Wexford Youths 1 - 3 Salthill Devon by Brian de Salvo Sat, May 14 2011 “Hey-hey-hey! Which of you is marking him? Sort it!” The Paul McGee new Salthill Devon roadshow has hit Wexford and the Man Himself is in full cry. It’s referee Dave McKeon’s second match back after a lengthy absence too, with an Achilles injury. In both he has taken charge of Devon but after the postage stamp pitch in Drom the wider breezy expanse of Ferrycarrig Park will present more of a challenge. And, as you may have already gathered, this is more event than football match with some of the more interesting action taking place in front of the dugouts. “Hey-hey-hey! Con-cen-trate, ye!” Mr McGee rounds on his dugout. “Why didn’t he take him on, Quirkie?” he demands, as the wonderfully named Cyprian Spraut, having penetrated the home defence, checks back as a last ditch defender appears. The response from coach Mike Quirke from the recesses of the dugout is inaudible. Indeed there is no answer. You’d have to ask the player. There are occasions when it seems that the exuberant Mr McGee might invade the playing arena on just such a quest. The fourth official looks nervous. On the pitch not a lot is happening. Devon’s left sided midfielder, the black French player Etan Nkololo has pace and good close control skills. But he oversteps the mark when, after he is fouled by Keogh just outside the box, he seizes the ball from the nominated dead ball expert Cian McBrien and proceeds to over hit the free kick harmlessly over the bar. His manager is not impressed. “Is he having a joke or what? Cian!!” The Frenchman takes no more free kicks but he does produce the only decent shot of the first period which forces Wexford keeper Holden to get down quickly to divert the ball at his near post. Holden, in a pink outfit that wouldn’t have been allowed out of the dressing room in my day, misses the resulting corner. And the next. And gets away with it. Then, just as the two minutes added to the first half is petering out, Youths score an unlikely goal. The home sides few shots on goal have been tentative and Ryan’s late effort is out of the same stable. But as it trundles towards the Salthill keeper it is deflected by his skipper James Whelan and limps past the helpless Forde into the net. Paul McGee wreaks vengeance on a chair that has crept into the dugout area and engages in a lengthy conversation with Quirke as they trudge towards the dressing rooms. Changes at the interval but not amongst the combatants. Mr McGee has retreated into the dugout and sent Mr Quirke out to prowl. He is animated enough but lacks the volcanic quality of his boss. Youth’s manager Noel O’Connor gets into the act, sending two substitutes to the touch line and then changing his mind when they are about to enter the fray. “I decide when they’re going on, not you!” insists Mr O’Connor. Meanwhile Salthill have produced a shaven headed lookalike of the manager and the “now you see me now you don’t” choreography between the three coaches does nothing to make the fourth official’s life easier. Back on the pitch Holden has failed to deal with a third corner kick and this time Paddy Quinlan hooks the loose ball past him for a Salthill equaliser. You begin to think the visitors just might be in line for their first win of the season when a corner from the Wexford right strikes the unmarked Kehoe right in front of goal and bounces harmlessly wide. Substitute Walshe has got on by now and make an initial impact, making Forde look sharp to block his close range effort with his feet. And when the second sub, Rowe, misses at close range after Malone’s low cross from the right, you begin to think it’s not going to be Wexford’s day. But Whelan fares little better at the other end when his effort strikes the crossbar and flies over. There’s effort enough, to be sure, and Youths win the yellow card count by five to two. O’Leidhinn’s first half block on Ryan was a cynical professional foul but Malone’s attempt to take Collins off at the shin is the kind of tackle no professional likes to see. Collins hobbles away and ultimately off but not before he has had the last laugh by putting Salthill ahead with a quarter of an hour of attrition remaining. As so often happens, the side searching for an equaliser concedes again. Spraut, clear on the right, cuts in for goal, Holden slips as he advances to narrow the angle, and the big Devon striker slips the ball home. Seconds later Mr McKeon blows the final whistle. “Hey-hey-hey!” celebrates Mr McGee. The referee is all smiles too. It surely can’t be Salthill Devon again next week. Can it? Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Gareth McCurtin (Anthony Wolfe 72), Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Shane Nolan (Kevin Rowe 68), Patsy Malone, Craig Wall, Ben Ryan; Danny Furlong, Dave Grincell (Darragh Walshe 58). Booked: Keogh 20, Furlong 43, Ryan 58, Malone 71, Kehoe 85. Subs not used: Muzzy Mullen, Greg Yelverton, Eoin Kinsella, Robert Dempsey Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde; Patrick Quinlan (Daniel Rupa 78), Cian Fadden, James Whelan, Gearoid O’Leidhlinn; Cian McBrien, Eugene Creaney, Shane Browne, Etanda Nkololo; Ciprian Sprout, Victor Collins (Gerry Dolan 81). Booked: O’Leidhlinn 43, Creaney 76. Subs not used: Timmy Molloy, Bernard Power. Referee: Dave McKeon Attendance (est): 150 Wexford Youths F.C. V Longford Town Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford 8pm, Friday 11th March 2011 Teams: Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Karl Keogh, Anto Russell, Anthony Wolfe, Patsy Malone, Ben Ryan (Muzzi Mullen,86), Craig Wall (Max Cream, 69), Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe (Dave Grincell, 77), Shane Nolan. Subs not used: Garret McCurtin, Kevin Rowe. Yellow cards: Walshe 34, Keogh 62. Longford Town: Alvin Rouse, Graham Dowling, Mike Lee, Des Hope, Chris Deans, Thomas Hyland, Cathal Brady, Mark Salmon, Don Cowan (Jason Oladele, 86), Craig Walsh, Jacques Morley (Aidan Roche, 71). Subs not used: Niall O'Reilly, Paddy Collins, Piotr Sczcerbowski, Daniel O'Reilly, Stephen Conlon Despite being out played in the opening half it was Wexford who had the best chances as half-time approached. First Shane Nolan failed to connect with Ben Ryan's cross into the box. Seconds later Nolan turned provider this time his ball met the head of Darragh Walshe but he headed over. We were hoping for better fare on show in the second half and we didn’t have to wait long before we had a goal to report. Six minutes after the restart and the deadlock was broken. Town winger Cathal Brady cut into the box from the right and played a superb ball across the face of the goals. Holden could only parry the ball and it fell to Jacques Morley who made no mistake from close range. Longford had a chance to double their advantage four minutes later. A cross from the left was met by full-back Graham Dowling but his diving header was expertly tipped over the bar by Holden. Brady was provider again in the 72nd minute when the Town grabbed their second of the night. He played the ball to Don Cowan who found the net from about 20 yards out. It was all Longford Town as they pressed to get goal number three but Youths were hoping to catch them on the break and they very nearly did in the 81st minute. Substitute Dave Grincell went through on goals but the visitors keeper Alvin Rouse came out to make a very smart save to keep his goal intact. (Courtesy Extratime.ie) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shelbourne F.C. V Wexford Youths Tolka Park, 8pm, Friday 18th March 2011 Shelbourne: Dean Delany [Paul Skinner '83], Ian Ryan, Barry Clancy, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley, Kevin Dawson. David McGill, David Cassidy [Chris Mulhall '67], Philip Hughes [Karl Bermingham '64], Conan Byrne, Brendan McGill Substitutes Not Used: Lorcan Fitzgerald, Colm James, Gareth Mathews, John Sullivan Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Anto Russell, Anthony Wolfe [Dave Grincell HT], Patsy Malone, Ben Ryan, Greg Yelverton, Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe [Garret McCurtin HT], Shane Nolan [Kevin Rowe '67] Substitutes Not Used: Craig Wall, Muzzi Mullen, Dean Broaders Referee: Paul McLaughlin Attendance: 812 Got on the bus full of optimism as we always do, especially considering our recent good results against Shelbourne at Tolka Park...Although we were playing against much more experienced opposition. Recent performances would be forgotten about and we believed that tonight was the night where we would show our true colours. Nobody told Shelbourne about the script. The game started at a ferocious pace from the visitors and to be honest Youths were shellshocked. They were hungry, direct and full of running. Youths looked as if they were going to sit back for the first 15 minutes and see what Shelbourne were all about. After 16 minutes Shelbourne were 3-0 up. Even the most optimistic Shels fans wouldn’t have seen this coming. Definitely Not in the script. Philly Hughes was a touch quicker than Youths ‘keeper Packie Holden to the loose ball in the box and slotted home for their second. A looped deflection took a harmless Shels shot onto the bar past the despairing dive of Packie with Steven Paisley the quickest to react by tapping home into an empty net. Although the 4th goal was accredited to Dave Cassidy, it looked as if Anthony Wolfe's touch was the telling one. Wexford to their credit went straight back up the pitch and were awarded a rather soft penalty. The kind of penalty that you would be livid if it were given against you. Maybe the referee felt a bit sorry for Wexford but Danny Furlong still had to put the ball away and he did so calmly. The Half time whistle soon followed. Anthony Wolfe and Daragh Walshe were replaced by Gareth McCurtin and Dacid Grincell at half time and were instrumental in the second half performance. The pressure was off and we finally started playing. Gareth went to left back and was attacking down the wing, giving their right hand side something to think about, while Grincell was energetic and chasing down Shelbourne when they had possession. The vociferous travelling supporter from Wexford were encouraged by the change in performance and were further delighted when substitute McCurtin swept home the ball from 12 yards following a Ben Ryan corner. A comeback? The Youths kept pressing and Ben Ryan was unlucky not to bring the deficit down to a solitary goal after hitting the post from a free kick. It was mainly Wexford attacking but Shelbourne offered concern on the counter attack too. Ryan was a threat from the left wing putting in teasing crosses which bounced around the penalty spot. On another night they would have fallen at the feet of the Youths strikers. 7 minutes of injury time were added following an innocent and 50/50 challenge from Paul Malone on the Shelbourne ‘Keepr. Game ended 4-2 to the hosts. A fair enough result considering our slow start but Youths fans were left with a feeling of what could have been if that freekick hadn’t hit the post. Ian O’Neill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gimpy's View - 22/3/11 Gimpy’s View - Five minutes is a long time Well where do we start for the first and hopefully not last edition of Gimpy’s view. Excuse the name, it’s a nickname bestowed upon me by the Wexford Youths faithful. It’s a lovely name, really it is I just love being called Gimpy. For once I was early for an away day trip, in fact an hour early. It took about 45 minute for some all to familiar faces to arrive. Elaine was quick to point out that my name wasn’t on the list thank you Jennifer Miller for listening. Back to football, we left the Maldron at half four picking up passengers in Enniscorty, Gorey and ‘Lil Doyles’. At Enniscorty we noticed Jennifer was sporting a new style of scarf. I was keen on the colour not so much on the style. After a short trip we arrived at Tolka Park, one of my favourite grounds in the League of Ireland. Things started off badly for me, first I was overcharged and secondly ‘Burdocks’ was gone. Well at least I had the football to look forward to I was proven to be very wrong. 8.00 pm hit our watches, the whistle blew and both sets of supporter’s chants echoed across Tolka Park. From the off the Youths were being outplayed by Shels who seemed to be having the time life on the wings and it began to pay dividends. It took just ten minutes for the Youths who had barely ventured into the Shelbourne half to go behind, a ball in over the top, Conan Byrne with the chest down to Kevin Dawson who rifled the ball past Pakie Holden. A terrible start for the men in pink. Three minutes later and tricky play from Ian Ryan on the wing led to a good cross and Philly Hughes was at the front post to put the put the ball past Holden again. Don’t worry things got worse, the third came just two minutes later again the cross came from Ian Ryan, this time however it took a huge deflection from Youths skipper Anthony Wolfe and as it looped over the despairing hands of Pakie Holden who was caught unawares it fell kindly to Stephen Paisly who notched it home from very close range. I will go on record as to say it was the worst five minutes I have ever seen the Youths play. The Youths managed to hold out until 41 minutes until that dastardly winger Ian Ryan put in another good cross, oh how I was fed up of those now. This time it fell to David Cassidy who slotted the ball home for Shelbourne’s fourth. On the brink of half time the Youths were given a glimmer of hope, the Youths most meaningful attack led to Barry Clancy brought down Danny Furlong and he stepped up and slotted home the penalty, finally something to shout about. Shels had early chances in the second half but the men in pink kept plugging away and on 65 minutes they got their rewards when Gareth McCurtin almost magically when he put the ball past everyone in the Shels penalty area with the ball going so slowly it nearly stopped, ok a bit of an exaggeration. The Youths now dominated play and on 74 minutes Ben Ryan struck the post with a fantastic free kick. The Youths continued to dominate play and could have scored again with a scramble in the Shebourne penalty box. The Youths continued to press and had most of the possession but alas the match ended 4-2. The night got worse for us with the action of some Shelbourne fans, who I hope people realise do not in anyway represent Shelborne Football Club. Also Finn, a young Youths supporter will be banned from drinking coffee at all Wexford Youths events as I have never seen someone so optimistic about being four nil down. Anyway I’m finished with this edition of “Gimpy’s View”. Thanks for reading - Gimpy a.k.a Chris McCleane Mervue United 3 - 0 Wexford Youths by Terry Flaherty Sat, Jun 18 2011 Mervue United registered their biggest win of the season as they hit a struggling Wexford Youths for three second half goals to claim their sixth win of the season at Fahy’s Field on Friday night. The opening period saw both sides create opportunities with the visitors probably having the better chances particularly early on in the game but the half failed to produce a score. Wexford started well and forced three corners in succession after the five minute mark and from one of those they created a good early chance. A quickly taken short corner routine resulted in Martin Kehoe forcing an excellent save from the returning Ger Hanley as he blocked the centre half’s on target header, while Darragh Walshe fired the rebound over the crossbar. A dangerous right wing cross from fullback Shane Nolan saw Kevin Rowe just fail to connect with the delivery with the goal at his mercy inside the six yard box after eight minutes. Mervue produced their first chance after 20 minutes when Mark Ludden swung a good ball into the box were an unmarked Jason Molloy side footed his effort badly wide. Hanley then produced another top class save from a close range Danny Furlong header a minute later. The best chance of the half fell to Dave Goldbey as his downward header flew just the wrong side of the post after Tom King had picked him out unmarked in the six yard box on 23 minutes. A minute before the break and some good football from King and Ludden set up Goldbey for a shot but he curled his effort wide from the edge of the box as the half finished as it started. The home side hit the front with a two goal salvo within nine minutes of the restart before adding a third for good measure. A Ludden corner from the right on 54 minutes picked out Noel Varley’s late run to the back post and he powerfully headed into the top corner past Packie Holden for his first ever league goal. Before the visitors could recover from that blow Mervue had doubled their lead almost from the restart. Tom King capitalised on some bad Wexford defending as both Martin Kehoe and Dean Broaders failed to clear a Gaffney ball and allowed winger King to run onto the ball and fire past Holden for a second a within a minute. Varley fired another low effort wide of Holden’s goal, while the same player got on the end of a King corner delivery only to shoot over when totally unmarked on the penalty spot after 74 minutes. A minute later and the home side had trebled their lead. Gaffney played a lovely ball out wide to Goldbey on the left and he beat Nolan before cutting into the box and shooting but Holden palmed his effort away only for King to pick up the loose ball and return to the net for 3-0. Mervue almost made it four with two minutes remaining as substitute Michael Collins headed fellow sub Mike Tierney’s left wing cross just past the angle of the post. A late Ben Ryan free-kick found the target but once again Hanley was equal to it as he saved well to preserve his side’s clean sheet. Johnny Glynn’s Mervue side returned to winning ways as they recorded their fourth home win of the season, while Noel O’Connor’s Youths side bad league form continues as they have now lost five on the bounce. Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley, Kevin Crehan (Michael Collins ’80), Mark Ludden, James Casserely, Martin Conneely, Noel Varley (David O’Brien ’81), Tom King, John Mountney, David Goldbey (Mike Tierney ’84), Jason Molloy, Rory Gaffney. Subs not used: Barry McEntee, Ger McGrath, TJ Forde (GK) Booked – Gaffney ’49, Collins ‘89 Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Shane Nolan, Dean Broaders, Martin Kehoe, Karl Keogh, Kevin Rowe (Eoin Kinsella ’72), Ben Ryan, Greg Yelverton, Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe, Muzzy Mullen (Garret McCurtin ’62) Subs Not Used: Rob Vickers. Booked - Nolan ’12, Furlong ’31, Yelverton ‘90 Referee: Kevin O’Regan (Kerry) Attendance – 257 Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Noel Varley (Mervue Utd) – scored his first goal at senior level with an excellent display in midfield. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wexford Youths 1 - 2 Cork City by Brian de Salvo Sat, May 21 2011 It’s been a hard day’s night for Cork with the Queen of England at large in the city centre in the morning and Wexford Youths failing to doff their caps to their betters in the evening. Youths have lost all of their homes games this season; Cork City haven’t lost any, home or away. If this had been a boxing match it would have been banned as a mismatch. But by the final whistle Cork were grateful for the points, the better side, maybe, but benefactors of an equalising goal that should have been ruled out for what looked like a foul on home keeper Holden. But the initial drama came before the kick off with both home strikers Dave Grincell and Danny Furlong relegated to the bench amid rumours of Furlong leaving Wednesday’s training session early. Big under 19 international Darragh Walshe led the line with Muzzy Mullen and Ben Ryan pushed up on the flanks. And the home side started brightly enough with Wall and Ryan getting inconsequential low crosses in from the left. But with the visitors playing a high line and McNulty an alert sweeper/keeper behind his back four it didn’t take long for Cork to gain control of proceedings although there was a anxious moment when McNulty chested the ball down outside his area and almost gifted possession to Wall before clearing. On the quarter hour Davin O’Neill got through on the left and Wexford keeper Packie Holden did well to hang on to hold deflected drive. Three minutes later it was squeaky bum time in the home goalmouth as Murphy’s corner skimmed across it and O’Neill shot wide. The home defence, with Wolfe unable to deal with O’Neill and central defenders Keogh and Kehoe struggling with the powerful visiting strike duo of Cummins and Sullivan in the air, looked porous, the unease spreading to Holden who inexplicably punched a cross he could easily have caught and then was beaten to Morrissey’s free kick from the right by Cummins who headed wide. But it wasn’t all one way traffic with Kavanagh forced to bring Walshe down after the Youths number nine had beaten him in the air. Cummins restored the balance by skipping past Keogh and pulling the ball back from the dead ball line but behind Sullivan who could only head wide. In a moment of pinball panic in the Wexford defence moments later, Holden effected a good block with his feet and the sides went in for the half time interval level. Grincell replaced Walshe in the Wexford attack for the re-start but Cork almost scored within thirty seconds from a disputed corner on the right with Holden making a fine leap to claw away Sullivan's header from under his bar for Kehoe to complete the clearance. And it was Youths who scored. It started with fine work from Mullen to unsettle Horgan into fouling him. Dean Broaders free kick forced McNulty to a full length save but Mullen was first to the loose ball and from his layoff Craig Wall scored, the keeper getting a hand to his low drive but only succeeding in diverting the ball further into his net. With only two second half minutes played you felt the goal had come too early for Youths. But when the equaliser duly arrived it was controversial. Packie Holden went up for a cross from the left but could only palm the ball away as he was clattered in the air by Cummins. Sullivan was the benefactor, hitting the loose ball home with Holden lying prone on the turf holding his face. Furlong had finally been unleashed to join the fray with just over ten minutes remaining but it merely served as a cue for City’s winner when an unforced error by Wolfe put City on the front foot. The ball was switched to Gearoid Morrissey who hit a low drive sweetly past the advancing Holden. Youths response was a Furlong free kick which brought a conventional save from McNulty with two minutes remaining. The enigma of Wexford Youths quest for home points continues as Cork grind out the promotion points at the other end of the table. Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Anthony Wolfe (Danny Furlong 79), Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Patsy Malone, Craig Wall, Ben Ryan; Muzzy Mullen (Shane Nolan 52), Darragh Walshe (Dave Grincell h/t), Ben Ryan. Subs not used: Kevin Rowe, Eoin Kinsella. Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Gearoid Morrissey (Vincent Escude-Candau 68), Greg O’Halloran, Shane Duggan, Davin O’Neill; Vinny Sullivan , Graham Cummins. Subs not used: Ian Turner, Stephen Mulcahy, James McCarthy, Kieron Kinneally, Jamie Murphy. Referee: Phil Caschero Attendance: 170 (estimated) WEXFORD YOUTHS 2 - 3 LIMERICK Brian De Salvo - 25th June 2011 Not so many years ago Limerick were so short of players the reserve keeper filled in at centre forward to make up the bare starting eleven. Tonight there are no fewer than six subs on the bench and new star signings Behan & Gamble yet to feature. Skipper Pat Purcell, who played then and now, must wonder what's happening to his famous club. The answer is Mrs Sullivan and Mrs McManus whose friendship has paved the way for CEO Pat Sullivan to enlist the aid of J.P. in his plans to revive the fortunes of Limerick FC. Now, with no disrespect to Messrs Behan and Gamble, their combined transfer fees would hardly buy a fetlock of one of Mr McManus’s better equine properties. But it’s not so much his money as his ability to help make things happen that makes J.P. McManus key to Limerick’s plans. A return to a re-vamped Markets Field next season to put them back in the big time? No problem. All Pat Scully and his merry men have to do meanwhile is acquire a Premier Division fixture list to match the venue. For the first forty five minutes of this evening’s encounter at Ferrycarrig promotion looks like scheduled work in progress. Limerick purrs through the rain and gloom, its diamond shaped mid-field sparkling. The Wexford defence looks uneasy. Quinn pounces, home keeper Holden plunges. Judge jabs, Holden clutches. At the other end Barry Ryan, one hurried kicked clearance apart, is doing routine maintenance in his goalmouth. Limerick again. A finely judged headed flick from Peter Hynes makes space for Judge who curls an elegant effort just over the bar. Surely the visitors must score before the interval? They do, after Judge narrowly misses Tracey’s flashing cross from the right, Quinn retrieves it on the left and sends it back from whence it came for Judge to head home from close range. Thirty three minutes. Nine minutes later another close range header by Quinn from O’Leary’s well flighted free kick from the left makes it two, leaving Youths keeper Packie Holden remonstrating with absent friends. At the interval the rain stops and so do Limerick. Even keepers as eccentric as Barry Ryan are not supposed to concede a goal directly from a corner kick but Ben Ryan’s swerving, fizzing, bucking flag kick is exceptional and catches him out only four minutes into the second period. Now the Limerick defence has caught the jitters. White’s error is rescued by Purcell’s last ditch tackle. Elmes, on for Walshe, heads wide from Broaders corner on the right and a fine defensive header from Purcell under pressure concedes another. But Ben Ryan hasn’t finished yet. He gets a free header from a free kick and plants it past his namesake. Seventy four minutes and Youths, who looked dead and buried at half time, are back in the game and showing signs of seizing the initiative. Two minutes later Crag Wall, wrong footed as he covers back, neatly clips a low cross past Holden in to the bottom corner of his own net. The Wexford bubble bursts. Six minutes and forty five seconds of added time after O’Leary is stretchered off late in the game stimulates heat from the Limerick dugout but on the field little of significance. Pat Scully climbs back on the bus wondering how close Behan and Gamble are to match fitness; the Wexford faithful, played eight at home, lost eight, ponder why nobody, certainly not lady luck, loves yer when yer down and out. Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Ben Ryan, Patsy Malone (Muzzi Mullen 86), Greg Yelverton (Robert Vickers 80), Craig Wall, Danny Furlong; Darragh Walshe (Tim Elmes 55). Subs not used: Eoin Kinsella, Mark Phelan. Limerick: Barry Ryan; Corrie Tracey, Pat Purcell, Brian McCarthy, Andrew Bhandarkar; David O’Leary (Garbhan Coughlan 88), Peter White, Jeffrey Judge, Paudie Quinn (Thomas Lyons 81); Sean Brosnan (Chris Breen 74), Peter Hynes Subs not used: Garvan Broughall, Dave Ryan, Stephen McGann. Referee: Keith Callanan Report By Dean Hayes - extratime.ie - Many Thanks. Wexford Youths grabbed all three points on their travels to neighbours Waterford United on Friday night, courtesy of a magnificent Ben Ryan free-kick. It was the home side who first managed a shot on target, as Kenny Browne rose to direct a looping header comfortably into the arms of Packie Holden in the Wexford goal after just three minutes. On six minutes it was the turn of Browne's central-defensive partner, Kevin Murray, to test Holden's capabilities, the Blues captain sending a header across goal from a Paul Walsh cross after a short Conor Sinnott free-kick. But Holden did well to turn the ball over his crossbar. Wexford were slow to get into the game early on and Waterford continued to eke out half-chances, Willie John Kiely dragging a shot wide with his unfavoured left leg on ten minutes. This game represented the first time in the history of the League of Ireland that two twins lined-out on opposing teams. Waterford's Brian Nolan showed little brotherly love as he slid in to trip Shane Nolan of Wexford Youths. But it was a foul from Conor Sinnott that made the difference, the Blues midfielder hauling down his man 20-yards from goal after 12 minutes. Former Waterford under-20s player Ben Ryan stepped up and curled a magnificent effort beyond the despairing dive of Kevin Burns in the home side's goal. The goal came just as Wexford were beginning to assert their influence following a bright opening from their hosts, and it was the men in pink who looked more dangerous as the half wore on. The rain-soaked pitch made for a very slick playing surface, which in turn made for a scrappy affair, with players misjudging through-balls at both ends. This was extra problematic given that both side's best chance of a goal seemed to be on balls played in behind on the counter-attack. It was from one such attack that the visitors almost doubled their lead, youngster Brian Nolan lingering behind his defensive team-mates to play Darragh Walshe onside as he raced onto a Dean Broaders pass. Walshe was clean-through on Burns but Nolan recovered excellently to turn the forward's shot behind for a corner before being duly chastised by his captain Kevin Murray for failing to step-up on time. Waterford withdrew Willie John Kiely on 40 minutes due to an apparent knock, the striker was replaced by the club's leading goal-scorer Paul Murphy in what was the final meaningful event of an uninspired first-half. Just as Waterford's first chance of the initial 45 came after three minutes, Wexford's first chance of the second-half came after an identical interval. Robert Vickers was played into space down the right-side and squared a low ball for Darragh Walshe on the edge of the six-yard box, but the striker's improvised flick was cleared off the line by Kevin Murray. The Blues were positively chaotic at the back during the half's opening exchanges as Wexford saw two goalmouth scrambles fail to be converted. This was a South-East derby which was struggling to deliver, but the game almost sprang back into life on 60 minutes when Gary Dunphy lined up a shot 30-yards out and took a lick of paint off the top of Holden's crossbar. Waterford had now begun to rally and exerted some long overdue pressure on the Wexford goal through a succession of corners. Murray rose highest from a Conor Sinnott delivery on 68 minutes but failed to apply the necessary power to his header and the ball bounced wide. One minute later, in a move straight off the training ground, Sinnott floated a corner to the left to the edge of the box where the waiting Paul Murphy fired a mistimed volley well wide. This derby eventually spiced up in its final stages when Wexford manager Noel O' Connor was sent to the stands after making clear his views within earshot of the Fourth Official. The Youths boss was visibly unhappy following a robust challenge on substitute Eoin Kinsella. The game appeared to be drifting further away from Waterford despite their renewed efforts and when, with just two minutes remaining, Sinnott saw his 25-yard free-kick sail narrowly wide it looked all over for the home side. There were however one or two more scares for the visiting defence before they claimed a hard-fought, but deserved, victory over their South-East rivals. Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Seamus Long, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Brian Nolan (Paul Phelan 67); Paul Walsh, Gary Dunphy, Conor Sinnott, Michael Coady, Adam McSherry; Willie John Kiely (Paul Murphy 40). Subs Not Used: Sean Barron, Gary Keane, Dwayne Wilson, Paul Carey, David Breen. Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan, Anto Russell, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe; Darragh Walshe (Michael Mullen 89), Craig Wall, Robert Vickers (Eoin Kinsella 72), Paul Malone, Dean Broaders (Mark Phelan 92); Ben Ryan. Subs Not Used: Greg Yelverton. Referee: Conor Fitzgerald. Attendance: 600 (estimate). Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Darragh Walshe. Lively all night and brilliantly occupied the Waterford back-line. Wexford Youths 0 - 2 Finn Harps by Brian de Salvo/Extratime.ie - Many Thanks To opine that the second half of this game was of no consequence seems to disrespect the endeavour with which Wexford Youths went about trying to resurrect their fortunes. But the truth is that Finn Harps had this game wrapped up as early as the eighteenth minute. They’d gone ahead eight minutes earlier when afforded too much space and too much time. Kevin McHugh headed Marc Brolly’s cross from the left against Packie Holden’s right post and Blain Curtis headed the rebound past the Wexford keeper. McHugh’s reputation proceeds him but his young partner up front seems cast from the same mould. When a searching ball down the middle from McElwee put the young man in possession he had too much pace and poise for his marker Keogh and ran on to slip the ball past Holden. It might have been worse after twenty five minutes when Wall’s misplaced pass gifted possession to Harps. Brolly cut in from the left but the keeper got down well to parry his shot. But Curtis might have had a hat trick ten minutes later but for his header being adjudged as being from an offside position. It looked a close call. The points were vital to both these struggling clubs but, Patsy Malone apart, Wexford seemed unable to raise their game to match the urgency of the situation, and even Malone’s contribution had a hint of desperation. Harps were in cruise control with player manager Pete Hutton rarely seeming to break sweat as he mopped up what little the home side had to offer. When a key tackle was required, he slid in cleanly and even had the temerity to appeal for the resulting throw in. When he left his keeper a little short with a back pass he was able to cover his tracks by encouraging his colleague to come out a little quicker next time. It was all in the best possible taste. Youths, without the physical presence of Walshe or Elmes or the guile of Furlong up front were forced to play Ben Ryan as a lone striker in a forlorn cause. Vickers pace down the right gave Harps full back John Paul Gallagher some anxious moments but there was a lack of precision about his final ball. The returning Dempsey tried his luck with some long range sighters but did nothing to discommode the visiting keeper. Being at Ferrycarrig with the threat of the Arklow-Rosslare bypass looming is a little like being at a wake. What can you find to say that brings any comfort? Wexford went to three at the back and finally brought on Miller to partner Ryan up front but it made no difference. When a shooting opportunity presented, Hutton (who else?) blocked it for a corner. Ryan’s low shot that skidded just the wrong side of the upright in the first of the five minutes added might have quickened the pulse but in the end Harps got what they deserved. Three priceless points. Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe (Greg Yelverton 75), Anto Russell; Robrt Vickers, Shane Dempsey, Patsy Malone, Craig Wall, Dean Broaders (Dave Miller 65); Ben Ryan. Subs not used: Muzzy Mullen, Mark Phelan, Eoin Kinsella. Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Martin Redmond, Peter Hutton, Keith Cowan, John Paul Gallagher; Mark Forker, Thomas Bonner (Gareth Harkin 57), Aaron McElwee, Marc Brolly (Ciaran Coll 89); Blain Curtis, Kevin McHugh. Subs not used: Aaron O’Hagan, Gary Merritt, Shaun McClafferty. Referee: Anthony Buttimer Cork City 2 - 2 Wexford Youths by Alan Smith - Many Thanks To Extratime.ie Fri, Aug 12 2011 Tom Elmes rained on Cork City’s promotion parade as his injury time goal earned Wexford Youths a share of the spoils at Turner’s Cross on Friday night. For the second time in a week French midfielder Vincent Escudé-Candau gave City a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot with his 88th minute strike but they conceded two minutes later to end a very frustrating night on Leeside for the home side. Tiredness was certainly a factor for Cork and they conceded a very soft goal with Elmes poking home with his first touch to the delight of Mick Wallace’s team. Rewind back an hour and a half and it all looked very ominous as the home team continued where they left off from their heroics eight and four days previous. After a rampant start, Tommy Dunne’s men went into the lead within seven minutes and should have been out of sight by the break. Still, a failure to convert the numerous opportunities they created proved to be a major problem. Derek O’Brien was taken down 25 yards from goal and Danny Murphy swung his left-foot through the ball, laying it on a platter for Graham Cummins who carefully headed back across goal and into the bottom left corner. While City have dominated many games on their own turf this year, perhaps none were as one-sided as the first half here. They spurned several glorious chances to rack up a cricket score in the opening half hour and only for the heroics of Youths keeper Patrick Holden, the Noel O’Connor managed side wouldn’t have had any chance of claiming a share of the spoils. Vinny Sullivan should have chalked his name on the scoreboard on more than one occasion and on another day he could have been on for his hat-trick inside the first 20 minutes. He wasted a sitter after only two minutes with the game scoreless, while other attempts on the 9th, 14th and 19th minute fell into the hands of busy Wexford stopper Holden. He single-handedly kept Youths in a with a fighting chance, pulling off stops from the very lively wide duo of Daryl Horgan and Derek O’Brien, with Kalen Spillane crashing a header off the bar on the half-hour mark. Wexford rarely threatened in the opening period, though City stopper Mark McNulty did have to tip Danny Furlong’s effort over the bar. They were a different side after the break though, Greg Yelverton had a good chance five minutes after the break when his low-drive was met by the palm of McNulty’s right hand. But then something strange happened. The home team fell asleep, clearly after exerting themselves too much in reaching the EA Sports Cup final as well as the defeat over Shelbourne last Friday, and Wexford transformed themselves into a completely different team to the one that stuttered through the opening period. Dean Broaders’ corner was headed just wide by the lively Furlong, while Ben Ryan clipped a free-kick over. Youths, though, drew level on 62 minutes through Furlong. Shane Dempsey had just been introduced for Yelverton and with his first touch he cut the home side’s defence open and Furlong ran onto the ball, held off his marker before sliding a pinpoint effort past McNulty. And despite being so far off the pace in the first-half, they deserved to be level as City failed to impress after the break. They actually had the better share of possession for much of the second period, leaving the home team frustrated. It looked like it would finish 1-1, but when Holden, who was impeccable otherwise, dragged down Ian Turner inside the area, City looked like taking all three points when Escudé-Candau struck into the right side of the net. Nobody explained that script to Youths though and less than two minutes after falling behind they were level again through Elmes after City failed to clear the danger. Danny Morrissey and Cummins were both unlucky deep in injury-time but in the end the draw was the fairest result. Cork City: Mark McNulty; Ian Turner, Gavin Kavnagh, Kalen Spillane (Danny Morrissey, 80mins), Danny Murphy; Daryl Horgan, Shane Duggan (Gearóid Morrissey, 86mins), Greg O’Halloran, Derek O’Brien; Graham Cummins, Vinny Sullivan (Vincent Esucdé-Candau, 62mins). Subs not used: Craig Burns, James McCarthy, Cathal Lordan, Eoin McGreevy. Wexford Youths: Patrick Holden; Shane Nolan, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Ben Ryan, Greg Yelverton (Shane Dempsey, 62mins), Craig Wall, Darragh Walshe, Robert Vickers (Dave Grincell, 78mins); Danny Furlong. Subs not used: Muzzy Mullen, Mark Phelan, Tom Elmes, Eoin Kinsella. Referee: Kevin O’Regan. ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Patrick Holden. Official attendance: 2081. Wexford Youths 1 - 3 Longford Town by Deniese O'Flaherty Courtesy of Extratime.ie Fri, Aug 19 2011 (Credit: Sean Dempsey) Longford Town came from behind to claim all three points in Wexford and in doing so moved back up to fifth place in the First Division table. After conceding a goal five minutes from the break the Town worked hard to get back into the game and completely outplayed their opponents in the second half and in the end got their just rewards. There was very little to report in the opening quarter. Longford had a chance in the 8th minute but Youths keeper Packie Holden got down to save Mark Salmon’s effort. Down the other end in the 14th minute Shane Dempsey’s free failed to trouble Town netminder Alvin Rouse. It really was dire stuff and the weather matched the fare that was on offer. Longford dominated possession but failed to create anything of note. Then in the 31st minute they should’ve opened the scoring when Purdy found himself in a perfect position but the youngster’s effort came off the crossbar. Four minutes later and Youths defender Karl Keogh blocked Thomas Crawley’s goalbound effort as the visitors continued to press. It was all Town at this stage and the home side offered little but you had a sneaky feeling that would change and five minutes before the break it did. Totally against the run of play Youths opened the scoring. Striker Danny Furlong beat the offside trap to shoot past Rouse. It was a real blow for the Town. Longford started the second like they had the first but their play in the final third let them down. Then out of nothing Youths could’ve doubled their advantage when they broke up the field and Dave Grincell flashed his shot across the face of goal in the 57th minute. Crawley had another chance in the 61st minute but he blasted his effort over the bar. Five minutes later and the Town were deservedly back on level terms when Thomas Hyland finished off Craig Walsh’s corner. The midfielder made amends for scoring on own goal last weekend against Shels. The Town continued to pile on the pressure and in the 79th minute they took the lead. Walsh turned from provider to scorer; unleashing an unstoppable shot from about 25 yards out past Holden. Wexford offered very little and never looked like getting back into the game. In the 90th minute they were reduced to 10 men when Darragh Walshe was red carded for a foul on substitute Jeff Flood. Right at the end the Town grabbed their third goal of the game when they were awarded a penalty. Mark Salmon stepped up to take the spot-kick and duly dispatched it past Holden. It ended up being a good night’s work for the Town in the South-East Wexford Youths:Packie Holden; Shane Nolan (Mark Phelan 38), Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Ben Ryan, Shane Dempsey, Craig Wall (Dave Grincell 34 (Tom Elmes 84)), Robert Vickers; Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe. Subs not used: Eoin Kinsella, Muzzy Mullen, Greg Yelverton, Patsy Malone. Bookings:None. Sendings Off: Danny Walshe 90. Longford Town: Alvin Rouse; Graham Dowling, Des Hope (Jeff Flood 73), Chris Deans, Gary Cronin; Craig Walsh, Mark Salmon, Thomas Hyland; Darragh Satelle (Cathal Brady 59), Thomas Crawley, Daniel Purdy (Jean Biansumba 69) . Subs not used: Mike Lee, Alan McGreal, Paul Hunt, Sean Skelly. Bookings:None. Sendings Off: None . extratime.ie Man of the Match:Thomas Crawley (Longford Town). Referee:Tom Connolly (Dublin). Wexford Youths 0 - 3 Mervue United by Brian de Salvo - Kind Permission of Extratime.ie Sat, Sep 17 2011 Wexford’s tale of woe continued as they surrendered in the second half to Johnny Glynn’s much improved Mervue, arguably the best team in Galway as things stand. But Youths, living up to their name by fielding a seventeen year old debutant goalkeeper Sean Allen, might have take an early lead when his opposite number in the Mervue goal, underage international Ger Hanley, dwelt too long on the ball outside his penalty area and was dispossessed by Tom Elmes. But when Wexford’s sole striker, with the keeper floundering, fired a shot at the untenanted goal, United skipper Martin Conneely was on hand to block his effort. “Dodgy keeper!” sang the Wexford faithful, surprisingly vocal considering the total attendance must have been less than a hundred and fifty. “Super keeper!” greeted Allen’s best contribution, an agile leap when far off his line to parry and smother O’Brien’s mistimed flick header at close range. Giving the young keeper the benefit of the doubt that this was imaginative positional play rather than good fortune when on walkabout, the fact remained that the visitors seemed to conspire in his cause by some feeble finishing. At this stage the match was well balanced with a fine angled ball from Ryan into the box just missed by the diving Nolan. And it was Ryan again who encouraged the locals when he tried to embarrass Hanley with a long range lob that had the keeper back pedalling furiously. “Dodgy keeper!” claimed the glee club but Hanley was in position in time to keep his charge intact. And he was on hand to collect a deflection from Broaders that spiralled up ominously in his goalmouth. Pat Hoban, who went to Bristol City with Youths’ Jimmy Keohane has returned to his roots. Keohane, much missed at Ferrycarrig tonight, has remained in the UK with Exeter. Hoban, who took a hefty whack on the ankle from Dave Grincell in the 23rd minute had run it off sufficiently a quarter of an hour later to hit a searing long range drive inches beyond the angle of post and crossbar. All square at the interval then, with glimpses of good passing football from both sides to leaven the hump it and hope that prevailed. Although Wexford started the first half briskly endeavour was soon to fade and after 67 minutes they brought off Elmes, to allow a strike partnership of Furlong and Ryan, with Broaders moving up the left flank and substitute Darmody filling in for him at left full. Mervue stuck to their original 4-5-1 formation but, after all, that’s transformed into 4-3-3 when a team has ascendancy, which was increasingly the case with the visitors. The speed and close skills of Etanda Nkololo was beginning to create havoc down the Wexford right where 18 year old full back Mark Phelan had enjoyed a promising first half. But now the chips were down and all three Mervue goals originated in this area. The first came nine minutes into the second period when Nkololo’s low cross spiralled up of a defender for Dave Golbey to volley the ball past the helpless Allen. Six minutes later it was the same source with Wexford central defender Kehoe deflecting the ball into his own net. Youths collapsed like a pack of cards and would have conceded more but for a fine diving save from Allen to thwart Nkololo and another leaping one handed save from Hoban in injury time. But Mervue had scored a third meantime with Hoban hitting a low volley from a cross from the left sweetly home in the 71st minute. Youths did get the ball in the net but Danny Furlong was offside when he touched home the rebound after Dempsey’s drive had cannoned down from the underside of the bar in injury time. But by then it was all over with a late shower merely confirming the Wexford misery. Now it looks as though only the consistent frailty of Salthill Devon is likely to preserve Youths’ senior status come the end of the season. Wexford Youths: Sean Allen; Mark Phelan, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Dave Grincell (Eoin Kinsella 76), Shane Nolan, Shane Dempsey, Danny Furlong, Ben Ryan; Tom Elmes (James Darmody 67). Subs not used: Muzzy Mullen, Patsy Malone, Ben Duffy. Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley; James Casserley, Damien O’Rourke, Martin Conneely, Marc Ludden; David O’Brien, Pat Hoban, Kevin Crehan (Barry McEntee 74), John Mountney, Etanda Nkololo; Dave Golbey (Peter Dravins 74). Subs not used: Alex Lee, Kenny Farrell, Brian O’Donaghy. Referee: Ciaran O’Regan. Attendance: (est) 150