U-17s suffer heavy defeat
SHAMROCK ROVERS 7 WEXFORD YOUTHS 3
WEXFORD YOUTHS slipped to a heavy defeat against Shamrock Rovers in the latest round of fixtures in the SSE Airtricity Under-17 League Southern Elite Section in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday.
The Ferrycarrig Park side snapped a three-game losing streak with a draw in their previous outing against Mervue, but a talented Rovers proved too powerful with five first-half goals doing the bulk of the damage.
It proved to be a truly horrific start for the visitors as they fell 3-0 down inside 13 minutes. The hosts took the lead in the sixth minute when Harry Cornally made space for himself on the edge of the area and fired low to the net.
Wexford fell two behind moments later when Emmanuel Lawal got on the end of Cornally’s through ball and chipped over Adam Dempsey to the net.
The Youths stopper made a superb save from an Adam Doyle shot soon after but was powerless to prevent Seán Callan nodding in the resulting corner.
There’s plenty of attacking intent in this Wexford team and they won a penalty in the 18th minute that midfielder Cian Doyle converted. Youths fell 4-1 behind four minutes later though when Adam Doyle got on the end of a Cornally pass and fired under Dempsey.
Despite conceding four in 22 minutes, Dempsey was keeping his side in the game with a string of fine saves. He made a great stop from Dean Dillon and then stood up well to save Richie English’s strike.
When Wexford won a free-kick on the right side of the penalty area with nine minutes left in the half, Cian Doyle fired his second goal in off the post. Just when it looked like the visitors would go in at the break in touch, Lawal made it 5-2 to Rovers.
Luke O’Neill gave warning of his quality when he hit the side-netting early in the second-half, but it wasn’t heeded as the Wexford substitute fired in an effort off the post shortly after. The next goal was clearly vital at 5-3 and it was the hosts who got it.
Adam Doyle registered his second with a calm finish past Dempsey before Dean Dillon wrapped up the scoring with 20 minutes left with a lobbed finish. Wexford will hope to bounce back from this defeat quickly, and they play at home to Bray Wanderers this Sunday.
Wexford Youths: Adam Dempsey (capt.); Stephen Kearns, Cian Larkin, Paddy Barron, Kalum Broaders; Adham Masoud, Craig O’Reilly, Cian Doyle, Eddie Black, Ciarán Murphy; Danny Doyle. Subs. - Luke O’Neill, Sam O’Neill, Kyle Kennedy, Michael Carroll, Jack Brazzill, Ciarán Sheil.
Shamrock Rovers: Ben Murray; Eric Abuly, Seán Callan, Cian Collins, Calvin Rogers; Richie English, Emmanuel Lawal, Harry Cornally, Adam Doyle; Dean Dillon, Declan Watters. Subs. - Dean Williams, Jack Priestly, Alex Kealy, Aaron Bolger, Conor Fitzharris, Carl Casey.