Athlone Town (Replay)

Wexford Youths are not charging an entrance fee for the replay of the league match against Athlone on Tuesday, 9 June.

Very productive spell early in the second half secured the three points for the Youths tonight but game was closer than it showed on the scoreboard as Athlone had one of those 90 minutes where they looked as they could have been there all night before they'd get the ball in the net. With Gary Delaney suspended, Youths went with Graham, Craig McC., Lee, Lasty, Jimmy, Conor, Craig W., Peter, Andy and with Rocks and Danny up front. First half wasn't great as both sides struggled to manufacture decent chances. On five minutes, Conor English had a volley from a long throw by Craig McCabe for the Youths. Athlone then managed two chances but both proved to be only routine saves for Graham Doyle in the Youths goal. Game then went into a long fallow period until the half-hour mark when a cross from the right was headed just wide at the far post by an Athlone attacker. A minute later, another long throw by Craig McCabe fell to Craig Wall, but his half-volley was about a foot wide. Wexford then finished the half well, when Athlone picked up a yellow for a tackle on Craig Wall just outside the box. Danny' free-kick hit the outside of the net with the Athlone keeper scrambling a bit. With seven to go in the half, Athlone had another free header but again it was directed straight into the arms of Graham in the Youth's goal. Wexford then went down the pitch and Andy won another free for the Youths just on the 18 yard line. This time Danny kept it low and inside the post but the Athlone keeper managed to scoop it round the post for a corner. Youths nearly scored from the corner but Andy Mulligan's effort was blocked and the half finished with a yellow for Lee Grace for dissent. 0-0 at half-time after a half which had only come alive for the last 15 minutes.

First ten minutes of the second period was also uneventful, and then Athlone thought they had a shout for a peno when Jimmy Dermody, as last defender, eased Chindea away from the ball inside the Youth's penalty area. Two minutes later, the hugely hard-working Rocks Keenan turned with the ball inside the Athlone half and managed to put Conor English away down the right, and he finished well inside the left-hand post to put the Youth's one up. Two minutes later, Craig McCabe had another long throw and this time it was faster and flatter and Rocks won a touch in the air to leave an Athlone defender looking into his own goal with the ball flying past his nose. He put his head on it and it flew into the top corner for 2-0. Game then died a bit and, on 28 minutes, a rare Athlone effort on target was pushed away by Graham at a nice height for a corner. On the half-hour mark, Athlone should have scored when the ball was allowed travel a long way across the Youth's goal, but the Athlone winger at the far post could only hit the post and away when he had half the goal to aim at. Quigley then got a yellow for a tackle for Athlone and, on the 90 minute mark, an Athlone forward had an athletic flick at a cross but again it went just wide. Athlone also managed some moon shots during this last twenty minutes when well-placed so game could have been much closer than it was. Craig Wall picked up a yellow for a tackle on the 90 minute mark, and very late subs for Wexford were David Doyle and Paul Brennan, the latter's first appearance I think.

Best for Wexford on the night were Peter Higgins and Craig Wall who largely dominated midfield while Lee Grace was back to form in defence. Up front Rocks won wondrous amounts of ball in the air, but nothing fell to the other forwards on the night. For Athlone, Shortall did well at the back and Chindea out wide, but they failed to do the business in front of goal. Attendance, with free entry, looked to be about the 600 mark. 2-0 to the Youths at full-time. With Drukie Drohan, Craig Comerford and Jonny Bonner recently left and six (including Jonny) going to Korea in a few weeks, Youths could do with a few new signings in the transfer window.

Johnny Bonner left youths?

Nigel

Seems so. Graham Doyle announced him as "gone" and gave him, Drukie Drohan and Craig Comerford his best wishes in his programme notes for the Shelbourne game. Jonny is reported to have gone back to Donegal after the end of term in IT Carlow, and then he's going to Korea, so if he does come back at all, it will only be in August at the earliest.

Johnny is a good player, never really hit the right form at Harps though. Deserves a good shot at LOI football.