Wexford FC v Athlone (Play-Offs)

[ForzaForth]

As expected, very small margins between two remarkably even sides, but an avoidable penalty in the first leg coupled with Wexford’s inability to score over two legs ended Wexford’s interest in the play-offs at the semi-final stage for the second season in a row. With Ethan Boyle believed to be suspended, Wexford started with Conor, Darragh, Divin, Kian, Thomas, Dobbsy, Mark, Luka, James, Lewis and Sean. Wexford’s keeper, Conor Walsh, had to get down low to save from Athlone’s Kyle Robinson in the first minute. Wexford found it hard to create any chances early on and it took until the 17th minute for a Wexford effort on goal to be blocked by an Athlone defender. A minute later, Wexford’s Kian Corbally and Luka Lovic collided with Kian Corbally looking to suffer concussion and having to be replaced by Conor Crowley. With Athlone’s midfield doing well to close down their opponents and German Fuentes doing really well with a marking job on Aaron Dobbs, it took Wexford until 33 minutes to fashion a really clear-cut chance, but when Wexford’s dangerman, Thomas Oluwa, created space down Wexford’s left, the ball eventually was fed to Dobbsy in space inside the Athlone area, but he dragged his shot just wide of the Athlone post. Thomas Oluwa then had a shot saved low down by Enda Minogue in the Athlone goal before Kyle Robinson had a curling effort a yard wide of Wexford’s post. 0-0 at halftime.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford continued to find it hard to make inroads into the Athlone defence at the start of the second half and, on 15 minutes, Mikie Rowe was introduced by Wexford. Shortly afterwards, Luka Lovic lobbed a shot over the Athlone bar when well placed. Athlone then had a blaster from well out which touched the top of the Wexford crossbar but apparently got a touch from a Wexford player on the way as a corner was awarded. Kaylem Harnett then came on for Wexford and immediately offered a threat as he stabbed a shot under Minogue's body which was cleared off the Athlone line before crossing. Kaylem then followed that up with a shot which Minogue was forced to clear with his legs and another effort which trickled close to Athlone’s goal-line but stayed out. As the game entered injury-time, Divin Isamala had a header which just touched the outside of Athlone’s post. So, 0-0 at fulltime and Wexford exit at the semifinal stage. Crowd was reported to be 1,251.