Wexford Youths 0 - 3 Mervue United

• Brian de Salvo
• Sat, Sep 17 2011


Wexford’s tale of woe continued as they surrendered in the second half to Johnny Glynn’s much improved Mervue, arguably the best team in Galway as things stand. But Youths, living up to their name by fielding a seventeen year old debutant goalkeeper Sean Allen, might have take an early lead when his opposite number in the Mervue goal, underage international Ger Hanley, dwelt too long on the ball outside his penalty area and was dispossessed by Tom Elmes. But when Wexford’s sole striker, with the keeper floundering, fired a shot at the untenanted goal, United skipper Martin Conneely was on hand to block his effort.

“Dodgy keeper!” sang the Wexford faithful, surprisingly vocal considering the total attendance must have been less than a hundred and fifty. “Super keeper!” greeted Allen’s best contribution, an agile leap when far off his line to parry and smother O’Brien’s mistimed flick header at close range. Giving the young keeper the benefit of the doubt that this was imaginative positional play rather than good fortune when on walkabout, the fact remained that the visitors seemed to conspire in his cause by some feeble finishing.

At this stage the match was well balanced with a fine angled ball from Ryan into the box just missed by the diving Nolan. And it was Ryan again who encouraged the locals when he tried to embarrass Hanley with a long range lob that had the keeper back pedalling furiously. “Dodgy keeper!” claimed the glee club but Hanley was in position in time to keep his charge intact. And he was on hand to collect a deflection from Broaders that spiralled up ominously in his goalmouth.

Pat Hoban, who went to Bristol City with Youths’ Jimmy Keohane has returned to his roots. Keohane, much missed at Ferrycarrig tonight, has remained in the UK with Exeter. Hoban, who took a hefty whack on the ankle from Dave Grincell in the 23rd minute had run it off sufficiently a quarter of an hour later to hit a searing long range drive inches beyond the angle of post and crossbar. All square at the interval then, with glimpses of good passing football from both sides to leaven the hump it and hope that prevailed.

Although Wexford started the first half briskly endeavour was soon to fade and after 67 minutes they brought off Elmes, to allow a strike partnership of Furlong and Ryan, with Broaders moving up the left flank and substitute Darmody filling in for him at left full. Mervue stuck to their original 4-5-1 formation but, after all, that’s transformed into 4-3-3 when a team has ascendancy, which was increasingly the case with the visitors. The speed and close skills of Etanda Nkololo was beginning to create havoc down the Wexford right where 18 year old full back Mark Phelan had enjoyed a promising first half. But now the chips were down and all three Mervue goals originated in this area.

The first came nine minutes into the second period when Nkololo’s low cross spiralled up of a defender for Dave Golbey to volley the ball past the helpless Allen. Six minutes later it was the same source with Wexford central defender Kehoe deflecting the ball into his own net. Youths collapsed like a pack of cards and would have conceded more but for a fine diving save from Allen to thwart Nkololo and another leaping one handed save from Hoban in injury time. But Mervue had scored a third meantime with Hoban hitting a low volley from a cross from the left sweetly home in the 71st minute.

Youths did get the ball in the net but Danny Furlong was offside when he touched home the rebound after Dempsey’s drive had cannoned down from the underside of the bar in injury time. But by then it was all over with a late shower merely confirming the Wexford misery. Now it looks as though only the consistent frailty of Salthill Devon is likely to preserve Youths’ senior status come the end of the season.

Wexford Youths: Sean Allen; Mark Phelan, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe, Dean Broaders; Dave Grincell (Eoin Kinsella 76), Shane Nolan, Shane Dempsey, Danny Furlong, Ben Ryan; Tom Elmes (James Darmody 67).
Subs not used: Muzzy Mullen, Patsy Malone, Ben Duffy.

Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley; James Casserley, Damien O’Rourke, Martin Conneely, Marc Ludden; David O’Brien, Pat Hoban, Kevin Crehan (Barry McEntee 74), John Mountney, Etanda Nkololo; Dave Golbey (Peter Dravins 74).
Subs not used: Alex Lee, Kenny Farrell, Brian O’Donaghy.

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan.

Attendance: (est) 150