Finn Harps

**ForzaForth** · 27/09/2013, 9:24 PM

Deserved win for the Youths tonight in Ferrycarrig tonight as they looked far the busier of the two teams and created problems for a porous-looking Harps defence with the power of Daragh and Graham up front. With Rocks and Crokey suspended and Joey still injured, Youths started with Graham, Craig, Gary, Robert, Shane, Eric, Brian, Donal, Danny and with Daragh and Graham up front. Harp's problems in the defence started immediately when they couldn't deal with a long ball over the top, and Graham set up Daragh who gave Gallagher no chance in the Harp's goal after three minutes. The advantage was doubled on eight minutes, when Daragh got the ball in the box to his feet with his back to goal, was allowed turn and skip past a few half-hearted tackles to plant it past Gallagher again for 2-0 to the Youths. First Harp's effort came after 12 minutes, but Graham managed to get down low to his left to gather the shot in easily. Harps were looking dangerous from any set-pieces, however, and on 17 minutes, a free-kick from just outside the box whistled past the right-hand post with Graham beaten. This was followed on the half-hour by a Harp's free header from a free which just went over the corner of the Youth's goal. With ten to go in the half, Craig's long throw was headed out to Gary Delaney who volleyed it just wide with Gallagher struggling. With two minutes to go in the half, Harp's threat from set-pieces created dividends when again they won a free header from a corner and the ball bounced down from the cross-bar and either went in directly or was tapped in for a goal for McMonagle to bring it back to 2-1. Half-time whistle went soon afterwards for 2-1 to the Youths at half-time.

**ForzaForth** · 27/09/2013, 9:36 PM

Patsy came on for Robert at the start of the second-half and slotted in in the middle of the back four for the Youths. With three minutes gone, the Youths restored their two-goal advantage when a cross from the left by Shane found Graham alone in the box and his header hit off the bottom of the cross-bar and in for 3-1. On ten, Harps had another free header which went well wide. On 15 minutes, Clarkey came on for Danny for the Youths. A minute later, Graham tapped the ball between the two Harp's central defenders and gave them a yard start but still got to the ball first and was then pushed over by Cowan who got a straight red to bring Harps down to ten. The resulting free-kick from just outside the box by Daragh was pushed round the post by Gallagher with good reflexes. Remainder of the game was pretty dead but Daryl came on with fifteen to go and almost immediately scored when he was put clean through but Gallagher did really well to get a hand up and deflect the shot round the post for a corner. Harps then nearly scored from a bad back-pass by the Youths but the shot from a very acute angle hit the outside of the post and wide. Daragh then tried to get his hat-trick when he tried to lift a bouncing ball over Gallagher, but the Harp's keeper just managed to get a finger to it to deflect it away. Patsy got a late yellow and whistle went soon afterwards for 3-1 to the Youths. Best for Wexford were Daragh and Graham up front while Gary did really well in the middle of the back four. The Youths won virtually all the fifty-fifties round the pitch and deserved the honours on the night. Would say only 120 in attendance including season tickets.