Leinster Senior Cup Report: Wexford Youths 2 - 1 Longford (AET)

Super Sub Chris Kenny was the hero for Wexford Youths as the South East side came away with a victory on Monday night in IT Carlow.

Kenny’s winner came in extra-time after the game finished 1-1 after normal time. The goal came as a result of some good ground made by Conor O Keeffe who whipped in a cross and Wexford’s captain on the evening. Andy Mulligan squared the ball to Kenny who rattled the net in the 102^nd minute of the game.

Wexford held off a number of aerial bombardments from Longford in the closing stages of the clash to advance to the semi-final stage.

It was Longford who opened the scoring in the 24^th minute through a David O Sullivan goal after a Don Cowan cross. However, the Youths replied just after the half hour mark from the boot of Conor English after a defence splitting pass from Craig Wall.

The Youths were lucky to finish the half with 11 after David O Sullivan was pulled back when he got between the two young Wexford centres half’s.

Longford continued to dominate the 2^nd half but their best chance wasn’t enough to seal a win as O’Sullivan hit the crossbar with a thundering header. Longford would later rue these missed chances as neither team could find a winner in normal time.

Playing late into the night, extra-time commenced shortly after 10pm. It was all Wexford from here on in as the Youths took control of the additional proceedings. With Eric Molloy now controlling the game from centre midfield after his 72^nd minute introduction, Wexford continued to dominate the game. Throughout the remainder of normal time, Molloy repeatedly found himself in shooting positions, had his shooting been more accurate he could have snatched a winner before the final whistle.

It now became visible that this youthful Longford Town team were beginning to tire as the clock ticked on. Wexford relished this opportunity leaving The Youths with the vast majority of possession. Punishing the fatigue of their Longford opposition, Mulligan picked out Kenny who hit the winner. Wexford held out despite sustained Longford pressure to hold out for a narrow win and advance to the semi-final of the FA Senior Cup finals

Shane Keegan the Wexford Youths manager stated afterwards how he was “delighted with the win after putting out a completely different 11 from what we fielded on Friday night in the league”

Wexford Youths: Matt Connors (GK), Craig Wall, Andy Mulligan ©, John Pearce, Paul Brennan , Conor O Keeffe, Conor English, Conor White, Daryl Power, Conor Sutton, Eoin Mc Cormack.

Subs used Eric Molloy, Chris Kenny, Danny Ledwith.

Longford Town: Ian Molloy (GK) ,Darragh O Doherty, Daniel O Reilly, Mark Hughes, Josh O Hanlon, Tristan Noack Hotma, John Mc Keown, David O Sullivan © , Keith Beirms, Don Cowan, Karl Chambers

Attendance: 200 (est)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: David O'Sullivan (Longford Town)