Wexford Youths 2 - 1 Finn Harps

• Conor Meagher
• Sun, Apr 26 2009


Wexford Youths won a hard fought contest against Finn Harps on Saturday night in Crossabeg coming out the victors by two goals to one.

Wexford Youth got off the mark after just 10 minutes with a goal from a corner through Gavin Doyle via a Conor Sinnott in swinger. Doyle rose highest on the edge of the six yard box to power home a header.

After missing a 2nd half penalty through Conor Sinnott, The Youths went further ahead with another penalty converted by Gavin Doyle and, despite a Conor Gethins’ headed goal for Finn Harps, they went on to win the game.

After the early goal, the home side nearly doubled the lead after 18 minutes when Sinnott sent Shane Dempsey free one on one with Gallagher who he rounded only to see Mukendi get back and clear the rolling goal bound shot to safety.

After 27 minutes, a decent run down the right and cross from Harkin after being fed by Brolly had to be intercepted by White for the Youths as Conor Gethins lurked in the box. The combination of Rossiter and Havlin for Finn Harps had some neat interchanges but couldn’t fashion any clear cut chances.

A Funston cross on 34 minutes was saved at the second attempt by Holden while the Harpsd defender then saw yellow after 37 minutes for chopping down Liam O’Loughlin after the midfielder had slipped a ball outside of him and ran clear.

The second half began with Wexford showing intent but lacking that killer instinct while Harps looked to catch them on the break.

With 47 minutes gone Doyle won a penalty after being pushed over by Mukendi but Sinnott’s shot was saved and he blazed the rebound over while under pressure from the covering defence running in.

On the 50 minute mark Johnny Flynn O’Connor went close next with a free that skinned the outside of the post after Sinnott had rolled a free kick into his path from 25 yards out.

Gavin Doyle made it 2 – 0 from the spot as he buried his spot kick after Liam O’Loughlin had been impeded by Havlin on 59 minutes.

Finn Harps found a life line on 69 minutes, when Brolly found space and crossed to Conor Gethins. Gethins managed to head past Packie Holden in the Wexford goal. The Donegal side could’ve equalised from Harkin after Gethins set him free down the left after 80 minutes but he screwed his shot wide of Holden’s exposed goal. David McDaid then got in on the action when he saw a well taken effort squeeze just over from the edge of the box late on.

The last chance of the game saw Breen concede a free on the edge of the box only for Gethins to smash the free into the wall and the clearance was closely followed by the final whistle.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gavin Doyle

Wexford Youths:Packie Holden, Anto Russell, David Breen, Peter White, Johnny Flynn O’Connor, Liam O’Loughlin, Gareth McCurtain (Paul Malone 66), Conor Sinnott, Shane Dempsey (Marty Kelly, 78), Keith Kearney (Paul Rossiter, 87), Gavin Doyle.
Subs not used –David Miller, Ritchie Fitzgerald.

Finn Harps:Ciaran Gallagher, Ian Rossiter, Michael Funston - Booked 37 min, Sean Houston - Booked 62 min - (Christophew Coughlin, 63), Mark Mukendi, Shaun McGowan (Gary Whoriskey 78), Ruairi Harkin, Johnny Havlin, David McDaid, Conor Gethins, Mark Brolly.
Subs not used: Mark Forker, Pat Marley, Oisin McMenamin.

Referee: Phillip Caschera.

Attendance: 383