Wexford Youths 4 - 1 SD Galway
Credit:
Two goals apiece from Danny Furlong and Joe Mulcahy saw Wexford Youths to an emphatic win over SD Galway at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night.
Wexford were looking to build on their recent performances, a win over Waterford two weeks ago in the league and a good performance via Drogheda in the cup last week. SD Galway, for their part, had not played since their impressive 3-0 victory over Athlone.
The game started in lively fashion with both sides looking to try and create chances. After two minutes Furlong flung over a cross that found Mulcahy at the back post but he failed to keep his shot under control and fired over the bar. The next chance came to Galway and Eugene Greaney who found himself with a free header from a corner which he put over the bar.
But the deadlock was soon broken and on 10 minutes Aidan Keenan got the ball into the SD box. Furlong’s initial effort was saved by James Keane in the SD goal, but Furlong was quickest to respond and kept his composure to finish to the corner at the second attempt.
One minute later Wexford got the ball into the SD box again only for Colm Horgan to slice the ball which then fell to Mulcahy who just had to tap it into the goal to make it 2-0 to Wexford.
SD then tried to pull themselves back into the game with Enda Curran forcing Graham Doyle to push his effort over the bar. With 20 minutes gone it was the Youths’ turn for some sloppy defensive play, losing the ball in their own half and allowing Ronan Conlon to get a shot in which Doyle could only parry into the path of Curran who finished neatly through the stretched Wexford defence.
The game then entered something of a rest period with Patsy Malone crossing to Keenan who’s header back across goal was easily gathered by Doyle. But with 37 minutes gone Keenan and Conlon were booked following some handbags and from the resulting free kick Wexford got the goal that effectively ended the game.
Keenan won the ball that was put into box which then fell to Furlong who stayed calm and slotted the ball home.
SD came out in the second half looking to get back into the game and went on the attack but failed to create much, though the pressure did result in Glen Hawe, making his first league start, picking up a yellow card. On 54 minutes Greaney was sent off for SD Galway for showing his studs during a tackle and that killed any hope that SD had of getting back into the game.
On 68 minutes Mulcahy scored the goal of the game when he recieved the ball out wide and blasted it into the goal off the crossbar from 20 yards. From this point on the game became quite scrappy with neither team managing to hold possession or create any clear chances until the 80th minute when Keenan burst down the left wing and cut inside, but his shot hit the post and went wide.
There was still time for Hawe pass up an opportunity to open his Youths tally following a pass from Mulcahy but his shot was blasted wide. Shaun Corcoran threatened too, making a great run down the left but when one-on-one with the keeper he failed to finish.
SD’s Luke McConnell was then red carded on the advice on the linesman for kicking out at Corcoran. It seemed a little harsh as there appeared to be no contact and very little intent on McConnell part.
Despite plenty of goals this game will not live long in the memory but for Youths the result means that a 4th place finish is still a possibility.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle, Shaun Corcoran, Shane Clarke, Jamie Carr, Brian Nolan (Gary Delaney 81); Aidan Keenan (Caolan O’Gorman 81), Patsy Malone (Dean Broaders 81), Thomas Croke; Joe Mulcahy, Danny Furlong, Glen Hawe.
Subs not used: Shane Nolan, James Darmody, Eric Molloy, Tom Elmes.
Bookings: Keenan (37), Corcoran (41), Mulcahy (45+3), Hawe (49).
SD Galway: James Keane; Ronan Conlon (Damien O’Reilly 65), Colm Horgan, David Meehan (Eibhinn Lee 83), Nicky Curran; Mixie Harty, Eugene Greaney, Willie Enubele; Brian Gaffney, Enda Curran (Luke McConnell 69), Jakub Tomanica.
Subs not used: Ronan Burke, Timmy Molloy, Gerry Dolan.
Bookings: Conlon (37).
Sent Off: Greaney (54), McConnell (90).
Referee: Keith Callanan.
Attendance: 194.
