Wexford FC v Athlone Town
Almost insane conditions for football in Ferrycarrig tonight with a near hurricane blowing straight across the pitch but in which Wexford showed their continuing improvement as they deservedly secured the three points against Athlone. Wexford started with Corey, Paddy, Hopper, Sean, Darragh, Danny Doyle, Crokey, Ryan, Emmet and with Jack Doherty and Danny Furlong up front. The game came down to who could do anything creative in the terrible conditions with any aerial ball generally heading straight out of play. Athlone looked the neater team in the first half but it seemed slightly the easier to play towards the dressing-room end. Kaleem Simon for Athlone got the first shot away after about 20 minutes but it went yards wide. On 25 minutes, Wexford got their first passing movement together and it led to the first goal as the excellent Paddy Cahill for Wexford sent Danny Doyle free down the right and his low cross was slid home by Danny Furlong for 1-0 to Wexford. On the half-hour a last-ditch tackle by one of a very capable Wexford defensive quartet prevented a certain Athlone goal. With seven minutes to go in the half, Dean George of Athlone went down in the Wexford area but nothing was given. Wexford’s Jack Doherty then shot a yard over the Athlone bar and it ended 1-0 to Wexford at half-time.