North End v Pike (FAI Junior)

Deserved win by North End in Wexford today in a match played in a near-gale. Pike started with the wind and began strongly. However, the Pike defence looked in some discomfort all day and North End should have gone ahead after six minutes when the ball was scooped over from close in after a far-post header from a NE corner. On fifteen minutes, the Pike keeper did well to push away a NE effort in the swirling wind. With 25 gone, the excellent Paul Murphy put NE ahead when he was left in loads of space in the Pike box and slotted home. Ten later, Murphy nearly scored again when he lifted the ball over the Pike keeper but it was cleared off the line for a corner. A long-range free by Pike nearly crept in at the far corner but Walker in the NE goal was able to push it away for 1-0 to NE at half-time.

NE had the wind in the second period and nearly scored after two minutes when Murphy drilled an effort a foot wide. Little goal-mouth action then until 28 minutes when Walker did well to push away a Pike effort for a corner. From that corner, Pike equalised when a Pike forward was allowed drift towards the near post unmarked and he finished neatly for 1-1. NE had been troubling the Pike defence for most of the match and, with seven to go, NE scored again when a nice move down the right put ex-Youth Warren Broaders in the clear and he crossed for another ex-Youth, Kyle Dempsey, to knock it home from twelve yards out to make it 2-1 to NE. Pike didn't look like equalising again and game finished at 2-1 scoreline for NE. Best player on the pitch was ex-Waterford, Paul Murphy, who looks as if he should be playing at a much higher level while Robin Dempsey, who was briefly cross-channel, also looked a useful defender, particularly on the deck. Pike looked strong with the ball in their opponent's half but seemed to have gone back compared to their last visit to Wexford two years ago. About 350 at it, I would reckon.