Wexford FC v Waterford

[ForzaForth]

Wexford will be disappointed with not getting anything out of the game at the RSC tonight after pushing Waterford very hard with their best performance of the season, particularly in the second half. In excellent conditions, Wexford began with Hunty, Paul C, Lorcan, Adam, Conor C, Conor D, Frieler, Harry, Len and with Aaron and Dinny up front. Wexford appeared to start the game in containment mode with the wing-backs dropping back early to create a back five. However, the critical refereeing decision of the game came as early as the seventh minute when Waterford won a corner which the Wexford defence headed cleanly away. Without anyone from Waterford appealing, referee Toland awarded a peno to the home side. Couldn’t see anything untoward from where I was. Patterson despatched it confidently and the Blues were a goal ahead. Waterford’s Shane Griffin then had a shot which whistled just over the Wexford bar. With Aaron Dobbs beginning to boss the Waterford defence, Wexford got more into the game and Dobbs and Harry Groome both had good efforts on the Waterford goal. With 21 minutes gone, Wexford’s Conor Crowley blasted home a free-kick from just outside the Waterford penalty area and it was 1-1. It was fairly even from then until just before half-time when Patterson controlled a tame Waterford shot inside the Wexford area and turned to give Hunt no chance. 2-1 to Waterford at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

If Waterford were a touch the better side in the first half, it was Wexford who largely controlled the second half as they managed to pin Waterford back for lengthy periods due perhaps to the away side having dominance in midfield where they picked up a lot of dirty ball. Hunty in the Wexford goal did, however, have to get down well to prevent a Waterford break from notching a third and then stretching low to stop Wordsworth of Waterford scoring. But otherwise it was Wexford who looked more like getting their second goal as Lorcan Fitzgerald curled a free narrowly side, Dinny Corcoran clipped the outside of the Waterford post after a nice turn in the box, and Wexford sub, Thomas Considine, heading against the Waterford crossbar with a reflex header from close in. Wexford also had a shout for a peno of their own when Dobbs was brought down by Murphy in the Waterford goal, and the only question is whether Murphy got a touch of the ball first. Other Wexford subs were Evan Farrell and Joe Manley. 2-1 to Waterford at full-time with best for Wexford being O’Sullivan, Dobbs, Crowley, Cleary and Davis.

[trevy]

Fair summary of the game there. You were unlucky not to get a point from it. We were hanging on for the win in the end.

[ForzaForth]

Cheers, Trevy. Looking at the highlights just now, the early Waterford peno is a correct decision. It was put away by Junior not Patterson. I'm told that our shout for a peno in the second half was correctly not given.