Longford

[ForzaForth]

Eventful game in wet Ferrycarrig tonight as Longford came out 2-1 winners with Wexford playing for 75 minutes with ten men although Gillespie also got a straight red late on for Longford. Youths started with the same XI as against SD with Graham, Brian, Jamie, CJ, James, Shane N., Shane D., Patsy, Aidan and Danny playing behind Tom up front. Longford started very well and had a succession of corners with the Youths hemmed in by Longford's excellent passing game. After five, Graham made a good save with his legs to save from the Longford's right winger. After ten, Shane N got a yellow for a tackle. With fifteen gone, Danny got a staight red for dissent when he didn't get a free after being knocked over. Looked very harsh in my view. With half the first half gone, another good defensive block saved a certain goal for Longford and after 25, Longford grazed the top of the crossbar with a shot from 25 out.

[ForzaForth]

With fifteen to go, a weak defensive header was drilled home by Purdy, possible with the aid of a slight deflection from a central position just inside the box. However, two later, Wexford surprisingly got the equaliser when the ball hopped up and hit a Longford defender's arm for the ref. to give another harsh decision. Shane Dempsey hit the peno. comfortably to the keeper's right with Longford keeper going the wrong way for 1-1. With ten to go, Patsy got a yellow for a tackle and then Graham pushed a shot away which was cleared by a Wexford defender. With two to go in the half, Tom was put clean through but he shot over with only the advancing Longford keeper to beat for 1-1 at half-time. Just on the blow, Aidan got yet another yellow for Wexford for a tackle.

[ForzaForth]

Longford started the second with the impressive Michael Lee coming on or Purdy but the first twenty were fairly quiet with Longford doing most of the pressing. However, Longford then got the second when a cross from the left went beyond the far post to be knocked back to the unmarked Bermingham who had an easy finish from ten out for 2-1 to Longford. With twenty to go, Longford should have gone two ahead but a comfortable volley from twelve out was put over the bar. Deano came on for Shane Nolan at this stage and again like last week did well for his spell. Wexford applied a bit of pressure at this stage with a couple of corners but nothing came of them. Thomas Croke came on for Patsy and with seven to go, Gillespie got a straight red for leading with his elbow into a challenge but again it looked harsh to me. CJ then got a yellow but Youths couldn't get an equaliser with the few minutes remaining with Tom getting a yellow for dissent right at the end. The last action was a corner for Wexford but it was surprisingly taken short when it should have been smacked into the box for 2-1 final score to Longford. Best for Wexford were the battlers like CJ, Patsy, Shane D. and Tom who worked hard up front. About 280 at it.