Finn Harps

[ForzaForth]

Early concession of two soft goals meant that there was always going to be one winner in Ballybofey tonight on a very treacherous pitch. With Packie suspended, Wexford began with Sean, Mark, Murt, Karl, James, Ben, Danny, Shane N., Shane D., Deano and Darragh up front on his own. Harps started well and got a low cross into the box from the right after two minutes but nobody got on the end of it. Five later, McHugh was left unclosed down about twenty out and he drilled a low shot to give Sean no chance for 1-0. Second goal a minute later was very soft when two Wexford defenders let the ball passs between them and the winger hit it under Sean's dive for 2-0 to the home team.

[ForzaForth]

After twenty, Darragh had a good shot blocked away for a corner and then Wexford conceded two more goals before half-time to leave them with only pride to play for in the second half. For the third, O'Mahony was again unimpeded as he took a cross shot from twenty-five out and it hit the inside of the far post and nestled in the onion sack for 3-0. Deano then looked to be taken down inside the box but the ref. didn't give the peno. With ten to go, Wexford conceded their fourth, and the one which Sean will be most disappointed with, when he couldn't keep out a low skidder on the slippery pitch for 4-0 at half time. Murt had a reasonable header from a corner just before the blow but couldn't keep it on target.

[ForzaForth]

The Youths brought on Tom (their only sub) at the start of the second for Shane D., who looked to have aggravated his thigh strain. Playing a more direct gameon a pitch where defenders were regularly slipping, the Youths to their credit put in a good shift during the second forty-five, and the only criticism you could make of the second half performance was that they didn't take enough of their chances to make the game interesting. Harps supporters could no doubt claim that they simply took their foot off the gas. After five, Ben crossed from the right but Darragh just couldn't reach the ball to slide it into the empty net. The Harps nine then picked up a yellow for a tackle. With ten gone, Ben turned onto a cross from the lively Tom and steered it home from inside the box for 4-1 to the home side. After fifteen, Danny bounced a shot off the Harps keeper after a good run and after twenty-five, Ben was put clear on the right but hit his shot straight at the Harps keeper. The Harps right winger then beat two coming in from the right but put a curling effort just wide.

[ForzaForth]

With ten to go, Tom had a good move along the end-line but his shot was turned away for a corner. With five to go, a mistake between the Harps defender and keeper let Ben have a first-time shot on a bouncing cross but he lifted it over the bar from about eighteen out. The final few minutes allowed the ref to give Karl a yellow for dissent. Best for Wexford on a difficult night, especially during the first half, were Danny and Shane N., with Tom giving Harps plenty of problems when he came on although he may give fouls away a bit too cheaply. 4-1 at full time with the bottom of the table decider against Salthill next week in Ferrycarrig. Best for Harps were McHugh and a lively number nine.