Wexford Youths Forward Becky Watkins will be hoping to add a League winners medal to her collection this weekend, as the title race in the WNL comes to an end with the top two sides facing each other at Ferrycarrig Park.
Athlone also have a chance at the league title if the result in Ferrycarrig Park ends in a stalemate, should they win they would meet Shels in a play-off, Wexford need a win to become champions.
Speaking on the FinalWhistle.ie WNL podcast, Watkins believes that the loss earlier in the year to Peamount has certainly played on their minds coming into last weekend’s crunch tie but snatching a late point helped them get revenge.
“That was definitely in the back of our heads like we even said during the week, we did come and they did batter us that day so, I think we were out to get a bit of revenge but I think we got it in our own way.”
With this weekend’s title decider at stake, it could be said that prep work would be at an all time high trying to get a positive result this Saturday, Watkins says they have been taking it easy as they want to remain fresh and not try anything crazy before their biggest game of the season.
“I think just kind of adjusting it a bit so, obviously last week was a really tough game as well everyone was quite sore the next day even Monday so, we kinda just had an easier session on Tuesday, done a bit of analysis and then Thursday we’ll be sharp but obviously nothing heavy like, that we’re fresh going into Saturday, it is the last game like there’s no point doing anything ridiculous during the week.”
Three points are needed if Wexford are to be crowned the 2022 WNL Champions on home soil this weekend, this penalty has been instilled into the Youths players according to Watkins as they need to be better than Shelbourne on the day if they want to be league champions.
“We can’t be as defensive we can’t just hold out and hope for a draw and then be given a second chance against Athlone, I think I actually like it in a way because we have to push forward we have to get the win, we can’t draw and then go onto a different game, we have to be better than Shelbourne simple as if we want to come out with the league, so it kinda comes down to that if we win we win the league simple as.”
The end of last weekend’s tie at PRL Park was chaotic and dramatic as Wexford left it down to the final day against Shelbourne, the tie was like a boxing match as it was hard to figure out just who would claim victory in such a tight affair, Watklins and her teammates did not know what to do when they equalised late on but were happy with the outcome nonetheless.
“I think after us equalising in the last few minutes we were on a high, we didn’t know were we to celebrate or were we to just be kinda disappointed that we didn’t get the win, but I think the fact that we had knocked Peamount out and that we were definitely still in a very good chance to win the league, we were on cloud nine like, after scoring the goal so late on, like I’m not gonna lie after they went 3-2 up we were kinda like oh no there’s only a few minutes left is this over, but yeah I think to get the goal back we were absolutely delighted.”
Watkins had had a long journey in the league of Ireland, the Offaly native who has represented Ireland at underage level, had struggled to break into the Peamount setup as a teenager, but the move to Wexford has helped her develop as a player by getting much needed gametime.
“Yeah so I obviously made the decision to go to Wexford, it was basically just because gametime, I felt like kinda any games I was in I wasn’t consistent enough and then with Peamount being a top side as well, I just felt I didn’t break into the team, kind of to be in it every 90 minutes like so, then I kinda looked elsewhere and I was thinking I was actually on on the U19’s at the time and I just needed to be playing week in and week out so I looked elsewhere and I went to trial at Wexford and I just loved it.”
“I wasn’t used to getting 90 minutes atall and to be honest even going to Wexford I wasn’t expecting that atall, I was just kind of hoping to get more game time than I did before, I was obviously very young coming into the Peamount setup, so I wasn’t expecting much but then kinda as I got into next season, I was like right for my own development I just need to be playing more. They had such a good forward line, like with Steph (Roche), Aine (O’Gorman), Alannah McEvoy, I just felt that going elsewhere might benefit me more.”
Since moving to Wexford her outlook on game prep as changed, some doubts have lingered in her mind when not getting much game time that she may not have been good enough to play, but now her outlook is a lot more positive as she feels her team trust her more to play an active role.
“I’m absolutely delighted like, even coming into games it wasn’t the same knowing will I even get on, will I have ten minutes, like preparing for a game was so different it was kinda like, your attitude was always good, but it had to be just extra positive like okay if I come on I’m going to do what I can, whereas now it’s kinda like I need to be ready from the get go and it wasn’t kind of like, the doubt in my head am I going to get on, am I good enough to start, it’s kind of like they trust me now I’m more than likely going to be starting at the weekend, like hopefully anyway.”
Full Interview available below:
Check out this week’s WNL Podcast, as Breifne and Aaron breakdown the week just gone and preview a dramatic final weekend in the Women’s National League.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.