League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 4 Wexford Youths

Floodlight failure in Tolka Park didn’t stop Wexford Youths from claiming all three points in a 4-2 victory over Shelbourne on Friday night.

Wexford Youths began the match at a high tempo pressing Shelbourne inside the host’s half before forcing keeper Greg Murray into an early mistake.

The visitors pushed for the first goal of the game as James Dermody dragged a shot wide before Eric Molloy picked the ball up just inside the hosts half and went on a solo run but he could not find a teammate with the pass.

The first goal of the game came from good work down the left wing by Shelbourne’s Gareth Coughlan who delivered a well-executed ball into the box for Mark Sandford to loop a header over Youths keeper Graham Doyle and into the top corner of the net.

Shortly after the goal, Shels momentum was halted as the game was halted for over 35 minutes due to floodlight failure. From the restart Shelbourne picked up where they left off before the break with Coughlan's dangerous free kick hitting the wall before Conor Earley fired over the bar.

Shelbourne continued to create chances on the Youths goal. Earley delivered two very dangerous balls into the box but there was nobody able to connect and Wexford were able to clear.

As the first half progressed the visitors gradually began to get a foothold in the game but both Danny Furlong and Aidan Keenan failed to get a shot on target when inside the hosts’ penalty box.

Several missed chances passed for the visitors but in the 30th minute they got their rewards for their pressure. After a dangerous free kick from Craig Wall was saved by Greg Murray, the resulting corner was headed home by Gary Delaney from six yards to draw Youths level.

After the equaliser Wexford upped the intensity in their play as a snapshot from Danny Furlong went inches wide.

The visitors ensured they would take the lead into half-time after some strong play from Aidan Keenan to skip past several Shelbourne players before firing low past Murray.

The second half saw the home side come out determined to get an equaliser, first Jordan Keegan forcing a save from Doyle in the visiting goal.

Minutes later Shelbourne got back into the game thanks to good work from Earley. Strong work down the right flank earned a throw-in, the ball was laid to Early who dribbled his way into the box before firing a shot into the visiting net.

The home sides’ revival was short lived. Craig Walsh committed a foul inside his own box to give Youths a spot kick. Furlong calmly slotted the ball past Murphy despite guessing the correct way.

Minutes later Youths got what proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Shelbourne after Conor Whittle’s strike with the outside of his right boot beat Murray for the visitors fourth goal of the game.

Shelbourne continued to battle and push for a goal to get back into the game. Colm Crowe has an effort that sailed wide, while a long rang Coughlan free-kick could not find a teammate allowing Doyle to gather.

After good work from Earley down the left the Shelbourne winger thought he had pulled a goal back for the hosts when his curling shot cannoned off Doyle’s crossbar, Wexford failed to clear the ball which again found its way to Earley who went down under a tackle inside the box but referee John McLoughlin adjudged it not to be a penalty.

With less than ten minutes to go the home sides’ task of rescuing a result was made a lot harder when Ryan Robinson was shown a red card for a second yellow card. From the resulting free kick Furlong forced a very good save from Murray in the Shelbourne goal.

Wexford Youths move on to 12 points with this win as Shels sit in 4^th on eight points. Next up for the Reds is a trip to Cobh while Wexford will have a chance to go top of the table if they can beat Finn Harps at home.

Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Daire Doyle (Philip Hughes 64), Ryan Robinson, Sean Heaney (Paul Andrews 51), Evan Osam; Colm Crowe, Gareth Coughlan, Craig Walsh, Jordan Keegan, Conor Earley (Alan O’Sullivan 81); Mark Sandford.
Subs Not Used: Jack Brady (gk), Jake Donnelly, Adam O’Connor, Darragh Gannon.

Booked: Robinson (27), Hughes (82), Robinson (83)
Sent Off: Robinson (83)

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Conor Whittle, James Dermody, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, Craig McCabe, Peter Higgins (John Bonnar 77), Craig Wall, Eric Molloy (Andrew Mulligan 69), Aidan Keenan, Danny Furlong.
Subs Not Used: Seamus Houghton (gk), Ryan Delaney, Philip Drohan, Conor English.

Booked: Delaney (17)

Match Referee: John McLoughlin

Attendance: 676

Extratime Man of the match: Graham Doyle (Wexford Youths)