The picture in the league is not much clearer than it was last week. Half of the games were postponed, owing to bad weather last Saturday.
From the chasing pack, Wexford and United both won. United will admit they were not entirely convincing, coming from behind to beat lowly Cork City in Turner’s Cross.
They fell behind in the first quarter, failing to clear a deep free-kick. But there were some good moments too. The equaliser was well worked. Ava Mullins hit a splendid strike from distance to put her side in front. Jodie Griffin regained the lead a minute after coming on.
Emma Doherty had chances too to seal the points. As it happened, United had to live on their nerve late on as Eva Mangan nearly equalised for City. Aislinn Meaney did eventually seal it, with the pick of the goals in injury-time to make it 4-2.
It was heartening to see the contribution of herself, Griffin and McKey from the bench. The subs yielded two goals and helped see out the game. They were the first goals that came from the bench all season.
With two confidence-boosting wins in succession, United should fancy themselves to get the job done in Waterford. The newcomers showed some potential early, particularly in a televised win away at Sligo.
Their form line has suffered since and the big crowds they enticed early in the season are ebbing away. They are winless in seven in all competitions. Their scoring differential in this time is 18-2. They have shipped four on four separate occasions.
United will have to wait two weeks after this game for their All-Island Cup quarter-final and so will be expected to go strong in the south-east.
Continuing to re-integrate Meaney and McKey, while remaining flexible in the market, could prove the key to success in the second half of the season.
