League Report: Wexford Youths 5 - 4 Galway United

Wexford Youths held off a fightback from Galway United on Friday evening to came out on top of an incredible nine-goal thriller at Ferrycarrig Park. The 5-4 win all-but guarantees the Youths place in the relegation play-off and steers them away from the automatic relegation place.

On a night that saw bright weather turn to heavy rain, thunder and thunder, Wexford Youths hit the front after just three minutes. Lee Chin, playing in a midfield role, thread the ball through for Aidan Keenan in the penalty area. He held off United, and former Youths, defender Kilian Cantwell to slot the ball past visiting keeper Kevin Horgan for a dream start.

Jonny Bonner's quick free kick tried to find Aidan Friel on the right, but for an interception by Devaney. He tried to play it back to his keeper Horgan but Danny Furlong was alert to the chance and got ahead of the keeper to double the Youths lead.

One minute later midfielder Conor Whittle made it 3-0. Cantwell looked to find Stephen Walsh on the edge of their penalty box, but Walsh couldn't control and Conor Whittle nipped in, played the ball through Walsh’s legs before smashing the ball past Horgan.

Shane Keegan’s side began the second 45 minutes in the same form they’d finished the first in and grabbed a fourth goal within five minutes. Craig McCabe’s long throw from the right was flicked on by Chin and Andrew O’Connor was on hand to shoot past Horgan.

Four goals became five minutes later as Furlong capitalised on poor Walsh defending to fire past Horgan to make it 5-0.

But Galway United finally got going and four goals in 14 minutes changed the complexion of the game. Kevin Devaney’s superb curling effort from the left into the top corner made it 5-1, before seven minutes later an Aidan Friel own goal gave Galway United hope.

Two goal within two minutes had Galway United within one goal of a most-unlikely comeback. Vinny Faherty found Devaney on the left again and he fired low past Doyle into the bottom corner for United’s third goal for his second of the match.

And Galway United weren't quite finished yet. Conor Melody’s strike from the edge of the penalty area brought the deficit to just one goal to give the visitors hope. But they couldn’t find the equalising goal as the Youths held on for the three points.

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Aidan Friel, Chris Kenny (Peter Higgins 69), Lee Grace, Craig McCabe; Conor Whittle (Shane Dempsey 81), Lee Chin, Jonny Bonner, Andrew O’Connor; Aidan Keenan (Danny Furlong 27), Paul Murphy.

Subs Not Used: Eoin Porter, Vinny Quinlan, Shane Dunne, Corey Chambers.

Yellow Cards: Kenny (60), McCabe (78), Murohy (90+2).

Galway United: Kevin Horgan, Stephen Walsh (Stephen Folan 55), Kilian Cantwell, Marc Ludden, Gary Shanahan, Paul Sinnott, Alex Byrne, Kevin Devaney; Vinny Faherty (Padraic Cunningham 79), Enda Curran (Conor Melody 45+ 4).

Subs Not Used: Sam Ramsbottom, Arun Aganovic, Evan Murphy.

Yellow Cards: Cantwell (11), Walsh (38), Ludden (88).