Rianna Jarrett’s early strike was enough for Wexford Youths to see off Shelbourne 1-0 at Ferrycarrig Park as Wexford took revenge on the side who beat them to the title in this very ground in the teams last meeting.

An early chance fell Wexford’s way as Jarrett played a delightful ball around the corner to set Abbie Brophy bearing down on goal from the right flank, but the winger pulled her shot low, across the face of goal and wide of the target only ninety seconds in.

The Shelbourne defence were slow out of the blocks and while Wexford may have spurned that chance, on their next opening, 7 minutes in, there would be no mistake. Jarrett was put through from a long ball over the heads of the Shelbourne defenders and struck it first time into the bottom corner past the sprawling Courtney Maguire in the Shels net from 20 years to give Wexford Youths the lead and Jarrett her third goal in as many games.

A couple of tame free kicks from Shelbourne by Jessie Stapleton from almost identical positions straight at Wexford keeper Maeve Williams were followed by a few half chances for the visitors with Jemma Quinns glancing header just to straight at Williams who easily dealt with it though more problems were caused on the Wexford goal when a corner in the 26th minute lead to a scramble on the Wexford goal line, leaving Shels players shouting for a handball and penalty which was not rewarded. Keeva Keenan had a super chance to level for the Dublin based outfit as she was slid through on goal after 28 minutes but she shot just wide across the face as Wexford escaped yet again.

Jessie Stapleton was down injured for numerous minutes and when the game resumed with her substitution, it had lost the end to end aspect of the opening half hour as Shelbourne looked to pin Wexford back for the last few minutes of the half, who had obviously looked to protect their lead, but failed to create a decisive moment against the stubborn Wexford backline.

Halftime came with Shels in the ascendancy but unable to pick apart the Wexford Youths defence that had held strong with the assured performance of goalkeeper Williams helping to keep Shelbourne at bay.

In the second half Shels once again dominated the ball but it took until the 60th minute for the first chance of the half to come but it did so from a Wexford boot as Freya de Mange shot wide from a gorgeous Brophy cross completely unmarked from just 6 yards out. Shels responded with an effort from Megan Smyth-Lynch just moments later when she directed her poked effort just wide of the post from close range.

A wonderful tackle from Williams on Quinn miles from her goal stopped the powering forward in her tracks on just after the hour mark in a challenge that she looked second best for. Past this Shelbourne created little in the way of chances despite some excellent build up play for some time and it was the use of some textbook route one football that almost presented Shels with an equaliser, as a long throw went all the way through to Ruvimbo Mucherera at the back post who’s header shaved the outside of the post with only 15 minutes remaining.

Brophy was asking constant questions down the Wexford right and was the outlet that was allowing Wexford to avoid being pegged in by Shelbourne and seemed more likely to double their advantage than see it snuffed out by an opposition looking all out of answers for most of the second half. Six minutes of added time couldn’t save the faltering Shels side as a twist in the tale there was not to be. Wexford Youths determined performance proved to stump Shelbourne at every turn who travel home empty handed.

Wexford can now go only one point behind Shels should they win their game in hand and suddenly their position in the table looks significantly brighter after gaining their well earned revenge on Shelbourne through an impressive defensive display and a moment of real quality by Jarrett who’s hot streak of scoring some wonderful goals continues.