Waterford United 0 - 1 Wexford Youths

• Dean Hayes
• Fri, Jul 15 2011


Wexford Youths grabbed all three points on their travels to neighbours Waterford United on Friday night, courtesy of a magnificent Ben Ryan free-kick.

It was the home side who first managed a shot on target, as Kenny Browne rose to direct a looping header comfortably into the arms of Packie Holden in the Wexford goal after just three minutes. On six minutes it was the turn of Browne's central-defensive partner, Kevin Murray, to test Holden's capabilities, the Blues captain sending a header across goal from a Paul Walsh cross after a short Conor Sinnott free-kick. But Holden did well to turn the ball over his crossbar.

Wexford were slow to get into the game early on and Waterford continued to eke out half-chances, Willie John Kiely dragging a shot wide with his unfavoured left leg on ten minutes.

This game represented the first time in the history of the League of Ireland that two twins lined-out on opposing teams. Waterford's Brian Nolan showed little brotherly love as he slid in to trip Shane Nolan of Wexford Youths. But it was a foul from Conor Sinnott that made the difference, the Blues midfielder hauling down his man 20-yards from goal after 12 minutes. Former Waterford under-20s player Ben Ryan stepped up and curled a magnificent effort beyond the despairing dive of Kevin Burns in the home side's goal.

The goal came just as Wexford were beginning to assert their influence following a bright opening from their hosts, and it was the men in pink who looked more dangerous as the half wore on. The rain-soaked pitch made for a very slick playing surface, which in turn made for a scrappy affair, with players misjudging through-balls at both ends. This was extra problematic given that both side's best chance of a goal seemed to be on balls played in behind on the counter-attack.

It was from one such attack that the visitors almost doubled their lead, youngster Brian Nolan lingering behind his defensive team-mates to play Darragh Walshe onside as he raced onto a Dean Broaders pass. Walshe was clean-through on Burns but Nolan recovered excellently to turn the forward's shot behind for a corner before being duly chastised by his captain Kevin Murray for failing to step-up on time.

Waterford withdrew Willie John Kiely on 40 minutes due to an apparent knock, the striker was replaced by the club's leading goal-scorer Paul Murphy in what was the final meaningful event of an uninspired first-half.

Just as Waterford's first chance of the initial 45 came after three minutes, Wexford's first chance of the second-half came after an identical interval. Robert Vickers was played into space down the right-side and squared a low ball for Darragh Walshe on the edge of the six-yard box, but the striker's improvised flick was cleared off the line by Kevin Murray.

The Blues were positively chaotic at the back during the half's opening exchanges as Wexford saw two goalmouth scrambles fail to be converted.

This was a South-East derby which was struggling to deliver, but the game almost sprang back into life on 60 minutes when Gary Dunphy lined up a shot 30-yards out and took a lick of paint off the top of Holden's crossbar.

Waterford had now begun to rally and exerted some long overdue pressure on the Wexford goal through a succession of corners. Murray rose highest from a Conor Sinnott delivery on 68 minutes but failed to apply the necessary power to his header and the ball bounced wide. One minute later, in a move straight off the training ground, Sinnott floated a corner to the left to the edge of the box where the waiting Paul Murphy fired a mistimed volley well wide.

This derby eventually spiced up in its final stages when Wexford manager Noel O' Connor was sent to the stands after making clear his views within earshot of the Fourth Official. The Youths boss was visibly unhappy following a robust challenge on substitute Eoin Kinsella.

The game appeared to be drifting further away from Waterford despite their renewed efforts and when, with just two minutes remaining, Sinnott saw his 25-yard free-kick sail narrowly wide it looked all over for the home side. There were however one or two more scares for the visiting defence before they claimed a hard-fought, but deserved, victory over their South-East rivals.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Seamus Long, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Brian Nolan (Paul Phelan 67); Paul Walsh, Gary Dunphy, Conor Sinnott, Michael Coady, Adam McSherry; Willie John Kiely (Paul Murphy 40).
Subs Not Used:  Sean Barron, Gary Keane, Dwayne Wilson, Paul Carey, David Breen.

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden; Shane Nolan, Anto Russell, Karl Keogh, Martin Kehoe; Darragh Walshe (Michael Mullen 89), Craig Wall, Robert Vickers (Eoin Kinsella 72), Paul Malone, Dean Broaders (Mark Phelan 92); Ben Ryan.
Subs Not Used: Greg Yelverton.

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.
Attendance: 600 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Darragh Walshe. Lively all night and brilliantly occupied the Waterford back-line.