 9′), Donnelly (c), Giles (Ibezim 70′)), Tighe, H Healy, McCann, E Healy (Griffin 71′), Deegan (Kelly 79′), Devereux (Atkinson 88′), Riley and Hannon.
Subs Not used: O’Brien, Murray
