Athlone

[ForzaForth]

Absolute cracker of a match in Ferrycarrig tonight and perhaps the Youth's best performance of the season as they come out on top in a match where they were a man down for almost an hour. With Shane and Rocks suspended, Youths started with Graham, Brian, CJ, Jamie, Corkey, Joey, Patsy, Caolan, Glenn, Deano and Danny up front. Game started quietly enough on a wet pitch and, after five, Danny got a shot away but about a yard wide. A minute later, Danny was put through at a slight angle and his effort was pushed away by the useful Jennings in the Athlone goal. With eight gone, Athlone went ahead with their first effort of the match when O'Mahony chipped Graham with a lovely effort from 25 out giving him no chance for 1-0 to the away side. With 16 gone, Caolan picked up a yellow for a tackle and two more yellows followed for the away side in quick succession. After 22, Joey had a flashing shot parried by Jennings and Danny finished it skilfully with a pirouette and a scoop to the far post for 1-1. Four later, Caolan picked up either a straight red or second yellow when he left the ground again into a tackle and was always going to go for a player already on a yellow. Think it was his first start and probably too eager to make an impression. After the half-hour, Woods came on for Rushe for Athlone who limped off. Wexford then finished the half on a real high as Athlone couldn't handle the Youth's pace on the break.

[ForzaForth]

With ten to go, Joey picked up the ball just inside the Athlone half, beat a couple of defenders and hit a lovely controlled effort inside the top left-hand post for 2-1 to the Youths. With two to go in the half, Danny made it 3-1 when he picked up the ball from a throw-in, hit a speculative low effort from thirty out which skidded along the surface and beat Jennings inside the right-hand post for 3-1. Even playing with ten men, Danny then had two more chances before the break, one being a one-on-one with Jennings who did well to keep the effort out and the half ended with 3-1 to the home side after a great display from the home side despite being a man down.

[ForzaForth]

Second half began with two subs. for Athlone, including an impressive Jordan Conroy up front. Athlone then picked up another yellow and, after six minutes, Graham had to push a decent Athlone effort round the post for a corner. Athlone then got another yellow for obstruction and, on sixteen minutes, Deano was put through coming in from the right but shot wide when he may have had Glenn free inside him. Joey then picked up a yellow for the Youths for a tackle. Midway through the half, Eric came on for Glenn who limped off with what looked like an ankle injury. Around this time, the loss of a player seemed to kick in for the Youths as Athlone came more and more into the game. This was reflected in a second goal for Athlone when a cross from the right found Dunne for Athlone in loads of space and he buried it for 3-2. Another Athlone yellow followed for a tackle on Danny and with fifteen to go, a good Athlone move was ruled out for offside.

[ForzaForth]

Two minutes later, Athlone were awarded a peno when Graham, CJ and an Athlone attacker all collided together - difficult to call from where I was - but Graham saved the shot which was pretty central and low to keep the game at 3-2. Woods then collected a second yellow for another tackle to even the teams to ten apiece. Crokey and Tom came on for Deano and Danny at this point. Right on the ninety, Graham had to come out to take the ball at the feet of an Athlone attacker and the ball then transferred to the other end where Eric was sent clear and he clinically finished with a lovely dink from a tight enough angle to bring the game to 4-2 for the Youths. A good claim by Graham from a decent Athlone effort right on the end of the five minutes of injury-time then finished the match for a spirited performance by the Youths which merited the three points.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford in a match where the effort never dropped during the ninety minutes were probably Danny, Joey and a majestic Patsy, but everybody worked their socks off to negate the loss of Caolan and the team got a standing ovation from the supporters at the end. Maybe 220 including season tickets.


Finally, congratulations to Limerick on the title - best team for me and well-deserved. Was hoping it might go to our trip to Jackman, but not to be.

[cornflakes]

Looks like we will finish in fourth, which is a great improvement on last year even in a weaker division. Was that the target set my Keegan at the start of the year?

I think if we keep this squad together we can push on next year and be in contention for promotion (in an even weaker division!). If we keep Furlong, Keenan, Mulcahy and Elms we will have more goal threats then most.

Be nice to add a few more Wexford lads to the squad too

[ForthandConquer]

Sounds like one of our best matches of the season, was raging to have missed it!