- Extratime Team
- Sat, Mar 24 2012
Tom Elmes cemented his place atop the First Division’s scoring chart as he struck the winner for Wexford Youths tonight, ensuring his side got the better of Finn Harps in Ballybofey.
On a night when Harps created countless good openings, Felix Healy’s were left wanting in front of goal. The result is Harps’s third in their four opening League games but the Youths now have a healthy seven points from the 12 possible.
The Harps team included new signing Shaun McGowan - popularly known as ‘The Wizard’ - who rejoined the club this week from Kildrum Tigers. The midfielder went straight into the first 11 in one of three changes with Thomas Bonner and Ciaran Greene also included.
Greene had an excellent game at left back and was involved in a few of the home team’s better moments in the first half but Harps went in at the break a goal behind.
Elmes was the man to make the breakthrough, the striker punishing some slack defending from the home side to create the space before firing past Ciaran Gallagher four minutes before the break.
Harps created a succession of great chances in the second half with Kevin McHugh, Aaron O’Hagan, Ciaran Coll and Adam Clarke all going close.
O’Hagan should have converted from close range when he was picked out by Thomas McBride’s wonderful delivery but the big defender directed his header over the bar.
McHugh was unlucky to see a snap shot fly wide of the post and Coll saw a volley deflected over the crossbar.
Youths’ stopper Graham Doyle also came up with a handful of excellent saves to keep the home team scoreless and frustrated.
And it could have been worse for Harps. Wexford missed a penalty in the final minute when Gallagher saved from Wexford captain, Shane Dempsey.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Thomas Bonner, Ciaran Greene, Aaron O’Hagan, Thomas McMonagle; Thomas McBride, Hugh Carlin (James Doherty '50), Shaun McGowan, Adam Clarke, Ciaran Coll; Kevin McHugh
Subs not used: Shaun Patton, Barry Mahoney, Paul McVeigh, Peter Hutton.
Bookings: None.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Dean Broaders, James Dermody, Jamie Carr, CJ Browne (James Scallon '64); Shane Dempsey, Brian Nolan, John Yeates (Paul Malone '65), Shane Nolan; Tom Elmes, Aidan Keenan.
Subs not used: Cormac O’Brien, Thomas Croke, Mark Phelan, Sean Corcoran, Shane Clarke.
Bookings: Carr (43).
Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.
Attendance: 550.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Graham Doyle (Wexford Youths) for his quality saves.
