- Gareth O'Reilly
- Fri, Sep 18 2015
Wexford all but secured the First Division title on Friday night in the Belfield Bowl as UCD suffered their second defeat in a week to Shane Keegan’s Youths. The Students are now winless in four attempts and have to concentrate on fighting off Shelbourne for the play off positions.
UCD were missing a number of players through injury for this one as both Captain Robbie Benson and first choice shot-stopper Niall Corbet were forced to take their seats in the stand.
Therefore it was Conor Mackey who donned the number one jersey in Belfield on Friday night and nearly got his performance off to the worst of starts as a scuffed clearance saw Conor Whittle latch onto the ball only for his shot from outside the box to meet the resilient head of Mark Langtry.
Just before the ten minute mark and UCD were in front after Dylan Watts strode forward thirty yards from goal before unleashing a dipping shot that took a wicked deflection on its way beyond Graham Doyle in between the sticks for Youths.
Danny Furlong, who was hoping to equal the First Division goal scorers record in a single season, saw his free kick from the edge of the box palmed behind by Mackey.
Despite falling behind early on it didn’t take Shane Keegan’s men long to pull level as Conor Whittle took advantage of some lapse UCD defending to curl a shot home from inside the penalty area leaving Mackey little chance of getting to it.
The home side knew that if their extremely slim hopes of emerging from the 2015/16 season as champion were to be kept alive then three points was a must. In recent week’s players like Daire O’Connor have emerged on the scene and it was his run that nearly saw UCD take the lead once again just before the half hour mark but in the end the ball was put behind for a corner in which Mick Leahy headed over from.
Moments later and once again O’Connor broke this time opting to play in Swan only for the Youths defence to once again have all the answers and clear the danger with a last ditch tackle.
The Students were now firmly on top and when Jamie Doyle cut in from the left wing Graham Doyle could only cushion the ball under his body which allowed Dylan Watts to hoof a great opportunity across goal from two yards out when all he had to do was tap it home. Next Daire O’Connor followed up with a whizzing effort that went just wide.
The second half started in slow enough fashion with both teams exchanging wayward shots. A recent trademark routine for UCD this season has been Mark Langtry’s long throws and it was one of these that nearly saw Wexford undo their hard work as Peter Higgins headed the ball inches wide of his own post.
Moments later and down the other end Wexford went in front through the First Division’s top goalscorer as Danny Furlong cut through the UCD defence to smash the ball beyond the onrushing Mackey.
Not long after falling behind Collie O’Neill opted for a change of formation as Conor Cannon entered the fray but in truth Shane Keegan was looking very smug in the opposite dugout.
Ryan Swan did go close for the College as he dribbled across the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful low shot that saw Graham Doyle make a swift diving save to keep his side on track for a massive three points.
With time running out on the home side Gary O’Neill fired a fantastic free kick over the Wexford wall only to see it cannon back off the crossbar and away from goal.
That O’Neill chance was the last of the noteworthy efforts from either side as the travelling support bowed down to their heroes and likely soon to be SSE Airtricity League First Division champions and Premier Division outfit.
UCD: Conor Mackey, Michael Leahy, Tomas Boyle (Ryan McLaughlin 46), Maxi Kouogun, Mark Langtry; Jamie Doyle, Daire O’Connor, Gary O’Neill, Dylan Watts, Jack Watson (Conor Cannon 73); Ryan Swan.
Subs Not Used: Sean Coyne, Dan Tobin, Karl Skinner, Eoin Kirwan, Jason McClelland.
Yellow Cards: O’Neill (41), Boyle (45), Watts (88).
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle, Craig McCabe, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, Ryan Delaney; Conor Whittle (Willie Tyrell 90), Chris Kenny, Peter Higgins (Craig Wall 89), Shane Dunne (John Pere 90+3), Eric Molloy; Danny Furlong.
Subs Not Used: James Darmondy, Dean Broaders, Conor English, Gavin Dowling.
Yellow Cards: Kenny (83).
Referee: Ben Connolly.
Attendance: 250 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Daire O’Connor (UCD).
