More shootout heartbreak for Wexford Youths Women as they bowed out of the Sports Direct FAI Cup at a rain soaked UCD Bowl last night.
The Youths dominated the game throughout but credit to DLR Waves who came from behind three times to force the game into the dreaded shootout. The hosts held their nerve and went through to the Quarter Finals after sudden death pens.
Wexford started the game strongly and the home teams goal lived a charmed life with chances falling to Rianna Jarrett, Méabh Russell and Kylie Murphy. Despite the positive start from the Youths it was DLR who broke the deadlock, Michelle Doonan lobbing a right foot shot over Maeve Williams in the 21st minute. Wexford reacted well and were level seven minutes later, Rianna Jarrett sliding a left foot shot into the corner of the net.
Jarrett had another great chance on the half hour but blasted her close range effort over the bar. Wexford continued to press and finally got the deserved lead in the 38th minute, Abbie Brophy providing the perfect cross to Ciara Rossiter who made no mistake with her header at the back post.
Wexford had another good start to the second half, Jarrett again looking the most likely with two goal bound efforts blocked. Orlaith Conlon also headed narrowly wide as the game entered the last ten minutes.
The Waves had a good spell of pressure as the rain fell and found their equaliser in the 83rd minute after been awarded a penalty. Although Williams saved the attempt, Cliodhna Donnelly was quickest to react and fired the rebound home to make it 2-2. Murphy had a super chance to win it in the 93rd minute but her header went wide.
Into Extra Time.
Jarrett put the Youths ahead for the third time in the 103rd minute with a cracking right foot shot past Badana. The hosts looked a beaten side as we entered the last few minutes.
Another great goal scoring opportunity fell to Ceola Bergin in the 108th minute but her glancing header just missed the target.
Just when it looked like Wexford were finally going to get their deserved win the Waves came back once more, Isobel Finnegan levelling it up with one minute to go with a fine right foot shot from the edge of the box.
3-3 AET.
Both Badana and Williams each saved a penalty in the first five takes with two efforts blasted over so we headed into sudden death.
Unfortunately there was no luck for Wexford as the Waves converted their first sudden death pen and Badana saved the Youths pen to advance into the Quarter Finals.
Wexford Youths Women: Williams, Conlon, Dwyer, Murphy (c), Brophy (Bergin 84′), Rossiter (Corbet 63′), Russell, Sinnott, Clancy, Jarrett and DeMange (Kennedy 63′).
Subs Not Used: Nix, Keenan, Lawler, Lawrence, Lenihan and Walsh.
DLR Waves: Badana, Keogh, Tobin-Jones, Gleeson (c), Finnegan, Nyangasi, Cosgrove (Roche 60′), Griffin, Doonan, Conheady (Donnelly 84′) and O’Brien (Kane 42′) (McDonnell 91′).
Subs Not Used: Auskalnyte, Chambers and McMahon
