- James Phelan
- Sat, May 24 2008
Wexford Youths were taught a lesson on Friday night at Ferrycarraig Park as Dundalk made up for their recent FAI Youth Cup defeat by beating Wexford by five goals to nil . Mick Wallace’s men had it all to do as they went in three down at half time after a crazy ten minute spell by the Wexford defenders. Goals from Jamie Duffy, Paul Smyth and an unbelievable Trevor Vaughan hat-trick made sure Dundalk went back to the top of the league, if only for a few days.
Wallace made numerous changes to his side after the shock midweek defeat to Kildare and gave some of his Youth team winners the chance to shine. Danny Furlong and Shane Dempsey got the starting nod as numerous first team regulars had to be content with a place on the bench and even among the reserves. Wallace’s tactical changes didn’t work as Wexford’s new look side never got going and John Gills side were almost flawless. After slipping behind Shelbourne at the top of the league, Gill knew how important the three points were.
It was a patient start by both sides as they were content with just keeping the ball and not being too adventurous, but that was all to change in a devastating ten minute spell. In the thirty fourth minute Dundalk won a free kick on the left hand side, David Cassidy floated the ball in and Vaughan towered above everyone else to send his header into the top left corner. Then in the forty first minute Jamie Duffy found space in the box and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner to make it two nil to the visitors. At this stage Wallace may well have been fearing the worst. Things got worse on the stroke of half-time when Vaughan got his second. He took the ball on his chest and brushed off two defenders on the edge of the box. He could have easily gone down, but all credit to him he kept his feet and chipped the ball up over Russell and into the top right corner, a beautiful goal and Wexford were shell shocked.
One might have expected Wexford to come out, be brave and try to cut down on the embarrassing score line, but it never happened and in the fifty third minute Vaughan came up with the knock out punch. If Vaughan's second goal was a contender for goal of the season, his third goal was possibly the best you’ll see. He took the ball off Shane Dempsey on the halfway line and with one look saw Russell off his line. In the blink of an eye he chipped him from forty five yards and Ferrycarraig Park was silenced. Wexford rarely threatened the Dundalk goal and a comfortable night was capped off eleven minutes from time when Duffy’s cross was headed home by substitute Smyth.
The celebrations are over in Wexford as Wallace’s team suffered a frustrating night. It doesn’t get easier for them as their next game is away to Shelbourne. Dundalk found their goal scoring touch after over 180 minutes of a barren spell, proving that form is temporary and class is permanent.
Wexford Youths: Jason Russell; Anto Russell, Stuart Lawlor, Garrett Larkin (Kyle Dempsey 75), Keith Kearney, Shane Dempsey, Paul Rossiter (Conor Wallace 83), Martin Kelly (Ricky Fox 60), Patsy Malone; Danny Furlong, Gavin Doyle.
Substitutes not used: Johnny Flynn O’Connor, Conor Sinnott.
Booked: Rossiter (5)
Dundalk: Chris Bennion; Paul Marney, Shane Grimes, Ben Whelahan (Tiarnan Mulvenna 57), David Crawley; Ian Ryan (Stefan McKevitt 83), Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Trevor Vaughan, Robbie Martin, Dave O’Connor (Paul Smyth 45).
Substitutes not used: Aaron Shanahan, Robbie Farrell.
Booked: Bennion (45), Crowley (56).
Referee: Eddie McNally.
Attendance: 680.
Man of the match: Trevor Vaughan (Dundalk) - No contest, he out did himself, the goals were breath taking. The best hat-trick you will see all season.
