Wexford FC v Cork City

[ForzaForth]

Wexford put in a decent effort in Ferrycarrig this evening in a combative game, but two sparkling goals from Cork’s Cathal O’Sullivan made the difference and Wexford probably didn’t deserve to concede a third goal from former player, Jack Doherty, in injury time to make it 3-1 at the final whistle. Wexford began with Alex, Darragh, Ben, Ethan, Mikie, Kian, Thomas, Dobbsy, new loan signing Lewis Temple, Sean and Reece. Cork won a corner in the third minute but remarkably it led to Wexford taking the lead as the ball fell to Thomas Oluwa for Wexford on the break with only one defender back for Cork. Thomas had the pace to beat the final defender and crossed low for Dobbsy to finish past Wade for 1-0 to Wexford. Cork looked quicker round the pitch as you’d expect and it caused problems for the home side the whole night as Wexford gave the ball away at times a bit too easily. On nine minutes, Cork’s Dijksteel had a shot a yard wide and then, five minutes later, O’Sullivan got the equaliser for Cork when he volleyed acrobatically home from well beyond the far post when a Cork cross looked to have been hit too long. 1-1 at this stage. Cork dominated much of the game for the remainder of the half but didn’t really threaten Alex Moody in the Wexford goal with the Wexford keeper only having to make a few routine catches. A late shot from Cork’s excellent Greg Bolger which went a yard wide finished the half and it was 1-1 at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Second half was only three minutes old when Cork took the lead again through Cathal O’Sullivan. Wexford’s defending was too slack as O’Sullivan got past two Wexford defenders wide right and he curled a shot into the top left corner from well out the pitch to make it 2-1 to Cork. Dijksteel then had a good chance following a Cork corner but couldn’t keep it on target and Wexford brought on Mark Hanratty and Kaylem Hanratty as substitutes both of whom made a difference for the home side. With half an hour gone in the second period, a good Wexford set-piece caused difficulties for Wade in the Cork goal but a free was given to the away side for a collision with the Cork keeper. Just after Cian Curtis became the final sub for Wexford, Mark Hanratty used his trickery down the left wing to put in an inviting cross to Cork’s far post but it was just too high for the lurking Aaron Dobbs. Then in injury-time, the ball was worked free down Cork’s left-wing, and Jack Doherty, after having come on as a sub, made it 3-1 for Cork with a low shot inside the far post. 3-1 to Cork at fulltime. Crowd was believed to be 593.