Mervue United 0 - 0 Wexford Youths

Mervue Utd and Wexford Youths played out an uneventful scoreless draw at Fahy's Field on Friday evening as both sides struggled to create too many chances in a game that can be filed under forgetful.

The result sees Wexford move into fourth place ahead of Finn Harps on goal difference until tonight at least as they picked up a point in a game that lack ed entertainment. The point also puts Mervue six points clear of their city rivals SD Galway in the battle at the bottom of the table.

In a slow start to the game neither side were able to fashion a clear cut opening although Wexford’s Dean Broaders did well on nine minutes to control a high cross into the box but his shot was weak and straight at Ger Hanley. Broaders then fired a central free-kick over the Mervue wall but also straight into the arms of the well positioned Hanley ten minutes later.

The home’s sides passing was good in periods throughout the game and on 22 minutes an example of that saw Tom King, Etanda Nkololo and Jason Molloy knock the ball around before Molloy laid the ball into the path of Shane Keogh whose well struck low effort just flew the wrong side of Graham Doyle’s post.

The home side almost took the lead four minutes later when a cross from King reached the unmarked Stephen Walsh at the back post but he couldn’t get the ball out from his feet quick enough and instead laid the ball off to Martin Conneely and his shot through a crowded box beat Doyle but not Shaun Corcoran who blocked the ball on the line before clearing the danger.

On 36 minutes King once again moved forward from right back and let fly from 30 yards but his effort took a slight deflection of a Wexford defender which was enough to take it just past the post for a corner, one of eleven the home side were awarded in the game.

Ten minutes after the break and Wexford's Aidan Keenan did well on left as he held off King but saw his low effort well held by Hanley. Mervue defender Michael McSweeney, under pressure from Tom Elmes, made a poor clearance straight to Broaders but Keogh had got back to block the wingers effort.

We then had to wait until 13 minutes from time for either keeper to be extended when Mervue left back Walsh decided to let fly from all of 40 yards but Doyle produced an excellent save to divert the ball away for corner.

The home side did create two late chances in the closing minutes. A flowing move which started down the right wing with Etanda Nkololo setting King away and his deep cross found Jason Molloy at the back post and the winger returned the ball to Cian McBrien but his close range effort clipped the outside of Doyle’s post with two minutes remaining.

In the final minute Molloy lifted a ball over the top for full back Walsh to run onto and his well struck strike was heading into the top corner until the out stretched Doyle pushed the ball away for another corner to ensure his side held on for a point.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Tom King, Michael McSweeney, Martin Conneely, Stephen Walsh; Etanda Nkololo, Cian McBrien, Shane Keogh (Jean Biansumba 70), Jason Molloy; Gary Kelly, Pat Hoban.
Subs not used: Connor Gleeson (GK), Alex Lee, Mike Elwood, Marc Ludden, Noel Varley, Kevin Crehan.

Bookings: Molloy (14), Nkololo (53), McBrien (81).

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Shane Nolan, Jamie Carr, CJ Browne, Shaun Corcoran; Dean Broaders  (Caolan O’Gorman 78), Brian Nolan, Thomas Croke (Paul Malone 75), Aidan Keenan; Tom Elmes, Glen Hawe.
Subs not used: James Darmody, Shane Clarke.

Bookings: Hawe (23), Keenan (67).

Referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare).

Attendance: 187

extratime.ie Man of the Match: Tom King (Mervue United).