Wexford Youths –v- Shelbourne
Credit:
Play off decider?
Wexford Youths will entertain visiting side Shelbourne this Friday night as the evenings stretch and it stays bright until almost full time – even with a scheduled, later kick-off of 8 o’clock, that will bring 4th to play 5th in the league. The Warriors will head into the game on the back of their first loss in ten games in all competitions at home to Bohs in the EA Cup Tuesday night while Shels are suffering from indifferent form of late having only just been 4-3 beaten by the aforementioned Champions in the last round which was followed by an draw at home to Longford and a win away to Kildare. A win for the home side would see them move level with the Reds, although a game in hand and better goal difference barring a home rout will still see Shels retain 4th.
Rested Spine
Wexford manager Mick Wallace will welcome back to the starting line up two of his most consistent players of the season so far in top scorer Gavin Doyle and Captain Conor Sinnott after saving the pair versus Bohs until an hour gone with an eye on this Fridays’ game. ‘We were just resting them the last time we played in Cork we played a stronger side but we paid the price for it in Monaghan – we should’ve got beat in Monaghan, we played Monday and Friday there, this is Tuesday and its only three days to the Shels game so it can get dangerous to go flat out’ said Wallace when asked if the players were suffering any niggling injuries to keep them benched. Defender David Breen is a doubt while Tim McGrath, Kyle Dempsey, Danny Furlong, Paul Murphy, Lee Aust, Jimmy Keohane, Marty Kelly and Keith Kearney are all still on the injured list.
Fist Choice Defence
Shels last game in the League saw them dispatch league whipping boys Kildare 0-3 last Saturday, the same score the Youths had beaten them earlier in the season and are playing with Dermot Keely’s first choice back four of Quigley, Brennan, Doherty and Crawley the last few games after different injuries and suspensions had broken up that consistency needed from the back. Alan Keely (hamstring) remains on the injured list and is joined by Derek Doyle (also hamstring). David Cassidy, a second half sub away to Kildare, is considered a major doubt with a recurring groin strain.
Start of second round matches…for some
Friday’s match will see the start of the second batch of matches with most of the clubs in the league having already played each other once apart form Shels and Finn Harps after their tie earlier this month was abandoned due to dodgy stones scattered in the recently laid sand on the Ballybofey surface. Youths manager Wallace spoke of how the match will be huge for the clubs season while adding ‘It’s really the difference, if we beat Shels on Friday we go level with them – if we can beat them it means that at least we’ll be in the frame for the push for the play-off spot.’
Extratime Prediction: A highly entertaining score draw between two contrasting clubs, with the same ultimate play-off goal but having differently motivated aspirations. Shels looking to return to the top tier that over history has always been their home and the Youths developing steadily since coming into fruition only 2 seasons ago with a view to making the same history.
Wexford Youths will entertain visiting side Shelbourne this Friday night as the evenings stretch and it stays bright until almost full time – even with a scheduled, later kick-off of 8 o’clock, that will bring 4th to play 5th in the league. The Warriors will head into the game on the back of their first loss in ten games in all competitions at home to Bohs in the EA Cup Tuesday night while Shels are suffering from indifferent form of late having only just been 4-3 beaten by the aforementioned Champions in the last round which was followed by an draw at home to Longford and a win away to Kildare. A win for the home side would see them move level with the Reds, although a game in hand and better goal difference barring a home rout will still see Shels retain 4th.
Rested Spine
Wexford manager Mick Wallace will welcome back to the starting line up two of his most consistent players of the season so far in top scorer Gavin Doyle and Captain Conor Sinnott after saving the pair versus Bohs until an hour gone with an eye on this Fridays’ game. ‘We were just resting them the last time we played in Cork we played a stronger side but we paid the price for it in Monaghan – we should’ve got beat in Monaghan, we played Monday and Friday there, this is Tuesday and its only three days to the Shels game so it can get dangerous to go flat out’ said Wallace when asked if the players were suffering any niggling injuries to keep them benched. Defender David Breen is a doubt while Tim McGrath, Kyle Dempsey, Danny Furlong, Paul Murphy, Lee Aust, Jimmy Keohane, Marty Kelly and Keith Kearney are all still on the injured list.
Fist Choice Defence
Shels last game in the League saw them dispatch league whipping boys Kildare 0-3 last Saturday, the same score the Youths had beaten them earlier in the season and are playing with Dermot Keely’s first choice back four of Quigley, Brennan, Doherty and Crawley the last few games after different injuries and suspensions had broken up that consistency needed from the back. Alan Keely (hamstring) remains on the injured list and is joined by Derek Doyle (also hamstring). David Cassidy, a second half sub away to Kildare, is considered a major doubt with a recurring groin strain.
Start of second round matches…for some
Friday’s match will see the start of the second batch of matches with most of the clubs in the league having already played each other once apart form Shels and Finn Harps after their tie earlier this month was abandoned due to dodgy stones scattered in the recently laid sand on the Ballybofey surface. Youths manager Wallace spoke of how the match will be huge for the clubs season while adding ‘It’s really the difference, if we beat Shels on Friday we go level with them – if we can beat them it means that at least we’ll be in the frame for the push for the play-off spot.’
Extratime Prediction: A highly entertaining score draw between two contrasting clubs, with the same ultimate play-off goal but having differently motivated aspirations. Shels looking to return to the top tier that over history has always been their home and the Youths developing steadily since coming into fruition only 2 seasons ago with a view to making the same history.
