- Extratime Team
- Sat, Mar 29 2014
Goals from Danny Furlong and Dean Broaders were enough to grab south-east bragging rights for Wexford Youths in a 2-1 win against Waterford United on Friday night.
The home team went close to going in front inside the opening minutes of the first half when Conor Meade whipped in a corner kick from the left that was met by the head of Philip Drohan at the near post but his powerful header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Youths keeper Graham Doyle.
Opposing keeper Kevin Burns was next in action just minutes later when former Blues midfielder Ben Ryan sent in a right-wing free kick that found the head of the unmarked Youths striker Aidan Keenan but Burns brilliantly saved to his left.
Wexford Youths took the lead on 18 minutes when Aidan Keenan’s through ball split a square Blues’ defence with a ball from midfield that sent Danny Furlong clear down the left and he drilled low under the body of keeper Burns from inside the penalty area.
The home side went close to the equaliser when Conor Whittle found Philip Drohan down the right who crossed for Paddy Barrett but his shot from 12 yards wasn’t strong enough to beat Doyle.
Paul Quilty could have leveled seven minutes before the break. Conor Meade's free kick from the left was flicked on by Gavin Kavanagh and found Quilty but the striker hooked the ball over the bar from inside the penalty area.
Youths defender Stephen Last was lucky not be given a second yellow card three minutes before the break after a poor tackle in the middle of the field as the home side broke down field, but referee Keith Callanan was in a generous mood and spared the defender an early exit.
Youths missed two great chances at the end of the first half to extend their lead in the final minute of the first half when Shane Nolan blazed over after burns hadn’t collected Keenan’s cross, before goalscorer Furlong fired over from close range.
Gary Delaney went close for Waterford when he rose to meet a Conor Meade corner kick but he couldn't direct his header on target from inside the penalty area.
Assistant referee Sinead Forde was involved in the major controversial incident of the after ruling out what looked to be a perfectly timed Blues move on 73 minutes. Jack Doherty looked to have timed his run to perfection and he fired home Kynan Rocks’ through ball past Doyle, but a late flag from Forde ruled the goal out for offside.
The away team doubled their lead six minutes from time when Dean Broaders took advantage of a slip in the Blues rearguard to race clear to meet Danny Furlong’s through ball and he fired low from 16 yards past Burns.
The Blues did pull a goal back in the final minute of normal time through substitute Willie John Kiely. Kevin O'Connor sent in a brilliant cross to the back post from the left where Kiely squeezed his header home past Graham Doyle in the final action of the game.
Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Conor Whittle, Gavin Kavanagh, Gary Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Vinny Sullivan, Brian Nolan, Paddy Barrett, Philip Drohan (Willie John Kiely 71); Paul Quilty (Jack Doherty ’60), Conor Meade (Kynan Rocks 60).
Subs not used: Thomas Whitty, Thomas Croke, Conor Coad, Shane Morrissey.
Booked: Delaney (13), Barrett (25), Quilty (47), Kiely (89).
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Peter Higgins, Killian Cantwell, Stephen Last, Ryan Delaney; Ben Ryan (Dean Broaders 66), Shane Nolan, Shane Dunne, Eric Molloy; Danny Furlong (Daragh Walshe 90), Aidan Keenan.
Subs not used: Craig Short, Daryl Power, Sean Skelly, Danny Fitzpatrick, Danny Neikis.
Booked: Last (15), Higgins (38), Keenen (62), Doyle (89), Dunne (90).
Referee: Keith Callanan
Attendance: 743
