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Wexford Youths -v- Waterford United
- Brendan White
- Fri, May 14 2010
Wexford Youths welcome neighbours Waterford United to Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night for an eagerly awaited southeast derby. (kick off 8pm)
The Youths will be looking to put last weeks disappointing defeat to Cork City Foras Co-op behind them and get back to winning ways against the high flying Blues.
“Waterford are playing some great football at the moment so Friday night will be a tough game for us, but we’re looking forward to it. They lost a few players from last season but they have brought in some new faces that are equally as good. We desperately need the points. We need to bounce back from last week and get a positive result” Wexford Manager Noel O’ Connor said.
The Youths almost have a clean bill of health going into the game with some doubt about Lee Aust (flu).
Waterford United come into the game on the back of an excellent 1-0 league win against Shelbourne last Friday in Tolka Park, and a 9-0 EA Sports Cup win over Tralee on Tuesday. George O’Callaghan grabbed five goals midweek to add to his winning goal last Friday.
John Hayes suffered a setback with his ankle tendon injury and remains unavailable. Both Seamus Long and Kevin Murray remain out but are close to making a return to the side.
Seamus Long will likely be out a little longer, though he would miss this game anyway due to a suspension picked up for receiving four yellow cards this season. Goalkeeper Josh Byrne is back in full training after his hand injury.
"Every player in a Blue shirt fought like mad”, Waterford manager Stephen Henderson said following the Shels game. “I am really pleased for the goalkeeper Chris Konopka. We told him before the game that he had to be strong with four inexperienced defenders in front of him, and he really came up trumps. Chris was magnificent."
"All of the back four are midfield players, and the smallest defense I have ever seen, but all of them rose to the occasion tonight. I thought Paul Carey, who was playing his first full game was brilliant, and it was difficult to take in that this was his debut. To play like that at a place like this shows you the ability the young lad has. We will kick on from here now.”
Waterford United currently lie three points from Derry City at the summit of the Airtricity 1st Division while Wexford are third from bottom, 15 points behind the Blues.
The Blues beat the Youths in the opening game of the season but had to settle for a scoreless draw in Ferrycarrig last season.
Venue: Ferrycarrig Park
Paddypower.com Odds: Wexford Youths 7/2 Draw 12/5 Waterford United 4/6
Wexford Youths
Suspended: None
Injured: Lee Aust
Doubtful: None
Waterford United
Suspended: Seamus Long
Injured: Kevin Murray, John Hayes, Seamus Long
Doubtful: None
Extratime.ie Prediction: Waterford to win 2-0.
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan.