Report: Wexford Youths 0 - 1 Sporting Fingal

On Friday the 11th of July Wexford Youths welcomed Sporting Fingal to Ferrycarraig Park. The Dublin outfit knew a win would keep them in with a slim chance of gaining promotion while the Youths were in excellent form after a heroic cup win over UCD followed by an impressive away win against Longford Town. The match was however decided as early as the 9th minute when Sporting Captain Paul Caffrey jumped higher than the Wexford defence to gently head past Pa Doyle. The goal came from a harsh free kick when Patsy Malone was judged to have fouled Robbie Doyle, although replays show that the Sporting striker was lucky to get it. Then from Conan Byrne’s free kick Caffrey broke the deadlock.

The first half was very even in possession and chances with Wexford looking far more comfortable and confident with their new 4-4-2 formation, which they have adopted in recent games. However Sporting nearly made it 2-0 just on the stroke of half time when Joey Wadding was caught relaxing on the ball and Doyle nipped the ball off of him and was one-on-one with Pa Doyle. However to the defenders credit Wadding got back and made a brilliant tackle. Liam Buckley must have been content with his sides first half performance as they went in with the lead.

In the second half Mick Wallace gave his attackers the shake up they needed and they created a lot more clear cut chances in the second half. First there was Paul Murphy’s cheeky scissors kick in the 52nd min which Steve Williams tipped around the post and then Johnny Flynn O’Connor had his header tipped over the bar, but in-between those chances Robbie Doyle could have finished the game off when he was again one-on-one with the keeper only for Pa Doyle to push the ball away as the striker tried to round him. Wexford pushed and pushed for the equalising goal and had some great chances from Danny Furlong and Richie Fitzgerald in the dying minutes, but it wasn’t to be and Sporting just about held on.

Both managers would have known that when they took these jobs that there would be good days and bad days, Wallace had his limelight last week and Buckley had it tonight. When the match was over and I was leaving the stadium I couldn’t help but notice a Wexford Youths supporters banner, it said ‘And miles to go before we sleep , Youths in Viaggio’. Such beautiful words, filled with passion and commitment that convey to me that Wallace will take this defeat on the chin and his side will bounce back.

Wexford Youths: Pa Doyle; Anto Russell, Joey Wadding, Thomas Hawkins (Richie Fitzgerald 50), Paul Rossiter (Marty Kelly 87); Patsy Malone, Gavin Doyle, Conor Sinnott, Johnny Flynn O'Connor; Danny Furlong, Paul Murphy (Kyle Dempsey, 90).

Sporting Fingal: Steve Williams; Derek Tyrell, Chris Deans, Philip Byrne, Brian Kelly; Conan Byrne, Brian Morrisroe, Paul Caffrey, Jim Crawford; Peter Hynes (Fiachra McArdle 83), Robbie Doyle (Dinny Corcoran).

Referee: Rob Rogers

Attendance: 627