Wexford Youths 0 - 2 Finn Harps
- Brian de Salvo
- Sat, Jul 23 2011
To opine that the second half of this game was of no consequence seems to disrespect the endeavour with which Wexford Youths went about trying to resurrect their fortunes. But the truth is that Finn Harps had this game wrapped up as early as the eighteenth minute.
They’d gone ahead eight minutes earlier when afforded too much space and too much time. Kevin McHugh headed Marc Brolly’s cross from the left against Packie Holden’s right post and Blain Curtis headed the rebound past the Wexford keeper.
McHugh’s reputation proceeds him but his young partner up front seems cast from the same mould. When a searching ball down the middle from McElwee put the young man in possession he had too much pace and poise for his marker Keogh and ran on to slip the ball past Holden.
It might have been worse after twenty five minutes when Wall’s misplaced pass gifted possession to Harps. Brolly cut in from the left but the keeper got down well to parry his shot. But Curtis might have had a hat trick ten minutes later but for his header being adjudged as being from an offside position. It looked a close call.
The points were vital to both these struggling clubs but, Patsy Malone apart, Wexford seemed unable to raise their game to match the urgency of the situation, and even Malone’s contribution had a hint of desperation.
Harps were in cruise control with player manager Pete Hutton rarely seeming to break sweat as he mopped up what little the home side had to offer. When a key tackle was required, he slid in cleanly and even had the temerity to appeal for the resulting throw in. When he left his keeper a little short with a back pass he was able to cover his tracks by encouraging his colleague to come out a little quicker next time. It was all in the best possible taste.
Youths, without the physical presence of Walshe or Elmes or the guile of Furlong up front were forced to play Ben Ryan as a lone striker in a forlorn cause. Vickers pace down the right gave Harps full back John Paul Gallagher some anxious moments but there was a lack of precision about his final ball. The returning Dempsey tried his luck with some long range sighters but did nothing to discommode the visiting keeper.
Being at Ferrycarrig with the threat of the Arklow-Rosslare bypass looming is a little like being at a wake. What can you find to say that brings any comfort? Wexford went to three at the back and finally brought on Miller to partner Ryan up front but it made no difference. When a shooting opportunity presented, Hutton (who else?) blocked it for a corner. Ryan’s low shot that skidded just the wrong side of the upright in the first of the five minutes added might have quickened the pulse but in the end Harps got what they deserved. Three priceless points.
Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe (Greg Yelverton 75), Anto Russell; Robrt Vickers, Shane Dempsey, Patsy Malone, Craig Wall, Dean Broaders (Dave Miller 65); Ben Ryan.
Subs not used: Muzzy Mullen, Mark Phelan, Eoin Kinsella.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Martin Redmond, Peter Hutton, Keith Cowan, John Paul Gallagher; Mark Forker, Thomas Bonner (Gareth Harkin 57), Aaron McElwee, Marc Brolly (Ciaran Coll 89); Blain Curtis, Kevin McHugh.
Subs not used: Aaron O’Hagan, Gary Merritt, Shaun McClafferty.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer
Attendance: 100
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