Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Tense and cagey affair in Ferrycarrig tonight in which a draw was probably a fair result. Wexford started with Graham, Craig McCabe, Gary, Lasty, Killian, Shane D., Peter, Craig Wall, Eric, Andy and with Danny up front. With both sides resolutely playing 4-5-1 chances were at a premium throughout. Wexford started the better and after two, Danny dispossessed a Shels defender on the touchline, drove on towards goal but pulled his shot wide. On five minutes, Murray in the Shels goal dropped a cross under pressure from Eric and Andy's shot was deflected for a corner. Then, on 14 minutes, with their first attack of the match, Shels scored when a cross into the Youth's box found O'Sullivan all on his own and his header went past a stranded Graham for 1-0 to Shels. Two later, a cross from Andy found Danny free but it was just too high for him and he headed over. A long-ball from Wexford then found Danny in the Shels area with his back to goal, but his flickwent over. On 22 minutes, Shels had another good effort on target but Graham managed to push it away. With ten to go in the half, a trademark long throw from Craig McCabe was almost headed into his own net by a Shels defender. This was followed by a few more similar throws from Craig, but generally Shels were able to get them away. 1-0 to Shels at half-time with the Youths a bit unlucky to be behind.

[ForzaForth]

Wexford began with a better tempo in the second period and it quickly paid dividends. The key was getting Andy more on the ball and this he did after two minutes, when he beat two Shels defenders and won a corner. That corner went long to the far post where it fell to the feet of Killian who switched it to his left and stabbed it home for 1-1. Willo McDonagh had come on for Sullivan at half-time for Shels. Wexford then looked the likelier to go ahead as they applied pressure on the Shels goal particularly in the air. However, on the hour mark, Shels got a good chance to go ahead when a cross to the far post found the incoming Shels winger, but he couldn't cope with the angle and knocked it about a foot wide of the post. Russell and Murtagh then came on for Shels as subs. With ten to go, Danny was sent free down the left after Craig Wall had won the ball in midfield but Danny's left-footed effort was blocked by Murray for a corner. Shels then had a good spell when they applied some pressure and won a few corners but nothing came of them.

[ForzaForth]

Then, on the 90 minute mark, Andy had a run at the Shels defence but pulled his shot wide. Right in the last of the three minutes of injury-time, a deflected corner fell to Gary Delaney in the Shels box whose shot hit the shoulder of the advancing Murray and away to leave the score at 1-1 at full-time. Best for Wexford were probably Shane Dunne and Peter in midfield while Andy again looked to be the key which might unlock the Shels defence. Thought Wexford passed the ball a bit aimlessly across the back four at times, particularly during the first half, but probably due to space being at a premium as the ball was moved forward. For Shels, thought their two fulls looked best but undoubtedly they missed Tinnelly, Connolly and Murtagh going forward. 1-1 at full-time with about 420 at the match.