League Report: Wexford Youths 7 - 0 Cabinteely

Danny Furlong scored five goals as Wexford Youths romped to a 7-0 win against Cabinteely on Friday night in Ferrycarrig Park.

Furlong’s five goals, along with goals from Aidan Keenan and Dean Broaders, helped the Youths remain in 2nd place in the First Division table after a scintillating attacking display against league newcomers Cabinteely.

The Youths took advantage of a strong wind in the first half and were fastest out of the blocks. Conor Whittle had a good early chance but he couldn’t keep his strike down, but it took until just the 12th minute for the first goal to arrive.

Cabinteely failed to clear Johnny Bonner’s corner kick from the left and Danny Furlong was left unmarked to fire home at the back post.

Cabinteely goalkeeper Evan Whelan kept the scoreline at 1-0 three minutes later with a superb one-handed save to deny a curling Aidan Keenen effort. Shane O’Neill through ball for Evan Finnegan almost had Cabinteely in at the other end but for a covering Lee Grace challenge.

The Youths doubled their lead after 41 minutes. Andy Mulligan, a constant threat down the left side throughout, made progress down the left channel and crossed for Danny Furlong to smash the ball past the helpless Evan Whelan and double the lead.

Shane O’Neill was again causing the home side problems on the stroke of half time but Ger Pender just couldn’t get a toe to his ball across the face of goal.

The half time whistle that Eddie Gormley wanted didn’t arrive until Wexford Youths grabbed their third. Victor Ekanem fouled Aidan Keenen outside the penalty area and Furlong curled a stunning free kick past the wall of Blues jerseys and keeper Evan Wheelan to claim a first-half hat-trick.

Just seven minutes into the second half and it was 4-0. Andy Mulligan was once again the supplier as he got through on goal from the left before unselfishly squaring the ball to Furlong to score his fourth into the empty net.

Cabinteely had another chance to get on the scoresheet shortly afterwards. Jamie McGlynn’s pinpoint pass found Shane O’Neill but he fired over from a tight angle after making space for the strike inside the Youths penalty area. O’Neill forced Youths keeper Graham Doyle into a good save just past the hour mark, but Doyle was even to the powerful drive from the striker.

The Youths upped their game again for the remaining 20 minutes and added three more goals. First, Aidan Keenan took advantage of a Evan Whelan error in the Cabinteely goal to score from close range to make it 5-0, before Furlong added his fifth goal three minutes later after good work from Peter Higgins down the right wing.

Aaron Brilly fouled Philip Drohan inside the penalty area with six minutes remaining as the nightmare continues for Cabinteely. Substitute Dean Broaders beat Whelan from 12 yards to make it 7-0 and send the Youths fans home happy as “Youths are going up” rang out around Ferrycarrig Park.

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Craig McCabe, Lee Grace, Gary Delaney, James Darmody; Conor Whittle (Philip Drohan 59), Peter Higgins, Johnny Bonner, Andy Mulligan; Aidan Keenan (Dean Broaders 80), Danny Furlong (Conor English 80).
Subs Not Used: Daniel Neikis (gk), Ryan Delaney, Craig Wall, Eric Molloy.

Booked: Dermody (3), P Higgins (82).

Cabinteely: Evan Whelan; Daniel Campbell (Jamie Broderick 63), Victor Ekanem, Robert Maloney, Jamie McGlynn; Conor Foley (Bobinel Mazono 63), Aaron Brilly, John McKeown (Ross Broderick 80), Evan Finnegan; Ger Pender, Shane O’Neill.
Subs Not Used: Gavin Fahy, Jordan Kelly, Sean Hyland.

Booked: McGlynn (22), Ekanem (45+1).

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Tipperary).

Attendance: 250 (estimate).

Man of the Match: Danny Furlong (Wexford Youths).