Uncomfortable viewing as the home side copped a hammering from UCD in Ferrycarrig this evening, particularly in the second half. With Ross Kenny suspended and Aaron Dobbs still injured, Wexford started with Kealan, AJ, Owen, Sean Kelly, Sean Hurley, Mark, Mikey, Dean Kelly, Ryan and with Shane Barnes and Dean George upfront. From the start, UCD began a very patient passing and possession game, and Wexford, working hard, managed to win the ball in the UCD half four times in the first ten minutes, one of which led to a Ryan Nolan drive which was tipped over the bar by Kearns in the UCD goal. Unfortunately for the home side, UCD then scored with their first attack of the game on 15 minutes from a corner when Scales of UCD rose unchallenged to smack a header home. Dean George of Wexford then had a good run and shot but it was well over before Gaffney in the Wexford goal blocked a goal-bound shot from UCD with his legs. As the game wore on, Wexford became less capable of preventing UCD from playing, and UCD got their second goal when a break down the right let a UCD attacker unleash a shot which hit the post and came out, and Mahdi knocked home the rebound for 2-0. Scales then nearly scored from another header from a UCD corner to leave UCD two up at half-time.
Wexford had a brief decent spell at the start of the second half and could have scored when a dangerous cross from the right was met with afresh air and a tame shot. However, on 18 minutes, UCD got their third when Gaffney pulled off a really good save butthe rebound was volleyed home by McClelland. The floodgates then opened with McClelland getting a second, an easy finish for O’Neil and a Mahdi header all following in quick succession to bring it to 6-0. A short barren period followed before UCD followed up with two more goals – an O’Neil volley and McClelland’s hat-trick for 8-0 as Wexford looked gone both mentally and physically. Ryan Nolan and Danny Doyle then both attempted to secure a consolation goal for Wexford but neither could test the UCD keeper to leave it at 8-0 to UCD at the end. As the scoreline suggests, a troubling night for Wexford but the important game this weekend was the Cabinteely game not this one. Maybe 120 at the game.
Looked like a big gap between the two sides tonight - UCD looking fitter, physically stronger and technically better. Even though we both played on Friday, UCD looked fresh as a daisy. First goal was a killer - Wexford had done well up till then and UCD hadn't troubled Gaffney in the Wexford goal at all. Once the third goal went in, Wexford fell away badly. We actually had some good play at times up to the UCD penalty area, but from there on we could do nothing. I'd say that we missed Aaron Dobbs more than you missed Georgie Kelly. We're just looking at this stage at getting any places we can away from second from bottom.
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