Wexford FC v Kerry

[ForzaForth]

Wexford got out of jail more than a bit in Ferrycarrig tonight as, with an hour gone and after a very disjointed performance, they were two goals down and in serious trouble. But after some needed substitutions and a man-of-the-match game from Wexford captain, Ethan Boyle, the home side somehow secured the three points. Wexford started with Owen, Ben, Ethan, Brandon, Eoin, Dobbsy, Corban, Kian, Cian, Luke and Thomas. The omens weren’t great from the start as, on three minutes, Wexford were deemed to have breached the backpass rule to give Kerry a dangerous indirect free. The free was partly blocked by the Wexford wall and then cleared. Wexford were playing three up front and always looked a player or two light in midfield. It showed on nine minutes when Amechi got the ball about 30 yards out with nobody from Wexford really closing him down. He unleashed a bullet to the top left corner of Wexford’s net and Kerry were a goal ahead. Wexford’s first chance on goal came on 15 minutes when a Kerry defender backheaded the ball onto his own crossbar, but nobody from Wexford was following up and the chance was cleared. Amechi then worked another chance on 23 minutes when beating two Wexford defenders but hit it well over the Wexford bar. With Kerry’s Williams controlling the skies at the back for Kerry, it was only when Wexford could get the ball to Eoin Kenny’s feet on the left that the home side looked in any way dangerous. After 20 minutes, Kenny had a dangerous shot deflected for a Wexford corner and on 40 minutes, Kenny had another effort easily saved by Axworthy. A mistimed header by Thomas Aluwa for Wexford then finished the half with Kerry being the neater side and Wexford looking to be stuck in the wrong gear. 0-1 to Kerry at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Start of the second half saw Darragh Levingston coming on for Wexford. On three minutes, Thomas Oluwa had another headed chance but put it wide while Kerry then managed three shots in quick succession all of which were adjacent to Owen Mason’s goal. The overload by Kerry of the midfield then showed again when a good Kerry effort from one of their midfielders again tested Mason who could only parry it, and Amechi stuck home the rebound for 2-0. You couldn’t see a way back for Wexford at this stage, but on 61 minutes, man-of-the match Ethan Boyle headed home a long throw by Wexford’s Cian O’Malley which may have travelled further than the Kerry defence expected for 2-1. On 23 minutes, Aaron Dobbs had a good chance while Danny Furlong came on for Wexford. With about fifteen to go, Dobbsy got the equaliser for Wexford when he latched on to a ball headed back across goal from close in for 2-2. Two minutes after that, Wexford won a peno when Danny Furlong got the first touch to the ball inside the Kerry area before the onrushing Axworthy, and the latter was deemed to have fouled Furlong and a peno awarded. Furlong despatched the peno comfortably to give Wexford the lead at 3-2. Further subs for Wexford were Aaron Doran, Luka Lovic and Max Kelly. Kerry had a late chance to equalise again at the end of the game, but a free header at Wexford's far post was put wide of the Wexford post. So 3-2 to Wexford after more than a bit of a scare. Best for Wexford was Boyle who got the first goal and supplied the attacking option down Wexford’s right wing all evening, while Eoin Kenny supplied some good touches up front. Crowd was believed to be 572.