WNL Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Peamount United

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford Youths host Peamount United in what could be a pivotal game in terms of the destination of the league title (kick-off 6.30pm).

A win for the home side against the side they pipped to league and FAI Cup crowns last year would see them move within two points of the summit.

Defeat, on the other hand, would open up an eight-point gap to Peamount with just over half of the season gone.

Wexford have hit a vein of form recently with four wins in their last four since a scoreless draw away to Shelbourne in May.

By far the most impressive of those results came at Eamonn Deacy Park last week, as the visitors thumped an impressive Galway side 6-2 on their own turf.

Wexford actually trailed to an early goal from Ellerose O’Flaherty but Rianna Jarrett scored five times and Lauren Dwyer added a sixth, either side of Méabh De Búrca’s consolation.

“They beat us the last time we played them and we weren’t happy with our performance in that game - we want to make up for that,” Jarrett told the league’s official website.

“Training’s gone very well this week and we certainly don’t need any extra motivation for this game. We did well to get the three points last weekend, as Galway are a good side.

“We’re going into every game looking to win and that will be the same this weekend. We have home advantage. We’re going out to get the win.”

PEAMOUNT UNITED

Peamount United have an opportunity to stake a huge claim in the race for the league title by recording a second straight victory over champions Wexford.

Peamount are ten from ten in the league this season, including a 2-1 win at home to Wexford in March, and making it 11 would open up an eight-point lead.

James O’Callaghan’s side bounced back from their first defeat of the season – a 2-1 WNL Cup reverse to Shelbourne – by hammering Limerick 6-0 last week.

A Peas side missing a number of key players due to injuries and exams proved too much for a Limerick side similarly affected.

Louise Masterson and Megan Smyth-Lynch each scored twice, while Lauryn O’Callaghan and the ever-reliable Amber Barrett were also on target.

“We played Wexford already this season and we beat them, so that’ll give us a bit of confidence going in,” O’Callaghan told extratime.ie.

“But they’re a proven side and have won the league the last four seasons out of five. They have great experience in their camp.

“We’re just going down as if it’s another game and we’ll do our best. We take one game at a time.”

Midfielder Niamh Farrelly told the league’s website: “Everyone is talking about the roll we have been on, but the manager just keeps telling us that we can’t get complacent.

“You have to take every game on its own merits and that’s what we’re doing.”

Referee: TBC

MATCH STATS

These sides have been neck-and-neck for the past couple of seasons and Youths, for the most part, have gotten the better of those battles.

They met no fewer than five times in all competitions last year, with both sides winning silverware at the other’s expense.

Wexford won two of their three league meetings, both by a scoreline of 2-1, and another game was drawn 2-2 as Youths sealed a second successive league title.

Peamount got some measure of revenge when they won the WNL Cup final 2-1 at Ferrycarrig Park.

However, Wexford had the last laugh as Katrina Parrock’s goal proved the difference on the final day of the season as Youths lifted the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium.

Their one meeting this season, however, saw Peamount emerge triumphant as Eleanor Ryan Doyle’s double proved enough despite Kylie Murphy pulling a goal back.

BETTING

Wexford Youths 13/10; Draw 11/4; Peamount United 13/10.

PREDICTION

Wexford Youths 2 – 2 Peamount United

Wexford Youths

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.

Peamount United

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Unavailable.