Galway (EA Sports)

[ForzaForth]

Cracker of a cup-tie in Ferrycarrig tonight and eventually won by the Youths on a penalty shoot-out. Youths kept only four of the eleven which started in Tallaght (Graham, Lasty, Shane Dunne and Ben) and went with Graham, Craig McCabe, CJ, Lasty, Ryan Delaney, Daryl, Ricky, Shane D., Rocks and with Ben playing behind Daragh up front. First 15 had little of note and then Galway put in a good cross into the box and Youths defence cleared for a corner after a scramble. Youths continued to give the ball away too cheaply during this half and, after 25, Galway's Jake Keegan had a difficult volley on the run which he hit over the bar. Four minutes later, Gary Shanahan cut in from the right for Galway but Graham got down to save. Quiet enough then until just before half-time when the impressive Shane Dunne beat three Galway defenders down the left and found Ben Ryan inside the box whose shot was parried away by Gleeson. Daragh hit the rebound over the bar but was called offside in any event. 0-0 at half-time with Galway's better passing giving them the better of the half.

[ForzaForth]

Second half began with Galway still dominating and, after ten, Derek O'Brien hit a curling shot just beyond the far post and wide. A minute later, O'Brien should have least got a good chance on target when found inside the Wexford area, but he scuffed it wide. With the hour gone, Danny and Eric came on for Daragh and Daryl and immediately improved Wexford's game. However, Galway still looked dangerous in attack and Graham had to block another O'Brien effort away and then O'Brien curled another effort just beyond the far post and wide. O'Brien was substituted at this point by Jason Molloy and much of the Galway threat down the left wing disappeared as a result. Game really opened up at this point but neither side could score, the nearest being a Galway shot deflected just wide of the post with Graham going the wrong way for a final score of 0-0 at full time with Galway being the stronger. Craig Short had come on for Ben with eight minutes to go in the game.

[ForzaForth]

First period of extra time was uneventful when out of the blue, Kenneally for Galway who had been virtually faultless left a header well short back to Gleeson allowing Danny to knock it past the stranded Galway keeper for 1-0 to the Youths. With four to go in the first extra period, Ricky drilled a 35 yard shot which Gleeson found difficult to push away and it left Wexford at 1-0 with the first extra 15 minutes gone. Second period started with Eric getting a ludicrous yellow for an alleged handball after it smacked him straight in the ribcage. With four gone, Galway had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside. A minute later, a Wexford break saw Eric set up Craig Short for a clear run in on Gleeson, but the latter was able to save with his legs. Then with seven minutes to go, a cross from the right by Galway was prodded home by Horgan to bring the match to 1-1. In the final minutes, Graham managed to block a great Galway effort to bring the match to penos.

[ForzaForth]

Galway went first in the penos but missed the first when Horgan saw his low effort pushed away by Graham. Danny, Rocks and Eric all converted for Wexford and than Faherty saw his peno saved by Graham. Craig McCabe then put his chance to win the game over the bar and Jake Keegan notched the final Galway pen. Last one for Youths was comfortably put away by Shane Dunne to give the Youths the semi-final spot on a 4-3 penalty scoreline. Huge effort by all the Wexford lads but you'd have to mention Graham's shot-stopping, Lasty in defence with CJ not far behind and Shane Dunne in midfield. Galway looked best going forward with Shanahan and O'Brien very threatening down the wings, Gleeson very solid in goal and Kenneally very imposing but for that one error. Wexford through on penalties with about 250 at the match. Credit also to the Galway supporters who travelled midweek for the match.