Wexford Youths 0 - 1 Limerick

Those of us who watched Limerick roll over in Waterford earlier this season might have been forgiven for thinking its over-qualified squad might not have the heart for a campaign in the anonymous drudgery of the Airtricity League’s First Division. But there’s been a considerable stiffening in resolve since then, doubtless assisted by the ministrations of manager Pat Scully whose public threat to substitute one of his charges guilty of a single lapse of concentration had the desired effect. Mr Scully’s bark may be worse than his bite but a mere growl is usually enough.

What was truly remarkable was not Limerick’s quality but the maturity with which this new look Youths side, under the cosh for long periods in the game, defended. An unusual sight was that of the Limerick goalkeeping coach Barry Ryan warming up his brother in the visiting goalmouth when the captains were tossing up before kick-off.  

As it happens Dave Ryan’s services were rarely required. After only five minutes it was home keeper Graham Doyle who came charging from his goal to deposit the ball and the opponent who was favourite to win it over the touch line. There’s nothing tentative about Mr Doyle. Even when he errs he doesn’t fumble. Challenged in the air by the chunky Denis Behan he dropped the ball cleanly and Carr swept it away. Tested by a cleverly flighted free kick from Steven Bradley he flattened Dean Broaders with a misdirected punch after his colleague had the temerity to intervene to head the ball behind. But Graham Doyle’s piece de resistance came on the quarter hour when he made a flying leap to his left to beat away a ferocious Behan header. It is not by chance that Wexford Youths have conceded less goals than any other First Division team; the surprise is to learn they have also scored more.

So, although they might have been well ahead on a boxing scorecard, a goal less first period must have given pause for thought in the Limerick dressing room during the interval. Danny Furlong always looked capable of snatching a goal and might have done so before the break when a move engineered by Brian Nolan and Dean Broaders ended with the Wexford skipper miscuing tamely into Ryan’s hands.  

By then the home side had lost the services of central defender C.J. Browne, a large man with a piratanical beard whose swash threatened to buckle even Captain Scully, who was not impressed with his barnstorming style. But for the neutral C.J. was well ahead in the man of the match stakes, one crashing block tackle on Gamble as the Limerick man shaped to volley Brosnan’s low cross from the right preventing an almost certain goal. It’s a sign of the new found confidence at Ferrycarrig that Browne’s replacement James Scallon showed no signs of being overawed by the enormity of his task.

After the interval Limerick, assisted by giant throws from Rory Gaffney, laid siege to the home goal but again it was Wexford who came closest to scoring, Furlong heading narrowly wide after a rare breakaway. Tom Elmes too threatened when opportunity arose and a long range drive just after the hour whistled dangerously close to Ryan’s left upright.  

Five minutes later Limerick had the points. The Wexford defence failed to deal with yet another Bradley corner from the right and Gaffney expertly volleyed the high bouncing ball home from close range. And that was that, although Youths made valiant attempts to rally and Broaders’s genuine gesture of frustration when the excellent Mr Caschera blew the final whistle augurs well for next week’s local derby in Waterford where the Blues will also have a point to prove after crashing to a 6-0  defeat in Carryferrig Park in the opening game of the campaign. The following week Waterford beat Limerick. Funny old game, in it?  

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Brian Nolan, C.J. Browne (James Scallon 34), Jamie Carr, James Dermody (Eric Molloy 82); Dean Broaders, Craig Wall, Shane Dempsey, Aidan Keenan;  Danny Furlong, Tom Elmes.

Subs not used: Mark Phelan, Shane Clarke, Shaun Corcoran, Thomas Croke, Cormac O’Brien.

Bookings: B Nolan (28), Wall (90).

Limerick: Dave Ryan; Shaun Kelly, Pat Purcell, Corie Tracey, Shane Tracy; Sean Brosnan (Gary Sheahan 69), Joe Gamble, Steven Bradley, Rory Gaffney (Dave O’Leary 80); Denis Behan, Garbhan Coughlan (Paudie Quinn 62).

Subs not used: Andrew Bhandarker, Shane Guthrie, Steve McGann, Barry Ryan.

Bookings: C Tracey (64).

Referee: Phil Caschera.

Attendance: 421.