Two hours of life that’ll never be got back but Wexford will be happy with the point which they probably would have settled for at the beginning of the game after a match in which both sides found it hard to trouble the opposing keeper. Manager Damian Locke gave Mikey Byrne, Dean Kelly and AJ Lehane their full debuts (AJ may have played for Wexford in previous seasons) and started with Corey, Craig, Ross, Owen, AJ, Dean, Crokey, Eoin, Mikey, and at least nominally Danny and Adam up front. Eoin Porter had a low shot after about three minutes but it proved an easy save for Corbet in the UCD goal. It then took about 80 more minutes before Wexford had another threatening effort on goal. After five, Corey Chambers tipped a UCD free over his own crossbar for a corner. The game then settled down with UCD dominating possession but their build-up was generally so slow that Maxi Kuougun in the UCD back four probably had more touches than any other player on the pitch. Whenever Wexford did get the ball back they lost it again far too easily and the UCD slow build-up would recommence. UCD had two more efforts on 18 and 20 minutes one of which was deflected for a corner. With nine minutes to go in the half, UCD managed a defence-splitting pass but the College midfielder lifted the ball over both Corey Chambers and the Wexford crossbar. Wexford were probably thinking of their half-time cuppa at this stage as they coughed up two more chances before the interval – a UCD chip to the far post which went a foot over and a shot from the wing which clipped the outside of Wexford’s post and away. 0-0 at half-time.
If the first half was bad the second half was even worse in entertainment terms as Wexford continued to work hard to prevent UCD creating any chances. On 50 minutes, Corey Chambers got down smartly to keep a low shot by Georgie Kelly out of the net. The referee then flashed a couple of mysterious yellow cards for fouls which were not pulled up at the time. Aaron O’Connor came on for Wexford and Power for UCD, the latter making a difference by injecting some pace into UCD’s game. On 80 minutes, Liam Donnelly came on for Wexford and had Wexford’s second chance a minute later when UCD lost the ball in their own third and he blasted a left-footed effort two feet over the top left-hand corner of the goal. With four minutes to go, UCD looked like they had to score when an attack down the left led to a low cross which left the Wexford defence for dead, but three UCD attackers couldn’t get the final touch from about four yards out. Duxey Dunne was a late substitute for Wexford and game finished on 0-0 scoreline after 90 minutes of fairly unremitting mediocrity.
Wexford will be happy to remain unbeaten in three games with Adam Hanlon, Ross Kenny, Owen McCormack and Thomas Croke being the best of a battling home side. Believe the attendance was 289.
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