- Josh Dolan
- Sat, Sep 12 2015
See pictures from this game as taken by John V Carr here.
Wexford Youths took a significant step towards the 2015 First Division title as a stunning strike from midfielder Shane Dunne late on gave Shane Keegan’s men all three points at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night.
The win leaves Wexford seven points ahead of nearest challengers Finn Harps with just four games to play, while UCD lie a further two points behind in third.
The game was one of few clear cut chances, however Danny Furlong managed to create one that in his usual form you would expect to test the opposition goalkeeper, but on this occasion Furlong fluffed his lines from ten yards as the ball sailed out for a goal kick.
A couple of minutes later Youths created another half chance, as winger Andy Mulligan twisted and turned, before curling a fairly tame effort into the welcoming gloves of UCD net-minder Niall Corbet.
After that the first half petered out and the sides went in 0-0 at the half-time interval.
The second half consisted of more of the same on a wet and windy night at the Wexford venue.
Like the first half, Furlong had the first sight of goal. He drifted out to the right wing, before skipping past a couple of UCD challenges, before seeing his effort smothered by Corbet at the goalkeeper’s near post.
A couple of minutes later Furlong turned provider, as he found Mulligan 30 yards out from goal, however, the winger’s effort sailed safely wide.
With eight minutes to go the game looked to be petering out to a 0-0 draw, before the ball broke to Shane Dunne, who powered the ball past Corbet and into the top corner to steal the win for Wexford Youths.
Shortly after Youths forward Keenan, who was one of few players to show glimpses of quality on the night, was sent-off for a second yellow card after a foul in UCD’s half of the pitch.
There were late efforts from UCD to try and grab a point, as Daire O’Connor curled an effort just over and the Students continued to cross the ball into the Youths’ box with the hope of grabbing an equaliser, but that was all in vein, as Wexford hung on for what could be a title winning victory.
The win means that if Shane Keegan’s men can repeat tonight’s victory over UCD against the same opposition at the UCD Bowl next week and Finn Harps lose to Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park the next day, Youths will be champions.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle (C); Craig McCabe, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, Ryan Delaney; Andy Mulligan (Paul Cahilane 72), Peter Higgins (Chris Kenny 87), Shane Dunne, Conor Whittle (Eric Molloy 62); Aidan Keenan, Danny Furlong.
Subs Not Used: Gavin Dowling, Conor English, Willie Tyrell, John Peare.
Yellow Cards: Keenan (15, 90+3).
Red Cards: Keenan (90+3).
UCD: Niall Corbet; Michael Leahy (Adam Harney 85), Maxi Kougoun, Tomás Boyle, Ryan McLaughlin (Eoin Kirwan 82); Chris Mulhall, Gary O’Neill, Robbie Benson, Jamie Doyle; Daire O’Connor, Conor Cannon (Dylan Watts 71).
Subs Not Used: Conor Mackey, Sean Coyne, Daniel Tobin, Jason McClleland.
Yellow Cards: O’Neill (56).
Red Cards: None.
Referee: John McLoughlin.
Attendance: 603.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Aidan Keenan (Wexford Youths).
