Shamrock Rovers

[ForzaForth]

Deserved win by the Youths in Ferrycarrig tonight as Rovers never looked likely to solve the set-up established for the home team by manager Shane Keegan. With Danny Furlong injured, Youths went for the expected 4-5-1 with Graham, Craig, Gary, Ryan, Aidan, Eric, Duxey, Jonny, Hopper, Andy and with Spot Murphy up front. Game began at a slow pace with Rovers dominating possession, but Rovers looked ponderous at the back and, on twelve minutes, Eric Molloy took the ball off the last Rovers defender but shot wide with only Hyland to beat. Then, a minute later, Gary McCabe had a shot on target but Graham Doyle pushed it away. On the quarter-hour, Rovers had a good break down the left but nobody was able to get on the end of the low cross. Midway through the first half, Youths went ahead when Gary Delaney won a brilliant tackle to dispossess a Rovers defender deep inside his own half, and his cross found Andy Mulligan inside the Rovers box who beat Hyland for a 1-0 lead for the Youths. On 24 minutes, Graham pushed away a good Gary Shaw effort on goal. Eric Molloy then got round Hyland in the Rovers goal, but had no angle to deal with. On the half hour, Eric Molloy again dispossessed the Rovers last defender, but his finish against Hyland was poor. With five minutes to go in the half, Rovers headed wide from a free and just before the half, the useful Clarke of Rovers came off his wing but pulled his shot a yard wide for 1-0 to the Youths at half-time, a deserved lead for the Youths based on the chances coughed up by the Rovers defence.

[ForzaForth]

You expected Rovers to change formation at the start of the second period but they persisted in trying to find Gary Shaw in the air where he was extremely well-martialled by Gary and Ryan Delaney. Youths had a decent effort in the first five minutes, when best player on the pitch, Spot Murphy, set up Eric Molloy but his shot hit the net-pole. Eric then picked up a yellow for a tackle and followed it with a volley but it was pulled well wide of the goal. On 23 minutes. Graham Doyle pushed a Rovers effort on target over the bar for a corner. Two minutes later, Duxey Dunne was sent free down the right, and his low cross was met by the only player on the move inside the Rovers penalty area, Hopper Kenny, who tucked it past Hyland was 2-0. Game looked safe for the Youths then as Rovers had the look of a side who could have been there all night without scoring. Andy Mulligan had a run in on goal after Rover's Webster collapsed to the ground off the ball but Andy could only shoot over. Two late Rovers efforts on goal then finished the match with late subs for Youths being Speedy Whittle, Lasty and Danny Ledwith.

[ForzaForth]

Best for Wexford was Spot Murphy who gave the Rovers defence a torrid time all night and is now unrecognisable from his North End days. The midfield five of the Youths dominated the midfield with Jonny Bonner again impressive while Ryan and Gary Delaney enjoyed the upper hand against a lone Gary Shaw. Only Dean Clarke looked anything like a threat for Rovers who were disappointing on the night. 2-0 for the Youths at full-tine with a healthy looking 850 or so at the match including a good away crowd from Rovers.

[nr637]

What was the attendance like and how many Shams fans roughly?

[ForzaForth]

Official attendance was 912. Difficult to assess number of Rovers supporters but I would guess around 250.