Students take honours against the under-19s
SECOND placed UCD came to Ferrycarrig Park and took full points home with them in the SSE Airtricity Under-19 Southern Elite Section on Saturday afternoon last.
Wexford picked up their second win of the season last week, an impressive 4-1 win away to Cobh. However, UCD, who are right in contention for the title, provided a much sterner test altogether.
The visitors started on the front foot, with Shane Whelan firing over from the edge of the box. However, they did take the lead in the 4th minute when Gareth Coughlan was fouled in the penalty area, he converted the spot-kick himself.
Youths almost equalised when Dean George fired over from close range after Karl Skinner fumbled a cross.
Eoin Porter headed over from Sean Duffy’s cross midway through the period before firing straight at the UCD stopper four minutes later.
Billy Molloy’s side continued to create chances. Vincent Quinlan fired wide from a tight angle. Moments later George squared to Ciaran Murphy but his shot was deflected and easily saved by Skinner.
With Wexford trailing 1-0 at the break, it was clear that the next goal was going to prove vital. UCD almost got it in the 64th minute when Sean Byrne went through one-on-one with Corey Chambers, the Wexford ‘keeper saved before tipping over Conor Crowley’s effort from the rebound.
The second goal did arrive two minutes later and again came from a Coughlan penalty, this time following a foul on Cian Ryan.
Quinlan saw his shot deflected over sixteen minutes from time. Later, at the other end, Andy Brennan made it 3-0, heading in a Crowley corner.
Youths now only have one league game left before the shield competition kicks in.
After a week off, they make the long journey to Limerick on Sunday week in a bid to take some form and momentum into the knockout stages. UCD: Karl Skinner; Darragh Corcoran (capt), Shane Whelan, Joe Manly, Darragh McConville; Sean Byrne, Andy O’Reilly, Cian Ryan, Robert Manly; Gareth Coughlan, Ryan Hannon. Subs. - Conor Crowley for Ryan, Andy Brennan for Hannon, Robert McGee for Byrne, also, Sean Prenter, Aaron Robinson. WEXFORD YOUTHS: Corey Chambers; Sean Duffy, Paul Carton, Conor Sutton (capt), Michael Molloy; Adam Rochford, Vincent Quinlan, Eoin Donnelly, Ciaran Murphy; Dean Geroge; Eoin Porter. Subs. - Martin O’Connor for Rochford, Dylan Bradley for Murphy, Cian Li for George, Neil Murphy for Donnelly, also, Dylan Furlong. REFEREE: Seamus Kelly.