Wexford give Oscar winning display
Slaneysiders put United Churches League to the sword
WEXFORD have one foot in the knockout stages of the Oscar Traynor Trophy after easily accounting for a limited United Churches League outfit in Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday.
In truth John Godkin’s men rarely had to get out of second gear and could even afford to miss two penalties as they put the visitors to the sword.
Without having to playing particularly well the hosts held a 2-0 advantage at the break thanks to goals from Courtown Hibs duo Eugene O’Brien and Colin O’Brien.
In the second-half substitutes Adam Beary and Connal Flood made claims for starting places in Wexford’s final group game by hitting the net either side of a goal from Robin Dempsey.
Forays forward from U.C.L. were few and far between and any flicker of a threat from the visitors came from a bit of hesitancy or lack of concentration on Wexford’s part, but more often than not they quickly regrouped to snuff out any semblance of danger.
After a pretty non-descript opening quarter hour, Eugene O’Brien, who also got the opening goal in the 2-2 draw with the A.U.L., broke the deadlock on 16 minutes.
John Peare did well on the left before delivering the perfect cross and O’Brien headed the ball back in the direction it came, expertly steering it to the corner of the net.
In the 20th minute Storm Sammons went on a whirlwind run to remind the home defence they were in a game but the rock solid Gareth McCurtin did well to block his effort out for a corner.
With 26 minutes on the clock Wexford doubled their advantage when Robin Dempsey flicked a header into the path of the inrushing Colin O’Brien, who applied a composed finish.
Wexford were on easy street and came close to putting further daylight between themselves and their opponents when Leighton Gleeson struck a 25-yard free narrowly wide of the left upright ten minutes before the break.
However, U.C.L. issued a timely warn- ing that a two-goal lead can be a precarious advantage three minutes later when Storm Sammons pounced on a defensive error but goalkeeper Lee Walker was alert to the danger and made a decent save, while the follow-up effort from Andrew Kilmartin was blocked.
Live-wire Adam Beary was introduced as a half-time substitute and he made his mark in lightning fashion when he ran on to a pinpoint pass from his North End United team-mate Kyle Dempsey and was brought down for a penalty.
He then picked himself up and buried the spot-kick to the left-hand corner of the net.
Beary certainly brought extra energy to the Wexford attack and on 50 minutes he again linked up with Kyle Dempsey, before curling a shot just wide of the right post.
On 53 minutes referee Derek Campion was pointing to the spot for a second time when Beary found John Peare and the Moyne Rangers man was upended in the area.
With confidence high Beary took the responsibilty again, but this time he went to the other side and his tame effort was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Brian Taaffe.
Thankfully the miss wasn’t crucial and Robin Dempsey added to the Wexford tally when he ghosted in at the back post to nod a right-wing cross from the energetic Dale Flynn to the net.
The Slaneysiders continued to push forward in droves and Kyle Dempsey was next to try his luck, turning well before seeing his shot deflected wide.
In the 78th minute Adam Beary ran on to a wonderful long-range pass from Robin Dempsey and lifted a first time shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Three minutes later Wexford were awarded their third penalty when substitute Connal Flood was fouled.
Ryan Mahon assumed duties this time around but saw his well-struck shot brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by netminder Taaffe.
The miss was quickly put to one side though when within 60 seconds Flood rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball to the back of the net.
United Churches League twice went close to garnering a crumb of comfort from a disappointing afternoon when substitute Patrick Meghan saw his half-volley from the edge of the area strike the crossbar, before fellow replacement Shane Carter raced clear and chipped the ball wide of the target.
Much sterner tests will undoubtedly lie ahead for this promising group of Wexford players but it will have served as a good pipe-opener before their crucial final group game against the Defence Forces next month. WEXFORD FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Lee Walker, Dale Flynn, Ryan Mahon, Ian Sinnott, Gareth McCurtin, Robin Dempsey, Leighton Gleeson, Colin O’Brien, Kyle Dempsey, John Peare, Eugene O’Brien. Subs. - Adam Beary for Gleeson (45), James Peare for C. O’Brien (60), Paidi Cullen for John Peare (65), Alan Tobin for Flynn (75), Connal Flood for E. O’Brien (75), also Aaron Kehoe, Gary McClean. UNITED CHURCHES LEAGUE: Brian Taaffe, Mark Mulvihill, Ross Clarke, Anthony Dunne, Neil Love, Antonio Neto, Shane Lyons, Andrew Kilmartin, Storm Sammons, Ricardo Pias, Eoin Sherlock. Subs. - Patrick Meghen for Sherlock (51), Joseph Byrne for Lyons (60), Conor Shiels for Neto (60), Shane Carter for Kilmartin (63), Seamus Staunton for Dunne (76), also Diego Amorim, Richard Hannify. REFEREE: Derek Campion. Assistant referees: Marc Kelly and Seamus Kelly. Fourth official: Niall Whelan.