North End v Liffey Wanderers (FAI Junior)

Excellent game in Ferrycarrig today although North End will feel slightly aggrieved that they didn't do better on the scoreboard as they looked the better all-round team for lengthy spells during the game. The pitch was again lively and there was a strong breeze blowing towards the dressing-room end. Liffey got a throw-in right in the first minute and it came with the wind into the NE box at a rapid pace where Andrews reacted the quickest to stab it home from a few yards out for 1-0 to Liffey. NE took their time to get into the game but improved as the half went on and were unlucky to go in at the end of that half a goal behind. On 20 minutes, NE's excellent Shane Dempsey found Adam Beary wide left but he blazed over from a tight angle. NE followed this with a couple of crosses into the Liffey box but nothing came of them. Jay Murphy then shot over for NE with 25 minutes gone. Everyone knows that Shane Dempsey has some dig on him, and on the half hour, he managed to connect with a volley wondrously from 30 yards out which the Liffey keeper did really well to keep out. It was hit so well that it was a reaction save! Kevin (?) Roche then had to limp off after a 50-50 tackle with Paul 'Spot' Murphy of NE. Right on the blow, Liffey who had retreated a fair bit as the first half went on, had their first shot on target for quite a spell when Lee Walker in the NE goal had to grab twice at a Liffey free-kick. 1-0 to Liffey at half-time with NE unlucky to be going in one down.

NE started well in the second half and, on two minutes, NE's Nobby Kearney shook off a Liffey defender and smacked a volley off the far post with the Liffey keeper beaten. Key moment of the match then occurred on the fourth minute when the best player on the pitch, Liffey's Aidan (?) Roche got taken down for a penalty for Liffey. However, it was hit at a nice height for Lee Walker in the NE goal who managed to push it away comfortably enough for a corner. However, NE committed the cardinal sin at that corner to let Aidan Roche run unimpeded towards the near post and he planted the ball home with a header to put Liffey two up. On eight minutes, Kyle Dempsey came on in place of Warren Broaders and the new NE substitute did well enough from then on to pose the question that he probably should have started. NE pressed forward well for the remainder of the half without threatening to score as the excellent Liffey keeper managed to gather virtually everything that came into the box. With 25 minutes gone, Liffey had a rare break to make it 3-0 but Lee Walker got down to save. NE continued to press and Shane Dempsey had a chance with his left but dragged it wide and Decky Downes for NE headed over at the far post. With three minutes to go, a Shane Dempsey effort which was blocked by a Liffey defender was called a handball just outside the Liffey box. Shane Dempsey smacked it home with the Liffey keeper stranded on the other side of the goal for 2-1 but with virtually only injury-time left. In the last minute of injury-time, a Liffey defender nearly headed the ball into his own net, but it flew about a foot over the top right corner of the goal to give NE only a corner. That corner didn't beat the first defender and Liffey came out narrow winners on a 2-1 scoreline. NE were a credit to football in Wexford and might have done more if they had got their first goal earlier in the game.

Best for Wexford were Paul Murphy and Shane Dempsey while Kyle Dempsey also impressed after coming on at the start of the second half. Liffey have a wonderful player in Aidan Roche up front, a useful defence and a brilliant keeper but the conditions may have limited what they could do otherwise . Match seemed to be played in a great spirit which was also a credit to both sides. Probably 1,000 or eleven hundred at the match.

Feck..must be fairly disappointing from a Youths perspective to see over 1,000 at this match while only 350 or 400 watched the first team play a top of the table clash.

Nigel

North End have a very big junior set-up and would have a substantial support in Wexford town. This was their biggest match of the season, with the possibility of a final in the Aviva, and it would draw everybody to it. Good away support from Liffey as well.

I'd say our crowd against Harps was affected by the move to Saturday and the earlier start, but even on a Friday, it wouldn't have drawn more than 500-600 at a guess.