Wexford Youths 0 - 1 Waterford United

Driving weather dictated Friday night’s encounter between local rivals Wexford Youths and Waterford United at Ferrycarrig Park this evening with the visitors taking all three points.

Willie John Keily pounced on a defensive mix up in the box to tap home and put United in the lead after 20 seconds. Despite Wexford having good approach play and two penalty claims they could not find a way through Waterford’s defence. The hosts were lucky not to go two down half-way through the second half as Keily took a rebounded block from Russell on the half volley, cracking onto the bar with Holden beaten.

After the frantic start, a scrappy period followed for both teams. The ball was transferred around midfields until Anto Russell began to calm his Wexford team mates with some good blocks and interceptions on Kiely.

Wexford’s chances were limited in first half to Conor Sinnott hitting a well placed free kick into the wall and Doyle going down in the box after a clip from behind by Browne.

Waterford had by the mid to end of the first half started playing long for Kiely to hold up and with this weather, the long ball was working better as the Suirsiders nearly broke through a few times. The home defence, Lawlor in particular, struggled to cope with Kiely’s hold up play and pace. Peter White was booked for a foul out wide and Holden made a great diving save from a flicked header resulting from the free.

Just before the half time whistle, Murray had to great chances from corners as Walkers proved to be too much for the Wexford right side, juggling his way to winning two corners from nothing.

Rictchie Fitzgerald came on for David Miller at start of the 2nd half for Wexford with the rain stopping and the wind dying down. Fitzgerald and Sinnott linked continuously for Wexford, looking most likely one would provide the equaliser. Despite a good passage of play, the Youths found Waterford too persistent at the back and Kiely to be too adapt at being an outlet up front.

Kiely’s belter onto the bar soon after was followed by a flicked 1-2 between Sinnott and Doyle that saw the captain break only to put his cross out for a goal kick. Browne, Kearney and McCarthy then linked up well for Waterford but a tame shot on goal resulted.

The second call for a Wexford penalty came late in the 2nd half as Doyle ran through with Murray onto a lofted through ball. Doyle went to ground and the keeper touched for a corner – looked like Murray had a hand on Doyle as he controlled to go round the keeper.

The linesman provided some more entertainment by first showing 7 minutes of extra time, only to put up 3 min seconds later. Despite the added time and a Patsy Malone diving header that just failed to connect when he looked certain to score, Waterford hung on and were happy to pace the game after the early, deciding goal.

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Johnny Flynn-O’Connor, Anto Russell, Keith Kearney, Stuart Lawlor (Liam O’Loughlin, 32), Peter White, Patsy Malone, Conor Sinnott (c), David Miller (Ritchie Fitzgerald  46), Shane Dempsey (Martin Kelly 80), Gavin Doyle.
Subs not used: Warren Broaders.

Waterford Utd: Mick Devine; Alan Carey, Graham Cummins, Keith Murray, Seamus Long; Kenny Browne, Gary Dunphy (David Grincell, 68), Paul McCarthy, John Keaney (Joe Mulcahy, 85), Kevin Waters; Willie John Keily.
Subs not used: 

Referee: Ed McNally.

Attendance: 780

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Willie John Kiely (Waterford United)  – he got the winning goal and put in a long shift holding the ball up for the supporting midfield. His run and shot, although from a rebound of Russell blocking his original shot, onto the bar were the next best moment bar the goal.