Wexford Youths -v- Shelbourne

• Alan Smith
• Mon, May 30 2011


Shelbourne will look to keep up the pace alongside Cork City when they travel to Ferrycarrig Park to face lowly Wexford Youths on Monday night.

Alan Mathews’ side are tied on 26 points with City, but have a game extra to play, and they’ll hope to improve what has been a mixed record away to the south-eastern side.

The earlier meeting between the two sides back on March 18 saw the Dubliners win 4-2 at home, thanks to a blistering start that had them three goals to the good after a five minute spell between the 11th and 16th minute.

Shels have won just twice in their last five visits to Ferrycarrig, though they should make it a 50% win rate tomorrow night against a home side that have been very disappointing so far this season.

Youths have yet to win at home, and currently find themselves in tenth position, only staying off the foot of the table on goal difference.

And while Mick Wallace says Noel O’Connor’s job is the safest in football, surely the Youths boss must be feeling the pressure seeing as they’ve lost six on the bounce at home.

Mathews’ charges have only been defeated once in their last ten games and make the trip south with only Stephen Paisley absent. He has a hamstring injury, but other than that the Tolka Park side will have a full compliment of players to choose from.

Last time out Shels beat Longford Town 1-0 and after the game assistant manager Barry O’Connor was satisfied.

“It was a very hard fought win – to be fair to Longford they played well at times,” he said. “Dean [Delany] pulled off two or three good saves at 0-0. Thankfully we came up with a goal towards the end – with fifteen minutes to go. It doesn’t matter how they come, as long as they come. That’s all we’re worried about, then the next game.”

Shels have won five of their last six and against a Youths team that have won just once in six, it will be a big shock if they don’t come away with the three points.

Wexford Youths
Injured – NA
Doubtful – NA
Suspended – NA

Shelbourne
Injured – Stephen Paisley
Doubtful – None
Suspended – None

Referee – Keith Callinan (Cork)

Paddy Power odds – Wexford Youths 13/2 – Draw 3/1 – Shelbourne 4/11.

Extratime prediction – Wexford Youths 0 – 2 Shelbourne