Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Topsy-turvy game in Ferrycarrig tonight which went one way and then the other before being finally decided by a delightful finish by the excellent Gareth Coughlan of Shels. With Danny fit again, Youths went with Graham, Craig McC., Gary, Lasty, Jimmy, Eric, Craig W., Peter, Andy and with Rocks and Danny up front. Youths had a good early chance after two minutes when Andy latched onto a bad back pass by Shels, but he kept the shot low and Murray in the Shels goal was able to block it away. Otherwise, however, Youths were surprisingly listless for most of the first half and really lost the game for this poor spell. On ten minutes, Philly Hughes nearly scored from a long throw-in which dropped to him, but it was just deflected away for a corner. A minute later, Danny Furlong had a header just wide from a Youth's corner. On 11 minutes, Shels went ahead when they had a break down the right and the low cross was finished well by Gareth Coughlan for 1-0 to the away side. On 19 minutes, Youths gave another bad goal away when they gave the ball away inside their own third, and it was drilled home by Coughlan with the benefit of the strong favourable wind for 2-0 to Shels. With 23 minutes gone, Shels nearly made it three when the winger cut inside and had an effort on target, but Graham in the Youth's goal managed to block it with his legs for a corner.

[ForzaForth]

On 24 minutes, Danny had a volley on target but Murray got down low to save. On 38 minutes, Robinson for Shels felt the effect of a bad clash of heads and came back on after a few minutes, but he soon fell to the floor again and was substituted. The Wexford revival began on 41 minutes when Danny had a flashing near-post header just wide. Then, with two minutes to go in the half, Danny set up Andy Mulligan after a successful robust challenge in midfield by Craig Wall, and Andy managed to slide it home past the onrushing Murray to make it 2-1 to Shels at half-time and with the Youths happy enough to go in only one behind. Second period began with another early goal by Andy who bobbled it home after Shels failed to deal with a long throw by Craig McCabe, and the match was now back to all-square at 2-2. Youths were looking the more likely to go on and win but, after 12 minutes, Gary Delaney got his first yellow for a high foot which made contact with Mark Sandford. Coughlan clipped the top of the crossbar with the resulting free. Yellow cards then followed for Craig Wall and Philly Hughes. On 20 minutes, Danny had a turn and a shot but it was saved by Murray. With 24 gone, Gary Delaney got his second yellow for a pull-back on Philly Hughes just outside the box to bring the Youths down to ten. Even though it was a tight angle, the resulting free for Shels went just over the bar.

[ForzaForth]

A Shels attacker then put a free header just wide from ten yards out after a good cross from the right. With ten to go, a nothing ball fell to Gareth Coughlan about four yards outside the penalty area. He pulled it onto his left to beat the first Youths defender and then chipped it with his left to the far corner to give Graham no chance and 3-2 for the away side. Conor English than came on for Jimmy as Youths went for the equaliser, but apart from a bad miss by the ref when Murray handled outside the box, the Youths couldn't find the chance to leave it 3-2 to Shels at full-time. Best for Wexford were Peter Higgins and Craig Wall in midfield and Andy Wall for his two goals, while Coughlan was outstanding for Shels together with Doyle in midfield. Special mention also for Philly Hughes who, when the ball did fall to him, managed to use it well in the difficult windy conditions. 3-2 to Shels at full-time with about 400 at the match.