Dundalk (EA Sports)

[ForzaForth]

As the scoreline suggests, clinical finishing by the home side meant that they ended up easy winners in Oriel tonight against a Youths side who might have been feeling the effects of the long trip to Ballybofey on Friday. Youths started with Graham, Craig, Killian, Lasty, Shane N., Eric, Craig W., Eric, Dunny, Adam, Ben and with Danny up front. First 20 minutes or so was all Dundalk with Wexford not having the technique to tackle a pitch which demands precision in passing. Ward was looking dangerous for Dundalk during this period although Graham in the Youth's goal didn't have a lot to do. Wexford won't be happy with the concession of the first goal, however, when a simple far post corner found Griffin in acres of space and he buried it top corner for 1-0. Griffin then prodded the ball wide when put through with a pass behind Shane Nolan. On 38 minutes, Lasty picked up a yellow for a tackle. Then a couple of minutes before half-time, Dundalk got the second killer goal, when Ward was fed with a quick free-kick and he chipped it delightfully past the advancing Graham for 2-0. As the Youths had hardly troubled Sava in the Dundalk goal during the first period, it was hard to see a way back for the Youths at 2-0 to Dundalk at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

Dundalk took a long time to get going in the second period, and Eric had two attempts early on on goal, but both went wide. On 15 minutes, Dunny got a yellow for a tackle. Midway through the half, Wexford nearly got the goal back which the game needed when Craig Wall and Ben forced Sava to save with his legs in quick succession. But that was as good as it got for the Youths. On 25 minutes, Graham made his first save of the second half when he pushed away a decent Dundalk effort on target. Then, in the last fifteen minutes, Dundalk got two similar goals, with two nicely weighted passes behind the Youth's back four which were finished neatly on both occasions. Right on the 90 minutes, McMillan made it five with a cracker from 25 yards out which gave Graham no chance for 5-0 to Dundalk.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were those who could best kill the lively ball such as Danny and Duxey Dunne, while Eric had the engine around the pitch which matched the home players. Killian and Lasty also did nothing wrong in the middle of the back four despite the scoreline. Dundalk's technique, however was much superior and their fitness levels also looked better than the Youths, who I would always regard as one of the fittest sides in the first Division. 5-0 at full-time.

[nigel-harps1954]

Would imagine they were absolutely destroyed after a very high tempo match in Finn Park. A lot to ask of them to play those two matches in the space of three days.