Wexford Youths -v- Waterford United

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford Youths have had a tricky start to 2013. After a successful season in which they finished fourth in the First Division, the challenge for Shane Keegan and his men was always going to be matching that form this year.

Wexford’s first league game saw them ship five goals for no reply at St Coleman’s Park where they fell victim to the league’s prodigal sons, Cobh Ramblers. They followed this up with a 2-0 defeat to Athlone Town in their first home game of the season, but they gained their first points last weekend when they came from behind to win 2-1 at Drom against Salthill Devon.

Now looking for a second successive win, Wexford fans will have happy memories of their first meeting with south-east rivals Waterford United last season, when they overturned everyone’s expectations and recorded a 6-0 win over the Blues on the opening night of the 2012 season.

Keegan will be without wide midfielder Joe Mulcahy who serves a suspension after his sending off in Galway last week, and he also has doubts over the fitness of three players - Shane Clarke, Gary Delaney and Graham Delaney.

WATERFORD UNITED

Waterford are usually tipped to be among the promotion candidates when each First Division season begins and it was no different this year. But, after three league games, the Blues have gathered just one single point which came their way following a 1-1 draw with Finn Harps on the first night of the season.

Since then they have been beaten 2-1 by Longford Town and 4-0 by Mervue United at the RSC last Saturday night. Dropping points away to Longford two weeks ago won’t have alarmed their fans too much, but being walloped by a Mervue side who have finished second bottom of the table in three of their four league seasons certainly did.

Blues boss Paul O’Brien admitted that the Mervue result was one that put him under some pressure and he will be looking for his squad to regain some sense of pride in the first south-east derby of the year. If he needs a boost, O’Brien might recall that, following a disastrous start to 2012, his team ended up finishing second in the table and reaching the promotion play-off final.

O’Brien has no suspensions to deal with but he will be without Peter Keegan and Michael Coady who are ruled out through injury. Francis Rockett, on the other hand, returns to the squad having recovered from a foot injury.

Referee: Tommy Mazur.

MATCH STATS

Former Waterford striker Sean Maguire (now departed to West Ham) scored three times for the Blues against Wexford last season, while Wexford’s Tom Elmes scored four times against Waterford (all in the 6-0 on the first night of the season).

Waterford have already lost away to Longford this year. Last year they lost just twice on their league travels, to Longford (again)... and Wexford Youths.

The last time these teams failed to provide a clear winner in a league encounter was at Ferrycarrig Park on 4th September 2009. The game finished 0-0.

BETTING

Wexford 9/4; Draw 12/5; Waterford Evens.

PREDICTION

Waterford to recover from last weekend and win 2-1.

Wexford Youths

Injured: None.
Doubtful: Shane Clarke, Gary Delaney, Graham Delaney.
Suspended: Joe Mulcahy.

Waterford United

Injured: Peter Keegan, Michael Coady.
Doubtful: Ben Ryan.
Suspended: None.