Finn Harps

[nigel-harps1954]

Is there any form of radio or live updates outside of Extratime for you lads?

[ForzaForth]

Nigel-Harps, The only other updates of Wexford's home matches that I am aware of are on Twitter at either Wexford Youths or Wexford Youths Official.

[nigel-harps1954]

That's cool so. Thanks ForzaForth

[ForzaForth]

Eventful match in Ferrycarrig tonight as two late goals for the Youths put a comfortable gloss on a match which had, for long periods, been a bit of a struggle for the home side to break down Harps who played with ten for 85 minutes and with nine from midway through the second half. Youths started with Graham, Mark, Jamie, CJ, Jimmy, Craig (playing unusually wide right), Patsy, Shane N, Aidan, and Tom and Danny up front. First action of the first half was after three when McGowan got an early yellow for a tackle on Danny going up the left wing. After five, McHugh and CJ both tussled for a ball inside the Wexford box after which CJ stayed down. Lino called the ref over who produced a straight red for McHugh. As CJ was holding his ribs for a good while afterwards, I can only guess that McHugh was considered to have made illegal contact with CJ on the floor. Harps went 4-4-1 and, after 12, Craig headed the ball over the advancing Gallagher in the Harps goal but couldn't reach it again before it was cleared. Immediately afterwards, Danny had a header which was touched over the bar by Gallagher for a corner.

[ForzaForth]

However, even with ten men Harps were able to play some neat football and, after 16, a good Harps cross from the left was volleyed over by a Harps forward in the clear but stretching slightly. Tom then got a yellow for a tackle and, with 25 gone, the Youths had four corners in a row with Harps looking suspect at each of them but nothing came of them for the home side. Mark then picked up a yellow for a tackle and, with seven to go in the half, Shane Nolan got a low shot away but Gallagher got down low to grab it. Harps best chance of the half then came when a cross from the left found a Harps forward in the clear about twelve out just beyond the far post but his first-time effort was stabbed just wide. With two to go, McGinty picked up a yellow for Harps with a pull-back on Shane Nolan. Right on the blow, Wexford's best chance fell to Craig with a clear run-in on goal from the right but he scooped his shot wide with Gallagher advancing. Nil-nil at half-time and Wexford making it look like hard work against ten other than when getting the ball into the air in the Harps box.

[ForzaForth]

Second half started with CJ going off and James Scallan coning on. After three, a Harps player headed a Harps shot just over the bar and Craig had a header from a corner pushed round the post by Gallagher. Patsy then had an effort saved easily by Gallagher and followed it with a header which went just over the bar. With Craig having switched to midfield, the Youths had a better shape but you'd still reckon that their first goal was going to come from a header. Half-way through the second half, Curtis came on for Harkin for Harps and Shane Dempsey came on for Shane Nolan for the Youths. Immediately Wexford got the goal when Mark put a cross in which Tom Elmes, found free, headed into the top left corner to give Gallagher no chance for 1-0. Just after, Clarke got a straight red to bring Harps down to nine for something off the ball when standing close to Jimmy Dermody. As Jimmy neither went down nor sought treatment, it must have been fairly innocuous but it was called by the lino standing a few yards away. With fifteen to go, Harps obviously decided to give it a go with the nine, and Graham had to pull off a really good save to keep out a speculative 40 yard effort from Harps. Harps then got a corner which arrived at the near post and the Harps forward effort was deflected over the bar for another corner but nothing came of it.

[ForzaForth]

However, Harps commitment to go forward left loads of space at the back and each breakdown by Harps lead to good Wexford chances which fell to Aidan, Patsy, and then Aidan again, but none was converted. However, with five to go, the next chance fell to Danny who makes one-on-one with the keeper look so easy and he coolly finished for 2-0. Two later, Aidan got another chance of a run-in from the left and this time he found the far post low down for 3-0. Late sub. for Youths was Corkey for Tom.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford on the night were Jimmy, Craig when he went to midfield and Aidan. Hard to judge Harps on the night but they definitely looked suspect to the ball in the air while Youths passing was very laboured at times. About 220 at it.