Wexford FC v Dundalk (Cup)

Following an excellent performance, Wexford will be disappointed not to be in the hat for the next round as they did more than enough to win the tie in the ninety minutes in Ferrycarrig this evening. Manager Ian Ryan, who deserves great credit, went with a 4-5-1 with Alex, Eoin, Paul, Joe, Luka, Conor C, Len, Adam, Jordon, Harry and with Ger Shortt up front on his own. With only one up front for Wexford, Dundalk had a lot of possession but struggled to create any real chances in an even enough first half. First Dundalk effort on the Wexford goal came on fifteen minutes but Alex Moody in the Wexford goal wasn’t unduly troubled to collect it safely. On 18 minutes, Wexford shouted for a handball peno by Dundalk but a corner was given instead. On 26 minutes, Ger Shortt had Wexford’s first real effort on target, but Shepperd had only a relatively easy save to make. Harry Groome then had a great chance for Wexford but Shepperd showed great reflexes to keep it out. Then, with a few minutes to go in the half, Dundalk went ahead through McMillan when the ball was crossed from the left by Dundalk and then fed back into the Wexford area from the right where McMillan was able to finish. Dundalk a goal ahead at half-time after a very even first half.

If Wexford had shown only limited attacking ability in the first half, they ran riot with chance creation at the start of the second period, and some more clinical finishing would probably have put the tie to bed. As Dundalk’s high defensive line proved so easy to beat with the simple ball over the top, it led to a number of chances for Wexford’s Adam Wells, Ger Shortt and Luka Lovic, with Shortt and Lovic able to finish to put Wexford deservedly ahead by two goals to one. A break down Dundalk’s left wing then enabled Dundalk to equalise at 2-2 with a far post finish. Harry Groome then had a good chance to put Wexford into the lead again but put it over the bar before Alex Moody in the Wexford goal managed to keep out a free Dundalk header right at the end. 2-2 at the end of ninety minutes.

In extra-time, Dundalk probably looked the fresher of the two sides, and although Harry Groome had a volleyed chance which went straight at Shepperd, it was Dundalk who were awarded a peno when a tired Wexford tackle went in midway through the second period of extra-time. This was converted by Benson for Dundalk who got through at the end but the Premier Division side will certainly know they’ve been in a game. Subs for Wexford as the game progressed included Conor Davis, Aaron Dobbs, Thomas Considine, Dinny Corcoran and Mitchell Byrne. 567 was apparently the recorded crowd although there looked to be more.