Report: Wexford Youths 1 - 1 Waterford United

Wexford Youths welcomed their neighbours Waterford United to Ferrycarraig Park on Friday night for a South East derby.

It was a hard fought contest with the sides drawing 1-1 on the night, neither side deserving all three points. Waterford may have their problems off the field, but on the field they got off to a flyer when the took the lead as early as the 3rd minute in front of a packed home crowd. Kevin Waters fed the ball to Vinny Sullivan and when it looked like he had no where to go, he unleashed a thunderbolt form 25 yards into the top corner leaving goalkeeper Pa Doyle clutching at fresh air. It was just the start Gareth Cronin’s men needed.

It was nearly an exact replica of last weeks game against Sporting Fingal, as Wexford conceded the early goal and had to spend the rest of the game fighting. Danny Furlong had a chance to equalise for the Youths when he blocked down Packie Holden’s clearance and was left with an empty net in front of him, luckily for Holden stand in captain John Hayes was there to clear the ball off the line.

Waterford went in leading by the goal at the break but Mick Wallace knew his side could make history by beating Waterford for the first time and they came out a different side in the second half. Wexford pushed and pushed and had long range efforts from Richie Fitzgerald and Conor Sinnott, but the goal was on its way.

In the 75th minute Gavin Doyle struck from long range and Packie Holden could only fumble the ball into the path of Danny Furlong, who tapped in his first senior goal from close range. Wexford could sense all three points, but not before they had a few scares as Waterford had a goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper and also had the ball cleared off the line, when a lot of Waterford fans and players thought it had crossed it.

The Youths however held on for a very valuable point that will give them a bit of breathing space from the foot of the table. Waterford will see it as two points dropped as with Shelbourne and Dundalk drawing they could have gone up to second place and have been closer to that golden ticket of first place. Wallace’s men may be second bottom, but at the moment he looks like Willy Wonka to a broke Waterford United.

Wexford Youths: Pa Doyle: Anto Russell (c), Paul Rossiter, Joey Wadding, Johnny Flynn O’Connor; Richie Fitzgerald (Kyle Dempsey 78), Conor Sinnott, Paul Malone, Gavin Doyle (Craig McGuire 88), Keith Kearney (Conor Wallace 68); Danny Furlong.
Subs not used: Shane Dempsey, Lee Aust.

Waterford United: Packie Holden; Stephen Quigley, John Hayes, Kenny Browne, Robbie Clarke; Dave Warren, Kevin Waters (Gary Dunphy 88), Luke Fitzpatrick (Willie John Kiely 68), Michael Foley; Vinny Sullivan, Karl Birmingham (David Grincell 83).
Subs not used: Ben Spicer, John Hayes.

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 879

Extratime Man of the Match: Conor Sinnott (Wexford Youths) - He kept his team in the game by pulling the strings in midfield and keeping his cool, when his side could have been out of the game at half-time.