Wexford Youths 1 - 2 Waterford United

• Brian de Salvo
• Sat, Apr 30 2011


In six months time this local derby would have been regarded as a six pointer. As it was, the result may have had more significance than the allocation of three. Finn Harps have just dismissed their manager on the back of three successive defeats; Waterford had just clocked up four, a run that has motivated some Blues fans to call for Stephen Henderson’s head. So it’s good to record a Waterford victory, deserved on the first half performance. But a Wexford revival after the interval kept Mr Henderson in suspense until the fourth minute of added time.

The visitors exhibited early signs of lack of confidence when full back Lee Chin contrived to convert a free kick in United’s favour into a chance for the home side by passing the ball to home striker Danny Furlong who made space in his run on goal only to shoot wide. But Waterford soon took a firm grasp on proceedings with the returning Conor Sinnott and David Breen, in an unaccustomed midfield role, prominent. After Wolfe fouled Sinnott, Breen tested Packie Holden with the resulting free kick which the former Blues keeper diverted at the expense of a corner and an arm injury that, with no sub keeper on the bench, briefly caused concern. But both Holden and his goal remained intact and survived another close call when Breen’s header from the corner rebounded from the bar. Then Breen slipped Quinn in but his feisty drive was straight at Holden’s midriff.

It was no surprise when Waterford took the lead. Keeper’s Burns long kick was headed on by Keane and the Sinnott waltzed round the statuesque Kehoe and deftly despatched the ball into the net. The visitors were now in cruise control but there could have been a surprise equaliser when Ryan’s corner from the right found Wolfe in the clear but the defender miscued his shot wide.

It was business as usual when Holden, at full stretch, succeeded in scrambling Quinn’s effort just wide of the post and then made an excellent reaction save from the resulting flag kick to divert Murray’s overhead kick over. But United were not to be denied a second goal just before half time, Breen forcing the ball home from close range after a scramble initiated by yet another well flighted corner from Sinnott.

Youths revival began with the half time substitution of Patsy Malone for Yelverton and increased as Grincell and Broaders joined from the bench on either side of an hour’s play.

In the 64th minute a siege on the United goal brought Wexford a penalty when referee Caschera judged that Chin had handled. Furlong stroked the ball home from the spot and it was game on. The home side was transformed and it took a brave save by Burns at the feet of the onrushing Grincell with five minutes remaining to preserve Waterford’s lead. Wexford huffed, with keeper Holden going up to compete for a goalmouth header with Breen, but there was no further opportunity of significance.

So Mr Henderson has a brief respite whilst Wexford must make the long trek north to face managerless Harps with both clubs marooned on three points with only the hapless Salthill Devon below them. But Mick Wallace assures me that his manager Noel O’Connor has the safest job in the League of Ireland so that’s all right. After all, if you can’t trust the word of your local TD who can you trust?

Wexfrod Youths: Packie Holden; Garret McCurtin, Karl Keogh, Anthony Wolfe, Martin Kehoe (Dean Broaders 64); Shane Nolan, Craig Wall, Greg Yelverton (Patsy Malone h/t), Ben Ryan; Danny Furlong, Darragh Walshe (Dave Grincell 59).
Subs not used: Muzzi Mullen, Kevin Rowe, Eoin Kinsella, Robert Dempsey.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Lee Chinn, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Mick Coady; Gary Dempsey (Paul Carey 83), Shane Dunphy (Dwayne Wilson 72), Conor Sinnott, David Breen, Keith Quinn (Shane Barrett 90+1), Gary Keane.
Subs not used: Seamus Long, Josh Byrne.

Referee: Phil Caschera

Attendance (estimated) 350