Wexford FC v Kerry

[ForzaForth]

Important game for the two teams as both needed the three points but it ultimately resulted in a point apiece at a cold Ferrycarrig Park this evening. Wexford started with the same XI as began against Harps and went with Paul, Max, Evan, Adam, Dean, Mikie, Zayd, Jamie, Liam, Dylan and Jake. Overall, Wexford looked the more fluent side in the first half although neither team was really able to work the opposing keeper to any meaningful extent. In the first minute, Wexford’s Max Murphy put in a good cross which Halwax managed to grab with some difficulty. After an early yellow for Dean Larkin, Mikie Rowe had a good run and shot for Wexford but it went a yard wide of the Kerry goal. On twenty minutes, Max Murphy had a good effort on the Kerry goal but again it went just wide of the target. As the half progressed, Jake Doyle had a left-footed shot which also went over the Kerry crossbar and followed it up with another effort which Halwax got down to grab. Just before the end of the half, Mikie Rowe produced another powerful effort from distance which went a few yards wide. Only real Kerry chance of the half fell to Koufie who couldn’t keep a first-time swivel-shot on target from about twelve out after the ball came quickly to him inside the Wexford area. 0-0 at halftime with Wexford looking the more likely to get the scoreboard moving.

[ForzaForth]

Second half saw the introduction of Kaylem Harnett for Wexford who definitely added some dynamism to the Wexford midfield. Early on in the second period, Kaylem forced Halwax to push away a shot at the expense of a Wexford corner and, from that corner, Mikie Rowe’s near-post header was again pushed away by Halwax. Kerry then created a rare chance when a Kerry forward had the opportunity to lob Paul Martin in the Wexford goal from a difficult angle, but the lob sailed over the Wexford bar. Then, on 13 minutes, Kerry took advantage of a far-post header by Cooney to go a goal to the good somewhat against the run of play. 1-0 to Kerry. With Wexford unable to grab an equaliser, Wexford manager Stephen Elliott made a triple substitution by introducing Ryan Ritchie, Gavin Hodgins and Jack Larkin. Immediately, Wexford equalised when good work by Kaylem and Jamie Wynne enabled Mikie Rowe to prod the ball home between the legs of Harry Halwax in the Kerry goal from close in. 1-1 at this stage. With Calum Flynn a late final substitution for Wexford, it was the home side who went closest to securing the winner with a huge scramble inside the Kerry penalty area in injury time, but the away side held out to leave the score at 1-1 at the final whistle. Impressive for Wexford were Kaylem Harnett when introduced, Jake Doyle when the ball got to him and Jamie Wynne who had his best game since signing. Crowd was reported to be 652.