Cork City (Friendly)

After two practice matches against Carlow IT and Carlow's Oscar Traynor team, a reasonable degree of encouragement for Youths supporters from the friendly against Cork tonight at Youghal's excellent facilities.
Wexford started with about five new faces (marked *) with Graham Doyle* in goal, Mark Phelan, Murt Kehoe, Karl Keogh, Shane Clarke*, Alan Wren*, Shane Nolan, Shane Dempsey, Brian Nolan* (Shane's twin, ex Waterford), Sean Corcoran* and Danny Furlong up front on his own. The Youths went ahead with the first real attack of the match, when Danny nodded on a hopeful ball, leaving Brian Nolan (?) with a clear run-in on goal and he slotted it low inside the left hand post.

Cork, however, equalised soon after when Daryl Horgan broke free down the left and his low cross found a Cork forward free who tucked it home nicely for 1-1. Shane Nolan then hobbled off with what looked like an ankle injury and was replaced by another new face, an impressive Eric Molloy. After fifteen, Cork scored an identical goal to the first when another break down the left was slotted neatly home again by a Cork forward in the clear. Danny then picked up a yellow for a tackle. Wexford, howver, dominated the final 15 minutes with Shabe D. shooting just over, Danny having a shot parried by the Cork keeper and Murt scooping over a good chance from a corner when running free towards the near post. 2-1 to Cork at half-time.

Patsy Malone and two more new players, Thomas Croke and Arnie (?) came on for Murt, Shane D., and Alan Wren at half-time. The second-half was generally poorer than the first probable due to the substitutions. Cork started the half the brighter and Graham pulled off a good save early on to prevent a one-on-one by a Cork forward. A minute later, a shot from twenty out by another Cork forward went just over. After fifteen, Wexford had a great spell when they won two consecutive headers from a corner but McNulty (?) clawed the second one away. Wexford then tested him again with a shot which was pushed away for another corner and, from that corner, Wexford again produced another header aiming for the top corner but McNulty did well to push it over for yet another corner but nothing came of that which was surprisingly taken short by Wexford.

Game them meandered along until the final fifteen when Cork had a good spell which started with Graham pushing away a good Cork effort and the left-winger from Cork just unable to steer the rebound home. Karl Keogh then got in a good blok from a corner and this resulted in a Cork peno. when a Wexford defender got too tight onto the Cork attacker who went over. Graham was just unable keep the spot-kick out for 3-1 to Cork. The last action of the match was another Cork shot which hammered off the underside of the crossbar and stayed out for a final score of 3-1 to Cork. Best news of all is that Graham Doyle looks an ideal replacement for Packie in goal. Shane Dempsey had a good first half, Danny played well over the full ninety, while Shane Clarke, Brian Nolan and Eric Molloy looked the best of the newcomers. Patsy then had a tremendous second half after coming on as a sub.

Major worry would be the extreme youth of the Wexford team this year with, I would guess, virtually nobody who played today over 25 and many closer to 20. However, new manager Shane Keegan seems to want the team to play the ball on the ground a bit more. 3-1 to Cork at full-time.