Second win of season for U-19s

IT MAY have taken a while but Wexford Youths finally picked up their second win of the season in the SSE Airtricity Under-19 League Southern Elite Section in St. Colman’s Park.

Billy Molloy’s side have been putting in some encouraging performances of late and that hard work came to fruition with a sterling showing that lifted the Ferrycarrig Park outfit off the foot of the table and into eighth place.

Youths set up with Dean George playing off Adam Rochford in attack. It’s a style of play they have been using with mixed results in recent weeks but there were several signs that this result was on the horizon.

The opening quarter was open with little to separate the teams. There was plenty of good, attacking football with the hosts possibly just shading it. However, as is often the case, the first goal proved vital.

Adam Rochford, who was magnificent without scoring, had a chance to shoot inside the penalty area.

However, unselfishly, he chose to feed Dean George and the attacker, with his right foot, shot low to the bottom left corner of the Cobh net.

George had another great chance to make it two just before the break when he headed Michael Molloy’s right wing cross narrowly wide. Youths were looking to hold on to the ball better in midfield after the break and they certainly achieved that goal.

They were excellent in the second-half and went 2-0 up when Vincent Quinlan picked up possession 35 yards from goal and thumped an unstoppable shot into the roof of the Ramblers net.

Corey Chambers made a couple of good saves in the Youths goal, however, when the third goal did come, it was his side who scored it.

Again Rochford was involved with a fantas- tic ball to Molloy on the edge of the penalty area, and the Wexford winger struck a fantastic shot home to make it 3-0.

Cobh were getting the ball out wide and swinging good crosses into the box, but with the back four defending well, and Chambers in inspired form, they found it tough to find a goal. Eventually, with time ticking away Timmy Foley pulled one back.

However, their hopes were shortlived. Seán Duffy won the ball back for Youths, set the impressive Quinlan away, and the former Gorey Rangers midfielder cut in from the wing and fired to the net to complete a fantastic victory for his side.

Wexford Youths: Corey Chambers; Paul Carton, Owen McCormack, Conor Sutton, Seán Duffy; Michael Molloy, Eoin Donnelly, Vincent Quinlan, Ciarán Murphy; Dean George; Adam Rochford. Subs. - Martin O’Connor for Carton, Cian Li for Rochford, Dylan Bradley for Donnelly, Cormac Kehoe for Murphy.

Referee: David Keeler.