Galway

[ForzaForth]

Hasn't been much between these two sides this year and so it proved again in Ferrycarrig tonight with the Youths prevailing in the tensest of finishes. Wexford began with Graham, Craig, Gary, Lasty, Killian, Peter, Eric, Duxey, Andy and with Ben and Danny up front. Youths started the first period well but fell away a bit thereafter. After four minutes, Andy was put through but Hanley in the Galway goal had to win two tackles to get the ball away to touch. On ten minutes, Molloy got a good cross in for Galway but the oncoming Galway forward flicked it well over the bar. Chances were scarce at this time with both sides giving the ball away very easily. On 27 minutes a long Galway throw was partially cleared to just outside the Youths box and the returning volley hit the side netting. Lasty then had a free header over the bar from a Youth's free-kick.

[ForzaForth]

On the half-hour, Danny was put through on goal but was called just off-side. With ten to go, Galway should have scored when Graham pulled off a double save - the second while sitting on the ground when a decent chip off the rebound would have found the net. With a minute to go in the half, Graham pulled off another save with his legs to keep the score at 0-0 at half-time with a Galway forward coming in at an angle and Gary Delaney picking up a yellow in the process. Not the greatest of halves with both sides looking as if they didn't want to concede. Second half was delayed by about ten minutes due to problems with getting the lights working. Youths had to up their game from the first period, did so and made it count on the scoreboard. After four minutes, Ben Ryan had a volley on target but it gave a comfy save to Hanley. Five later, good work by Danny set up Eric but his shot was deflected for a corner. With 15 gone, Graham pushed away a point-blank header for Galway and immediately, someone set Andy away down the left with a neat pass, who moved forward and crossed it low for Danny to rifle it home first-time for 1-0 to the home side. Andy then had another effort but it was ruled out for offside. Youths had probably the three tallest players on the pitch with Lasty, Gary Delaney and Killian and the aerial threat resulted in a second for the Youths when a far post corner was headed home by Killian for 2-0 on 65 minutes.

[ForzaForth]

To their credit, Galway came alive in the last 20 minutes to try and rescue the game. Graham had to do well to push away two efforts in quick succession and then Keegan latched onto a through ball to knock it past Graham for 2-1 and 15 minutes to go. Craig Wall then came on for Ben with ten to go and late Galway subs were Shanahan and Cunningham. Although Galway applied decent pressure, they didn't really force Graham to save during the last few minutes to leave the score at 2-1 to the Youths. Best for Wexford were Graham in goal and Duxey Dunne who had a stormer in midfield while Lasty marshalled well at the back. Andy was well-marked by Galway's Horgan but did enough to create the first goal for Danny. Thought Galway missed Conneely at the back while Keegan and Molloy were the best of their forwards. 2-1 to the Youths at full-time with about 300 at the match. Thought there might be more.