Wexford FC v Longford

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Late Conor Barry goal secured the three points in Ferrycarrig tonight against Longford which Wexford’s overall performance richly deserved. Helped no doubt by a slick pitch, Wexford put in probably one of their best home performances of the season. Wexford started with Alex, Frieler, Paul C, Luka, Conor C, Conor D, Jack, Adam, Dinny, Jordon and Harry. With Wexford taking up a 4-3-3 shape, Longford probably started the better although Conor Davis had an early chance for Wexford which was blocked away for a Wexford corner. From 18 minutes in, however, Wexford began to play some lovely football and it started when Frieler was put clear down the right but lifted over the Longford bar from close in. Immediately after that chance, Wexford had another glorious opportunity when Conor Davis poked the ball past Dennison in the Longford goal, but the final Longford defender was able to clear before the ball crossed the goal-line. With a few minutes to go in the half, a great Wexford move put Jack Doherty clear but he steered the ball wide of the Longford post. Jack Doherty then followed this up by a speculative flick which went a yard or two wide of the Longford far post. 0-0 at half-time with Wexford well on top.

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The second half was a much more even affair and had all the goals. On five minutes, Longford had a shot which smacked against the Wexford crossbar and bounced back into play. With 25 minutes gone, Alex Moody in the Wexford goal stretched really well to keep out a good effort by former Wexford player, Eric Molloy. Within minutes, Wexford had won a corner where the ball fell to Luka Lovic close in and he stabbed the ball home for 1-0 to the home side. With sixteen minutes to go, Longford were level, when two of their players were left free at the far post, and Longford sub, Karl Chambers, was able to force the ball home after his initial shot rebounded back to him. 1-1 at this stage. With about twelve minutes to go, Wexford manager, Ian Ryan, brought on Aaron Dobbs and Conor Barry and, shortly afterwards, Len O’Sullivan. These freshened up the Wexford attack and, just at the end of the ninety minutes, Wexford’s Conor Crowley was sent free down Longford’s left, and his inviting cross to Longford’s far post found Conor Barry in the right place and his cushioned volley beat Dennison to give Wexford the three points which their performance over the ninety minutes merited. Very late Wexford sub was Luke Scanlon. Good performances all over the pitch from Wexford with stand-out performances from quite a gallery including Luka Lovic, Harry Groome, Dinny Corcoran, Adam Wells, Paul Cleary, Conor Davis and Conor Crowley. Crowd was reported to be 335.