League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Shelbourne

• Fran Reilly
• Fri, Jun 05 2015




WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford Youths return to First Division action this week on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Cork City in the FAI Cup. While being knocked out by the team who finished second in the Premier Division last season is no shame, it's the last legitimate result which preceded the City defeat that will surely still rankle with Youths – the 4-1 reverse to UCD in Belfield.

 

The Ferrycarrig Park side's home game against Athlone two weeks ago was abandoned – with Shane Keegan's men leading 2-0 at half-time – due to a generator catching fire. On the same night, the Europa League-bound Students followed up their win over Youths with a 2-2 draw against league leaders Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

 

This pulled UCD to within two points of Youths in the table and following a further break from league action last week, Keegan will be looking to get league matters back on track when his side play host to Shelbourne in Ferrycarrig on Friday night.

 

Youths have already beaten the Reds once this season when they came back from one 1-0 down and floodlight failure to claim a 4-2 win at Tolka Park. However, Keegan believes this will be a different Shels side to the one they faced in April and he will have to plan for Friday's clash without Conor Whittle (hamstring), Dean Broaders (achilles) and Youths' all-time top goalscorer Danny Furlong (knee).

 

“They've been in good form lately and seem to have turned a corner,” Keegan told wexfordyouthsfc.ie. “Their victory away to Athlone was particularly impressive and they'll arrive in Wexford confident that they can continue to gain ground in the promotions race.

“They've got an excellent young squad and you get the feeling that many of their young players may well go on to be some of the biggest names in Irish football by the time they hit their mid 20s.”

 

 

SHELBOURNE

Kevin Doherty will be hoping that last week's FAI Cup hammering at the hands of Premier Division champions Dundalk will not affect the momentum his side had built up from winning three league games on the spin.

 

Having lost just 1-0 to Stephen Kenny's Lilywhites in Oriel Park in the EA Sports Cup in April, Shels would have travelled to Dundalk last week hopeful of causing an upset – instead, the champions upped their game and put the Reds to the sword with the same devastating form they have shown throughout the 2015 campaign to date.

 

Elimination from both domestic cups leaves Shels with just the First Division to focus on and perhaps that's a good thing as winning promotion this season is proving to be a difficult task in Doherty's first season in charge. Finn Harps and Wexford Youths have proven strong pace-setters, while UCD have crept into third-place above Shels after going on an eight-game unbeaten run in the league – which includes a 2-0 win over the Reds in Tolka at the beginning of May.

 

Having picked up maximum points from their last three league outings against Cabinteely, Athlone Town and Waterford United, Doherty will be well aware that those wins will count for nothing if they come away from the trip to Youths without any points.

 

With that in mind, the Shels manager will be hoping injury doesn't befall first-choice 'keeper Greg Murray as two back-up options are out for the Reds this week – Dave Ryan and Jack Brady. Doherty will also have to plan without Simon Dixon and Paul Andrews, while Conor Earley and Craig Walsh are doubts.

 

Referee: Robert Hennessey.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Having put four or more goals past opposing teams four times in the league this season, the 4-1 defeat to UCD was the first time Youths – the highest scoring side in the First Division – conceded more than two goals in a league game in 2015.

 

The loss to UCD was the first time Youths had conceded four goals in a First Division match since October 2013when they lost 4-1 to Mervue United at Ferrycarrig Park. The last time they conceded four or more goals in any competition was in the 5-0 EA Sports Cup semi-final defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park last year.

 

Shels haven't won at Ferrycarrig Park since May 2011 when an 89^th minute Conan Byrne goal gave the Reds a 1-0 victory. Since Youths' inception in 2007, Shels have only won four times in ten meetings at Ferrycarrig.

 

 

BETTING

Wexford Youths EVENS; Draw 23/10; Shelbourne 12/5.

 

PREDICTION

1-1.

 

 

Wexford Youths

Injured: Danny Furlong (knee), Dean Broaders (achilles), Conor Whittle (hamstring).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Shelbourne

Injured: Simon Dixon, Jack Brady, Dave Ryan, Paul Andrews.

Doubtful: Conor Earley, Craig Walsh.

Suspended: None.