Shelbourne -v- Wexford Youths
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Shelbourne will look to pull further away at the top of the League of
Ireland First Division when Wexford Youths visit Tolka Park this Friday
evening. (kick-off 20:00) Shels opened up a five point cushion last weekend with a
hard fought 2-0 win against Kildare County.
Shels are the in-form team in the Division at the moment. Series two produced 31 points from a possible 33 for Dermot Keely’s men with just Athlone Town preventing a Shels clean sweep.
In what should have been an easy win for the Reds last weekend turned out to be quite a difficult game. Had David Jackson converted an excellent chance after just two minutes for Kildare, it may have been a different game. Shels took control after that and should have won by a larger margin with Dave McAllister and Tony Griffiths ending up on the score sheet.
UCD’s victory over Waterford United meant that Shels lead increased from three to five points as they begin the final series of matches. With Sporting Fingal also picking up three points, the top four teams are now separated by just six points.
Shels captain Damien Brennan is available again after missing the Kildare County game through suspension. Alan Keely remains out with a hip problem while Kevin Doherty is also out with a calf injury. David Cassidy is estimated to be missing for up to 8 week after limping off in the first half last Friday with a medial ligament injury.
Dave McAllister sat out training on Monday, and dropped out of Wednesday’s session, due to a strained hamstring and remains a doubt for the game.
Wexford Youths come into the game on the back of a scoreless draw away to Mervue United. In a game they may have expected to win, they couldn’t find a way to goal. Their last six league games have given the Youths just one victory, a 2-0 win over Finn Harps.
Having started the season with three straight defeats, they then won eight of their next ten games, but their form has dipped and has seen them fall away from the top four teams, leaving them 16 points behind 4th placed Waterford, and 22 points behind Shels.
Gareth McCurtain is back after suspension for Wexford, but Keith Kearney, Paul Murphy and Kyle Dempsey are all out injured. Mick Wallace is expected to call up some of the Youths U20 players to the first team.
Jimmy Keohane will be hoping to retain his place in the starting line up, while Tiernan Rossiter and Martin Kehoe will be hoping to get some minutes on the pitch after impressing recently for the Under 20’s.
Youths Assistant Noel O’Connor is looking forward to the game. ‘We always get excited about playing at Tolka Park, it’s a great occasion and we’re all looking forward to it. There obviously the favourites to win the League, but we’ll be well prepared for Friday night’.
The teams have faced each other twice in the league already this season with Shels winning both games. Both games finished in 2-1 victories for Shels, with Anto Flood and on-loan striker Paddy Madden getting a goal each in both victories. Madden has since returned to his parent club Bohemians.
Kick off in Tolka Park is 8.00pm.
Extratime.ie Prediction 2-1 to Shels. Shels are in superb form and haven’t lost in the league since losing to Sporting Fingal in April, while Wexford have lost four of their last six.
Shels are the in-form team in the Division at the moment. Series two produced 31 points from a possible 33 for Dermot Keely’s men with just Athlone Town preventing a Shels clean sweep.
In what should have been an easy win for the Reds last weekend turned out to be quite a difficult game. Had David Jackson converted an excellent chance after just two minutes for Kildare, it may have been a different game. Shels took control after that and should have won by a larger margin with Dave McAllister and Tony Griffiths ending up on the score sheet.
UCD’s victory over Waterford United meant that Shels lead increased from three to five points as they begin the final series of matches. With Sporting Fingal also picking up three points, the top four teams are now separated by just six points.
Shels captain Damien Brennan is available again after missing the Kildare County game through suspension. Alan Keely remains out with a hip problem while Kevin Doherty is also out with a calf injury. David Cassidy is estimated to be missing for up to 8 week after limping off in the first half last Friday with a medial ligament injury.
Dave McAllister sat out training on Monday, and dropped out of Wednesday’s session, due to a strained hamstring and remains a doubt for the game.
Wexford Youths come into the game on the back of a scoreless draw away to Mervue United. In a game they may have expected to win, they couldn’t find a way to goal. Their last six league games have given the Youths just one victory, a 2-0 win over Finn Harps.
Having started the season with three straight defeats, they then won eight of their next ten games, but their form has dipped and has seen them fall away from the top four teams, leaving them 16 points behind 4th placed Waterford, and 22 points behind Shels.
Gareth McCurtain is back after suspension for Wexford, but Keith Kearney, Paul Murphy and Kyle Dempsey are all out injured. Mick Wallace is expected to call up some of the Youths U20 players to the first team.
Jimmy Keohane will be hoping to retain his place in the starting line up, while Tiernan Rossiter and Martin Kehoe will be hoping to get some minutes on the pitch after impressing recently for the Under 20’s.
Youths Assistant Noel O’Connor is looking forward to the game. ‘We always get excited about playing at Tolka Park, it’s a great occasion and we’re all looking forward to it. There obviously the favourites to win the League, but we’ll be well prepared for Friday night’.
The teams have faced each other twice in the league already this season with Shels winning both games. Both games finished in 2-1 victories for Shels, with Anto Flood and on-loan striker Paddy Madden getting a goal each in both victories. Madden has since returned to his parent club Bohemians.
Kick off in Tolka Park is 8.00pm.
Extratime.ie Prediction 2-1 to Shels. Shels are in superb form and haven’t lost in the league since losing to Sporting Fingal in April, while Wexford have lost four of their last six.
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan. View Full Profile