Wexford Youths 3 - 5 Mervue United
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Mervue United ran out 5-3 winners against Wexford Youths in a quite extraordinary game at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night. Two goals from Rory Gaffney set the Galway side on their way but a world of drama followed before Johnny Glynn’s side could finally claim the three points.
This was a game that Mervue United could, and should, have had in the bag by half time. Time and again in the opening half hour they sent balls over the top of the Wexford defence for Rory Gaffney to run onto, a tactic which Noel O’Connor’s men simply couldn’t cope with.
Gaffney buried two of the chances that came his way and could have had two more, while several other half chances slipped narrowly wide of Packie Holden’s goal. As it was the visitors led by only a single goal when Phil Caschera brought the opening 45 minutes to an end, David Grincell pulling one back for the home side totally against the run of play seven minutes before the break.
Mervue went ahead in the twelfth minute, having already established that it was they who would be running the show. A long throw from ‘keeper Ger Hanley sent Tom King scampering down the left wing and his ball over the Wexford back line found Rory Gaffney. The striker showed excellent control to bring the ball down on his chest and then turned inside Anthony Wolfe before finishing coolly past Holden.
Gaffney almost added a second on 22 minutes when he lobbed a Jason Molloy through ball narrowly over the bar with Holden well beaten. Five minutes later the Wexford ‘keeper flapped at a Mark Ludden corner, succeeding only in knocking the ball against the head of Eric Elwood, and was mightily relieved to see the ball rebound over his crossbar.
But the reprieve was short lived. On thirty minutes David Goldbey popped the ball over the home defence from the right wing and once again Gaffney was onto it. With all the time in the world he shot low between Holden’s legs and Mervue looked home and dry
Goldbey himself might have done better than shoot straight at Holden after 37 minutes and the missed chance was quickly regretted as, one minute later, Wexford were back in the game. Dave Grincell picked up a Ben Ryan pass and arced around the danger area before firing to the roof of the net from 15 yards.
The second half saw the Youths upping their game considerably. Anto Russell was replaced with Michael ‘Muzzi’ Mullen after a clash that saw David Golbey booked for Mervue and right back Shane Nolan also made way for Gareth McCurtin. Wexford now had a three man defence and the commitment to push forward was rewarded in the 66th minute.
Mullen had put the ball in the Mervue net following a free kick from the right but referee Caschera had already blown for an infringement in the box. Danny Furlong stepped up and rolled in the spot kick off Hanley’s left hand post.
But five minutes later a poor back pass from Wexford midfielder Patsy Malone let Tom King in and the former Galway United player struck a first time shot that looped over Holden and slid down the back of the Wexford net.
The Youths were given no chance to recover and just one minute later Jason Molloy had shot home a fourth after weaving the ball through the home defence until a clear opening presented itself.
That should really have put an end to the matter but it wasn’t that sort of game. Three minutes later Furlong hit a superb volley from 20 yards that flew over the oustretched hand of Ger Hanley and under the Mervue crossbar. It was a stunning goal that must have had Johnny Glynn pulling his hair out, this Wexford side just wouldn’t die.
Nor were they happy just to make a game of it. Wexford continued to look for an equaliser, only conceding the points when substitute Mike Tierney rolled in a fifth for Mervue with three minutes remaining.
It was a game that Mervue ended up having to win twice and although Wexford will have been disappointed with their first half performance they could at least take some consolation from the fact that a lesser team might well have ended up on the wrong end of a hammering.
Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan (Gareth McCurtin, 60), Anthony Wolfe, Martin Kehoe, Anto Russell (Michael Mullen, 60); Craig Wall, Patsy Malone (Darragh Walshe, 81), Ben Ryan, Kevin Rowe; Danny Furlong, David Grincell.
Subs not used: Greg Yelverton, Karl Keogh,.
Bookings: Holden (87).
Sendings Off: None.
Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Mark Ludden, Martin Conneelly, Mike Elwood, James Casserly; Noel Varley, Kevin Crehan, David Goldbey (Mike Tierney, 68), Tom King; Rory Gaffney Alex Lee, 78), Jason Molloy.
Subs not used: TJ Ford, Barry McEntee, Peter Dravins, Eric Browne, Darren Kelly.
Bookings: Molloy (36), Goldbey (53), Varley (65).
Sendings Off: None.
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Rory Gaffney.
Referee: Phil Caschera.
Attendance: 250 (estimate).
This was a game that Mervue United could, and should, have had in the bag by half time. Time and again in the opening half hour they sent balls over the top of the Wexford defence for Rory Gaffney to run onto, a tactic which Noel O’Connor’s men simply couldn’t cope with.
Gaffney buried two of the chances that came his way and could have had two more, while several other half chances slipped narrowly wide of Packie Holden’s goal. As it was the visitors led by only a single goal when Phil Caschera brought the opening 45 minutes to an end, David Grincell pulling one back for the home side totally against the run of play seven minutes before the break.
Mervue went ahead in the twelfth minute, having already established that it was they who would be running the show. A long throw from ‘keeper Ger Hanley sent Tom King scampering down the left wing and his ball over the Wexford back line found Rory Gaffney. The striker showed excellent control to bring the ball down on his chest and then turned inside Anthony Wolfe before finishing coolly past Holden.
Gaffney almost added a second on 22 minutes when he lobbed a Jason Molloy through ball narrowly over the bar with Holden well beaten. Five minutes later the Wexford ‘keeper flapped at a Mark Ludden corner, succeeding only in knocking the ball against the head of Eric Elwood, and was mightily relieved to see the ball rebound over his crossbar.
But the reprieve was short lived. On thirty minutes David Goldbey popped the ball over the home defence from the right wing and once again Gaffney was onto it. With all the time in the world he shot low between Holden’s legs and Mervue looked home and dry
Goldbey himself might have done better than shoot straight at Holden after 37 minutes and the missed chance was quickly regretted as, one minute later, Wexford were back in the game. Dave Grincell picked up a Ben Ryan pass and arced around the danger area before firing to the roof of the net from 15 yards.
The second half saw the Youths upping their game considerably. Anto Russell was replaced with Michael ‘Muzzi’ Mullen after a clash that saw David Golbey booked for Mervue and right back Shane Nolan also made way for Gareth McCurtin. Wexford now had a three man defence and the commitment to push forward was rewarded in the 66th minute.
Mullen had put the ball in the Mervue net following a free kick from the right but referee Caschera had already blown for an infringement in the box. Danny Furlong stepped up and rolled in the spot kick off Hanley’s left hand post.
But five minutes later a poor back pass from Wexford midfielder Patsy Malone let Tom King in and the former Galway United player struck a first time shot that looped over Holden and slid down the back of the Wexford net.
The Youths were given no chance to recover and just one minute later Jason Molloy had shot home a fourth after weaving the ball through the home defence until a clear opening presented itself.
That should really have put an end to the matter but it wasn’t that sort of game. Three minutes later Furlong hit a superb volley from 20 yards that flew over the oustretched hand of Ger Hanley and under the Mervue crossbar. It was a stunning goal that must have had Johnny Glynn pulling his hair out, this Wexford side just wouldn’t die.
Nor were they happy just to make a game of it. Wexford continued to look for an equaliser, only conceding the points when substitute Mike Tierney rolled in a fifth for Mervue with three minutes remaining.
It was a game that Mervue ended up having to win twice and although Wexford will have been disappointed with their first half performance they could at least take some consolation from the fact that a lesser team might well have ended up on the wrong end of a hammering.
Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan (Gareth McCurtin, 60), Anthony Wolfe, Martin Kehoe, Anto Russell (Michael Mullen, 60); Craig Wall, Patsy Malone (Darragh Walshe, 81), Ben Ryan, Kevin Rowe; Danny Furlong, David Grincell.
Subs not used: Greg Yelverton, Karl Keogh,.
Bookings: Holden (87).
Sendings Off: None.
Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Mark Ludden, Martin Conneelly, Mike Elwood, James Casserly; Noel Varley, Kevin Crehan, David Goldbey (Mike Tierney, 68), Tom King; Rory Gaffney Alex Lee, 78), Jason Molloy.
Subs not used: TJ Ford, Barry McEntee, Peter Dravins, Eric Browne, Darren Kelly.
Bookings: Molloy (36), Goldbey (53), Varley (65).
Sendings Off: None.
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Rory Gaffney.
Referee: Phil Caschera.
Attendance: 250 (estimate).
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile