Waterford

[ForzaForth]

Result tonight was better than the performance as Wexford struggled to put away a very game Waterford side in the RSC. The Youths had to thank the predatory instincts of Danny Furlong to ensure that they came away with the three points. With Rocks, Duxey Dunne and Willie suspended, Youths went with Graham, Craig McC., Gary, Lee, Ryan, Peter, Andy, Craig W., Eric, and with Paul Cahilllane playing behind Danny up front. Seemed to be very breezy on the pitch but Youths started well and, after a minute, Andy had a turn and a shot which went a yard wide. On seven minutes, Eric Molloy nearly put Danny through on goal, but Connor in the Blues goal was able to come out and grab it. Game then became of a ho-hum variety as neither side did much although Lee Grace had a good tackle to prevent a Blues effort on goal following a break. On 21 minutes, the Blues had a free about 30 yards out but it went a yard over. Then, somewhat out of the blue, Youths went ahead when they won the ball in midfield, and it was put through a large gap between the two Waterford centre-halves, where Andy was able to run onto it and put it low to Connor's left for 1-0 to the away side.

[ForzaForth]

Youths then didn't press home their goal advantage, however, and on 33 minutes, the Blues won a penalty when the excellent Cory Galvin ran at pace into the Youth's box where he went over and the ref. awarded the spot-kick. Didn't seem to be much contact but I was a good bit away. Galvin slotted the peno low to Graham's left to bring the score to 1-1. Youths were conceding more possession than they would have liked at this stage and both Eric and Craig picked up yellows for tackles as they tried to prevent the Blues bringing the ball into the final third. 1-1 at half-time. The Blues had an early chance in the second period as, following a good passing movement, the ball was whipped to the far post where O'Connor for Waterford headed wide when he might have done better. On seven minutes, the Youths won a free just outside the Waterford box for a push on Eric Molloy with a yellow for Ethan Boyle. Danny then whipped the resulting free over the wall and low into the corner to beat Connor to put the Youths ahead at 2-1. The Youths again seemed to fall out of the game and, after ten minutes, Graham had to come out to dive at the feet of Cory Galvin to deny a goal-scoring opportunity. Then, two minutes later, a Waterford shot was deflected into the path of Pender for the Blues, who lifted it over Graham to bring the score back to 2-2.

[ForzaForth]

Just over the hour mark, Chris 'Hopper' Kenny came on in place of Craig Wall for the Youths, probably to avoid the latter picking up a second yellow. Game could have gone either way at this stage, although Danny had an effort from an angle which Connor managed to push around the post for a corner on 65 minutes. Danny then got a yellow for a tackle, and Speedy Whittle came on in place of Paul Cahillane with 15 minutes to go. With twelve to go, the hard-working Ethan Boyle got a second yellow for a tackle on Eric just outside the box and the Blues were down to ten for the remainder of the match. Connor in the Blues goal just about pushed the resulting free by Andy over his own bar for a corner and, from that corner, Danny headed over when he jumped in front of the Blues keeper. With the man advantage, Wexford had the freedom to hold onto the ball, and with eight minutes to go, a shot into the Blues box was deflected into Danny's path who rifled a left-footed volley past Connor to bring the score to 3-2 for the Slaneysiders. Credit to Waterford, they tried hard to get a third equaliser and Galvin had a run and shot which went straight into Graham's hands and a Blues volley about a yard over in the minutes which remained before the ref put an end to the nerves of the Youths fans with a 3-2 scoreline to Wexford.

[ForzaForth]

John Peare was a late final substitution for the Youths. Best for Wexford were Danny up front although he looked isolated at times, Peter Higgins who had a stormer in midfield and Lee Grace at the back. For Waterford, Cory Galvin was outstanding while Ethan Boyle worked hard before being sent off. 3-2 to Wexford at full-time.