Wexford Youths 0 - 2 Waterford United

They say that football is improvised ballet; this local derby was more musical melodrama starting with a rousing chorus of “You’re Supposed to be Retired” directed at the returning David Breen.   The Youths Glee Club is small, indefatigable and relentlessly cheerful, which is more than could be said for a second half that descended into chaos with Wexford characteristically surrendering the points in the final minute.   The wardrobe department had done their bit with the Blues kitted out in all white and Youths forgoing pink for the dramatic contrast of an all black strip.   But just who were the villains depends upon which team you came to support.

This turned out to be a match where one goalkeeper apparently refused to come off and the other seemed determined to get sent off.   The visitors had three different right backs within the first twenty six minutes of the game and a sub not on my team sheet provided the cross for the all important opening goal.   Dull it wasn’t.  

Waterford’s Paul Carey didn’t make it past the warm up so John Hayes started at right back for the visitors with Dwayne Wilson called up to the bench.   Hayes has only recently returned to senior football so his fitness only lasted until the twenty sixth minute when he was replaced by midfielder Gary Dunphy with Brian Nolan dropping back to the defensive role.   The first free kick wasn’t awarded until the eighth minute and United didn’t get one until the seventeenth but a lot had happened by then.

Diving at forwards feet is an occupational hazard for goalkeepers and Waterford’s Kevin Burns picked up what looked like a painful dead leg at the hands, or rather knee, of Darragh Walshe.   It took two minutes treatment to resurrect him and he subsequently collapsed again only to be allowed to hobble on until the final minute of the action.   If I were the Blues substitute keeper I’d be wondering whether my manager had any faith in me, at all, at all.

On the quarter hour a Dempsey drive was deflected to loop over the handicapped Burns but clear the bar and moments later Ben Ryan’s appeal that his effort had crossed the goal line went unheeded.   At the other end the Wexford defence failed to cope with a low cross from the left and Willie John Kiely’s prod skimmed the outside of the post.   Then Seamus Long connected with Paul Walsh’s matching cross from the right forcing Packie Holden to make an unspectacular but important save with his right boot.

All square at the interval then and you began to wonder whether it was the kind of game where neither side would score despite generous opportunity.   Burns flapped one cross away but was generally immobile at corner kicks and incapable of taking goal kicks.    The pendulum of an evenly balanced match seemed to swinging in the home side’s favour.

Burns re-appearance for the second period seem to confirm that advantage but Youths, far from capitalising, gradually faded away leaving the keeper largely unemployed.   Key factors in Waterford’s increasing grasp on affairs were their kids, Paul Walsh, Paul Phelan and Sean Maguire.   Holden was increasingly in action parrying, punching and picking up an unnecessary yellow card for dissent in the process.   But the keeper’s reaction to push Phelan’s fierce drive over was the save of the match.

It was former UCD striker Dwayne Wilson who proved the match winner when he replaced Walsh on the Waterford right.   First he narrowly headed a far post cross back whence it came and narrowly wide of the other post.  He should have scored.   But ultimately he provided the cross which Youths central defender Karl Kehoe could only head over Holden and against the crossbar.   Paul Phelan pounced and with only four minutes of the ninety left Youths had once again sold themselves short.

Worse was to follow.   Two minutes later Holden parried another fierce drive but was helpless with Sean Maguire’s follow up.   This cued an eruption of abuse from the Wexford skipper aimed at referee Caschera which could only result in his expulsion but to see him forcibly restrained by his young colleagues over a prolonged period was scarcely edifying.   Eventually off he went ranting and gesticulating to be followed at the other end by the limping Burns.   The two sub keepers got a touch apiece before the relieved referee brought proceedings to a close perhaps a minute prematurely.

Holden’s frustration may have had something to do with two dangerous foul tackles from Waterford left back Michael Cody which did not trigger Mr Caschera to reach for his pocket and may have been triggered by a last gasp “goal” by the ever inventive Danny Furlong disallowed for off side but there can be no excuse for Holden’s lack of discipline and loss of focus.   Sadly, it’s an all too familiar trait this season; Ben Ryan, for example, had long since given up this match in favour of personal vendettas and consequently made less contribution to the Wexford cause than he usually does.    

“Wexford till I die!” roared the Glee Club as they quit the stand, revealing themselves to be more of a quartet than a choir.   Despite the win a disgruntled lady from Waterford tells me she will “never come to Ferrycarrig again!”   She obviously doesn’t read the tabloids.   After the season’s clincher for the Division’s wooden spoon there’s just a chance none of us will!

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden (s/o 89); Mark Phelan, Karl Keogh (Sean Allen 90), Martin Kehoe, James Darmody; Ben Ryan, Shane Nolan, Shane Dempsey (Dave Grincell 76), Dean Broaders; Danny Furlong; Darragh Walshe (Tom Elmes 80).

Subs not used: Eoin Kinsella, A J Lehane, Craig McCabe.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns (Sean Barron 90+2); John Hayes (Gary Dunphy 26), Kenny Browne, David Breen, Michael Cody; Paul Walsh, (Dwayne Wilson 65), Seamus Long, Brian Nolan, Paul Phelan; Sean Maguire; Willie John Kiely.      

Referee: Phil Caschera

Attendance: 275 (est)