League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 0 Wexford Youths

SECOND half goals from Philip Hand and Dylan Connolly helped Shelbourne to a hard fought 2-0 win over Wexford Youths in both side’s opening match in the SSE Airtricity League First Division on Friday night.

It was an even opening 10 minutes to the game. Both sides had plenty of possession but neither goalkeeper was threatened. In fact the opening 45 minutes lacked any real quality and invention, with Shels in particular looking nervous.

The home side, who wore all red for the night, created a half chance in the 18^th minute. Lee Murtagh played a one-two with Jordan Keegan before Murtagh's cross picked out William McDonagh. The Shels midfielder got his head on it from about 10 yards out but the ball went over.

Wexford created their first real opening in the 38^th minute on the counter attack. Shane Nolan played it to Danny Furlong who advanced towards the edge of the area and tried to surprise Greg Murray by taking the shot on early. However his effort was off target.

A couple of minutes later, Furlong came closer to scoring. He curled a right foot shot around the wall which ended up shaving the post.

Shortly before half time, Jordan Keegan and Murtagh were involved again for the home side. Keegan flicked a header on for his teammate who showed good imagination to try a bicycle kick, but similar to most of the other efforts on goal in the first half the ball ended up in the stands.

The second half was much more eventful and began at a higher tempo, with Shelbourne having most of the play but they continued to lack a cutting edge for much of the 90 minutes.

Wexford, who were wearing pink shorts, managed to threaten from a free kick close to the hour mark. Sean Skelly swung it in with his right foot. Centre back Stephen Last flicked the header goalwards but it went straight into the arms of Greg Murray. It was the first effort that was on target in the match.

Johnny McDonnell's side had two excellent chances in the space of a couple of minutes shortly afterwards, indeed they should have taken the lead in the 63^rd minute. Philip Hand swung in a corner from the right. Lee Murtagh's header was parried by Graham Doyle to Conor Murphy who somehow put it wide from close range. Just a couple of minutes later Murtagh's  half volley looked destined for the bottom corner but the visitors goalkeeper denied him again with an outstretched save.

Wexford lost their discipline the longer the match went on and they suffered a setback in the 80^th minute when referee Ben Connolly sent off left back Jimmy Dermody.

A couple of minutes later Darragh Walshe was penalised for handball on the edge of his own area. He contested the decision and received a booking. Walshe and his teammates were made to feel even worse shortly afterwards when Philip Hand curled the resultant free kick around the wall and into the net to give the home team the lead.

Shels wrapped it up on stoppage time. With Wexford pushing for an equalizer and committing men forward, Darren Tinnelly cleared from the edge of his own area and played the ball forward to Dylan Connolly. Connolly raced towards goal and placed it into the corner of the net to leave Johnny McDonnell as the happier of the two managers at the end of the game.

Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Brian Gannon, Adam O 'Connor, John Sullivan (Michael Duffy 89), Philip Hand; Stephen McDonnell, William McDonagh: Jordan Keegan (Darren Tinnelly 79), Dylan Connolly, Lee Murtagh; Conor Murphy.
Subs not used: Charlie Tracey (gk), Stephen Sheerin, Jake Donnelly, Gareth Coughlin, Simon Dixon.

Booked: Sullivan (40), Murphy (90).

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Peter Higgins, Killian Cantwell, Stephen Last, Jimmy Dermody; Eric Molloy (Darragh Walshe 74), Shane Dunne, Ricky Fox, Shane Nolan, Sean Skelly (Daryl Power 79); Danny Furlong.
Subs not used: Ryan Delaney, Craig Short, Danny Fitzpatrick, Graham Delaney, Danny Niekk.

Booked: Higgins (27), S Nolan (70), Furlong (81) Walshe (82), Dunne (85), Fox (86).
Sent off: Dermody (80).

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Attendance: 767

Extratime.ie man of the match: Lee Murtagh (Shelbourne).