Shelbourne

[ForzaForth]

Very decent win for the Youths in Ferrycarrig tonight as, although they changed half their side, they proved much too strong for Shelbourne in a competitive tie before a crowd of 1,035. youths started with Graham, Craig McC., Ryan, Willie, Jimmy, Eric, Craig W., Hopper, John Peare and with Conor English and Danny up front. Youths started well against a Shelbourne side who posed a threat down the wings but who looked hesitant in defence all night. On three minutes, Danny had a shot deflected for a corner and then, a minute later, Eric had a left-footed effort which curled just past the far post. On nine minutes, Youths had a corner and Shelbourne let the tallest player on the pitch, Ryan Delaney, have a free header at the far post which he despatched for 1-0. Shels then had a good spell and, on sixteen minutes, Eric cleared a Shels effort off the line acrobatically just before it crossed. Youth's Jimmy Dermody then picked up a yellow for a tackle. Youths came back into the game around the half-hour mark when Conor English stabbed the ball home from close in for 2-0 for the home side. A dominant Hopper Kenny then ran from the half-way to set up Danny who slid the ball home but the linesman flagged the latter player for offside. With 36 minutes gone, Willie Tyrell deflected a good Shelbourne effort over his own bar for a corner and, two minutes later, Craig Wall was brought down inside the Shels box for a peno. However, the usually reliable Danny struck it too close to Murray in the Shels goal who managed to push it away. 2-0 to the Youths at half-time with the home side dominating all the 50-50s and looking much quicker around the pitch.

[ForzaForth]

Second half started fairly quietly with Youths happy to sit on their lead and Shels not really looking likely to score. First decent chance of the second half fell to Hopper Kenny on 66 minutes who hit the Shels post with Murray beaten when put through by Craig Wall. Then, on 71 minutes, a Shels header grazed the outside of Graham Doyle's post but went wide. On 78 minutes, a cross by Shels travelled all the way to the far post and in with Graham undone by all the traffic in front of him to bring the score back to 2-1. It was the Youths who finished the stronger and, on 83 minutes, Danny had a free header for 3-1 following a cross by an impressive Conor English before Speedy Whittle, who had just come an as a sub, notched another when the Shels defence gave him a gift of the ball, and he managed to round Murray in the Shels goal before poking it into the empty net for a final score of 4-1. Other late subs for the Youths were Andy Mulligan and Duxey Dunne.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford were Ryan Delaney and Jimmy Dermody at the back, man of the match Hopper Kenny and Craig Wall in midfield, and Conor English up front who showed why he should have got more game time over the course of the season. 4-1 to the Youths at full-time. Division 1 trophy and medals were presented to the team on the pitch at full-time. Adult season ticket prices for next year were confirmed in the programme at 175 euros.