Collinstown (Leinster Senior Cup)

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For anyone interested, it's planned to have an audio commentary on tonight's semi-final of the Leinster Senior Cup at the usual link.


www.mixlr.com/wexfordyouths

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Remarkable game in a damp Ferrycarrig tonight as the introduction of Wexford "reinforcements" from the bench eventually swung the tie in Wexford's favour against a talented and well-organised Collinstown side. Wexford started with nine changes from the XI which started against Shamrock Rovers and went with Matt Connor, Owen McCormack, Conor O'Keeffe, Stephen Last, Danny Ledwith, John Peare, Duxey Dunne, Eric Molloy, Speedy Whittle, Paul Brennan and with Conor English up front. From the start, it was obvious that Collinstown were well-organised as they let Wexford have the ball amongst their back four, but put on pressure as soon as the ball passed over the half-way line. It was Collinstown who looked the more dangerous throughout the first half and they bossed the first period in terms of chances. On seven minutes, Colinstown had a free header from a corner at the far post, but it was headed up in the air, and Matt Connor came out to grab it. On 15 minutes, Colinstown had a dangerous cross to the near post, but the final touch wasn't clinical enough and the chance went abegging. On the half hour, Dylan Clarke got through for a one-on-one with Connor, but the latter made himself big and conceded only a corner. Collinstown then had a shot which was deflected just wide of the post for a corner. From that corner, the ball was knocked short to McNeill, the right full for Collinstown, who switched it to his left foot, and when you thought he had no chance of keeping it on target, he drilled one low inside the right hand post to put the away side deservedly 1-0 up at half-time. Wexford had hardly troubled O'Connor in the Collinstown goal throughout the first half.

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Second half began with the Youth's Conor English getting the ball in the Collinstown net, but it was ruled out for offside. Then, on five minutes, Collinstown's McKeever lobbed the ball to the far post which gave Matt Connor no chance to put Collinstown 2-0 up. Some goal if he meant it. On eight minutes, Youths again got the ball in the net from a corner, but it was ruled out for a push. On 13 minutes, Eric Molloy got a goal back for the Youths when he lifted the ball over the head of the advancing Collinstown keeper to bring the tie back to 2-1. First teamers Jonny Bonner, Andy Mulligan and Aidan Friel then came on in quick succession for the Youths, and it was the quality of the Bonner-Mulligan axis, in particular, which swung the tie in Wexford's favour. With twelve minutes to go, Matt Connor had to react quickly off his line to prevent a Collinstown shot on goal. With six minutes to go in the tie, Dean Ebbe for Collinstown got a straight red for a deliberate flailing elbow. With three minutes to go of the ninety, Eric Molloy brought the game back to parity when he planted a header home at the far post for 2-2. On the ninety minutes, Matt Connor in the Youths goal got a straight red for bringing down a Collinstown attacker inside the box. Outfielder Danny Ledwith donned the goalkeeper's jersey for the Youths, and he got down really well to block away Matthew's penalty for Collinstown to keep the tie at 2-2. 2-2 at full-time and 30 minutes extra-time now required.

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Youths looked the fresher in extra-time and you expected that they might prevail. On ten minutes, Andy Mulligan found Conor English free inside the Collinstown box, but his shot went just wide of the post. Collinstown then had a corner to the near-post against Danny Ledwith in the Wexford goal, but the header went just wide of the post. Ledwith then had a good catch from a decent Collinstown effort, before O'Connor in the Collinstown goal got down low to save a snap-shot from Eric Molloy. 2-2 after the first 15 minutes of extra-time. Second period of extra-time saw Youth's Duxey Dunne put a dangerous shot across the Collinstown goal, after which Matthews for Collinstown got on the end of a dangerous Collinstown break, but he shot just over. Conor English then had another chance on goal but shot just wide. With the fourth official holding up a sign for one minute of added time, the out-ball to Andy Mulligan wide left worked again and his low cross into the Collinstown box found Eric Molloy who slotted home for his hat-trick to put Wexford 3-2 ahead after a dramatic 120 minutes. Best for Wexford was Eric Molloy who worked really hard all night and deserved his hat-trick, while Jonny Bonner and Andy Mulligan, when they came on, provided the quality to break down a resolute Collinstown defence. Special mention also for Danny Ledwith whose quality penalty save kept the tie alive. 3-2 to Wexford after extra-time who now go forward to the final.