Killarney v Terrigal
Some familiar faces will meet this weekend for our WPL match of the round as Killarney and Jai Menser will welcome his old club Terrigal to Edsaac Oval for round 4.
Killarney will be eager to get back on the pitch following their 6-0 defeat to last year’s Grand Final winners East Gosford in their opening fixture. Despite seeing defeat, Killarney pressed and took it to the Rams but were just unable to make the best of their opportunities when presented.
Now Killarney will go from facing the reigning premiers to facing Terrigal, the reigning WPL league champions in what will be another tough and challenging encounter for the Terriers, but Jai Menser states his squad has taken a lot away from round 1.
“Staying true to our principles of play is essential because when we stray from them, our performance suffers,” voiced Menser.
“There’s still much for both the squad and coaching staff to learn and grow together, so patience is key as we continue to develop and build. Our preseason display sets a standard, but we’re aiming even higher now. It’s all part of the process.”
Emotions will be even higher for Menser on Saturday as he comes up against his former club he recounts nothing but fond memories and friendships from.
“The word that resonates most is ‘privilege’. Gab, Marc, Peter, and the entire squad exemplify excellence both on and off the field. Their influence has shaped me profoundly, and I’m deeply thankful for their unwavering guidance and support, which have played a significant role in shaping who I am today.”
Menser saw every week last year just how much quality this Terrigal side possesses and the dominant way they can easily defeat teams. Nonetheless, Killarney will be up for the battle as they look to win their individual battles and compete throughout the entire ninety minutes.
“Our primary focus this weekend is to embody our footballing principles both on and off the ball.”
“Winning individual battles and recognizing the significance of every little contribution, no matter how small, will be crucial. It’s a demanding challenge, but one we’re fully prepared to tackle head-on,” expressed Menser.
Menser had even more high praise for Terrigal when questioned about what he is anticipating from them come kick-off. “In essence, top-notch football. The Terrigal Squad has been steadily developing for years, maintaining consistency with most of the same players while making strategic additions.”
“The new recruits match or even exceed the quality of those who have moved on. It’s bound to be a challenging match, but my team is ready to rise to the occasion every step of the way.”
Although it wasn’t as straightforward as they would have liked, it was back to business for Terrigal in their opening WPL fixture, narrowly defeating Umina 1-0.
Terrigal dominated for the majority of that contest but struggled immensely when trying to find the back of the net.
That was until Candice Phelan stepped up for her side as she has done so on many different occasions and converted from the spot to see Terrigal start their 2024 with a win away from home.
“I think round 1 confirmed for us that 2024 is going to be a very different look, in terms of opposition teams,” announced Gab.
“It will be the unknown each week, and we will need to be able to adapt on the fly if we want to see success this year. We also took away the need for a focus on being clinical in front of goal, something we worked on in detail during the week.”
Despite Terrigal and the rest of the WPL clubs not getting on the pitch last weekend, Terrigal are coming off a mid-week fixture in the Sapphire Cup as Gab Blanch and her side defeated Nepean FC 4-1 to progress to the next round.
With their attention now turned to Saturday night’s clash on the road against Killarney, Blanch also had kind words as she prepares to battle against a former member of her coaching staff.
“To come up against Jai this weekend, personally I feel nothing but pride for him. He’s an advocate for the women’s game and his passion and determination to get to where he is now is a testament to his character.”
“Competitively speaking though, Jai knows each and every one of us, how we play, think, and respond. Our focus has been based on doing what we do, but better, in everything that we do. It is my hope that this is what will bring good results for us, regardless of who we play,” declared Blanch.
“Once again it’s a bit of the unknown,” stated Blanch when asked on what she is anticipating from the Terriers.
“I know they have a mix of talented youth and some experienced players that will make Killarney a contender this year. Again, our focus has been on us, the things we can control, I guess the rest comes down to how we show up and execute.”
Blanch continues to iterate how below par her team was in front of the goal in their opening fixture and that they must make improvements in the final third.
“We will need to be clinical in the final third. Round 1 was a clear indicator of that for us. No point creating 45 goal-scoring opportunities if we don’t finish them.”
With a massive target on their back, Terrigal will look to make it two from two when they play under the bright lights of Edsacc Oval come Saturday.
Match Official – Darryn Eydnhoven
All Round 4 Fixtures –
