Wexford Youths 1 - 0 Mervue United

• Conor Meagher
• Sat, May 16 2009


Wexford Youths continued their fantastic form Friday night with a well earned win against Mervue United at Ferrycarrig Park through Man of the Match David Breen’s 58th minute tap in after Peter White had flicked on Conor Sinnott’s corner. Mervue were truly lucky not to concede at hat full as the home side held up fantastically and broke at will all through the game with Conor Sinnott and David Millar running rampant from David Breen’s distribution all night. The win brings the home side level on points with Shels who hold fourth on goal difference with two games in hand.

The best chances of the first half all came to Wexford striker Gavin Doyle from play while midfielder Patsy Malone had two good headers from Conor Sinnott corners from the left in the opening and closing stages of the half – the second of which saw a drifting header land just on the wrong side of the right hand post with away keeper Eoin Martin beaten. Doyle’s best chance however came after 36 minutes from a strong run up the left and cross shot which Ludden cleared off the line, Sinnott had teed him up pouncing on a weak clearance by Nicky Curran to play him in but Doyle’s chipped effort went over both Martin and the bar. A tame header out by White saw Goldbey presented with Mervue’s only chance of the half, but the angle was too acute and he shot straight at Holden.

What was to be a frantic second half for Mervue started with Curran slicing just wide of his own top left corner with Doyle lurking after a Miller cut back – the move determining the theme of the rest of the match. With twelve minutes played of the second half the impressive Malone almost scored after some neat play under little pressure between Fitzgerald and Doyle but his effort went wide – the match crying out for a goal which duly arrived through David Breen after 58 minutes. Mervue defender Paul Scally gave away a free outside the box on Sinnott and the resultant kick was almost buried by Doyle only for Martin to claw it out of the bottom corner – Sinnott’s corner from the left was flicked on by White and the solid Breen tapped home from six yards.

Doyle and lightning fast sub Sheahan had plenty off chances to score more throughout the rest of the game but away keeper Martin was more than equal on one on ones – even nut-megging Doyle to prevent the forward breaking clean through outside the box. Anto Russell won the ball on half way with 34 minutes of the second half gone and saw the pitch open up allowing him a free run on goal but his composure was lacking as his shot was pushed out for a corner by Martin. Mervue’s only chance of the second half and only their second of the game came through Captain Browne in added time from a corner but his headed effort lacked power and The Youths held on to win their eight game from their last nine in all competitions – a hugely anticipated League Cup quarter final at home to Bohs await Tuesday night.

Wexford Team: 20 Packie Holden; 27 John Flynn o’Connor (Dempsey 85min), 29 Peter White, 30 David Breen, 32 Liam o’Loughlin ( Rossiter 80min), 28 Anto Russell; 31 David Miller, 34 Conor Sinnott (Capt.), 35 Patsey Malone; 36 Gavin Doyle, 37 Ritchie Fitzgerald (Garry Sheahan 58min). Subs: 38 Shane Dempsey, 39 Gary Sheahan, 41 Garrett Wallace, 42 Paul Rossiter, 43 Garrett McCurtain.

Mervue Team: 1 Eoin Martin; 2 Paul Scally, 3 Nicky Curran, 4 Mark Ludden (Yellow 60min), 5 Eric Browne (Capt.)(Yellow 90+3); 6 Gary Traynor (Brown 80min), 7 Rory Gaffney (Lee,68min), 8 Mixy Harty (Barrett 72min), 11 Mike Tierney (Yellow 68min); 9 David Goldbey (Yellow 63min), 10 David o’Dowd. Subs: 12 Kevin Barrett, 13 Alex Lee, 14 Rynol Byrne, 14 David o’Brien, 16 Martin Connolly.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Goal Scorer David Breen whose defensive display kept the Mervue attack quiet for the whole game and marshalled his line superbly throughout – away keeper Martin came close with his saves and reactions to so many one on one chances.

Attendance: 464

Ref: Tom Connolly