Pat’s run visitors ragged in Leinster Cup rout

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 5 WEXFORD F.C. 0

THE WEXFORD F.C. players must have been dizzy from chasing shadows around Richmond Park, Inchicore, on Monday as they were given a lesson in possession football by Premier Division outfit St. Patrick’s Athletic in this one-sided Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final.

In fairness, the outcome was hardly a surprise given the gulf in ability and experience between the teams, but if the losers can learn anything from this tough experience, the journey won’t have been in vain.

On the plus side, manager Da- mian Locke availed of the opportunity to give second-half debuts to two of the four recently-signed Under-19s, Adham Masood and Craig O’Reilly, while a third, Mikey Carroll, was on the bench.

There was also a first Senior start of 2018 between the posts for Colum Feeney who settled down and made some fine second-half saves after enduring a tough opening 30 minutes.

Pat’s were rampant from the off, with Ian Turner a particularly menacing figure down the right flank, posing all sorts of problems for Wexford full-back John Morgan.

The overall corner count of 17-0 in favour of the home side paints an accurate picture of how they virtually owned the ball, and the outcome was well and truly sorted by the 28th minute when they led 4-0.

Wexford were under such pressure that rival goalkeeper Brian Maher didn’t even have one shot to dealt with before the break.

Pat’s worked their passing triangles relentlessly, and it was all very crisp and accurate with everything played to feet and the Wexford players struggling to cope with the physical demands.

Turner ghosted into the centre to open the scoring in the 13th minute, latching on to a beautiful through ball and taking it around Feeney with an astute first touch before finding an open net.

He turned provider eight minutes later, with a cross from the byline headed home from close range by midfielder Graham Kelly.

And the Turner show continued in the 25th minute when another delivery from the right was too long for Darragh Markey, but Thomas Byrne stuck out his leg and directed it to the net.

Number four arrived just three minutes later after Turner’s attempted cross was blocked for a corner by Conor Sutton.

Ian Bermingham’s delivery was originally knocked down by James Doona, and centre-half Michael Leahy got his head to the ball before Wexford could react to widen the gap to four.

A rout looked a distinct possibility at that point, but the besieged visitors improved thereafter and only conceded one more goal.

That didn’t arrive until the 85th minute when Darragh Markey split the defence with a through ball for Ian Turner whose low cross was first-timed to the far corner of the net by substitute Jake Keegan.

Wexford’s one and only chance had arrived two minutes into the second-half when a super cross from the left by Dean George was met with a thumping header by Danny Doyle, but his misfortune in front of goal continued as Brian Maher brought off a brilliant reflex save.

Colum Feeney grew in confidence after making a good stop with his feet to deny James Doona in the 55th minute, turning another effort from Jamie Lennon around the post and later keeping out an Ian Turner attempt.

There was a late let-off when a Graham Kelly shot was blocked on to the bar and rebounded out with Feeney stranded, and it was an achievement for Wexford to only concede once in the second-half given that they faced twelve corners in that period.

Although thrown in at the deep end, there was enough evidence from the lively Adham Masood to suggest that he is good enough to enjoy a bright First Division future.

Wexford F.C.: Colum Feeney; Mark Slater, Owen McCormack, Conor Sutton, John Morgan; Mikey Byrne (capt.), Dean Kelly; Aaron O’Connor, Ryan Nolan, Dean George; Danny Doyle. Subs. - Adham Masood for Nolan (HT), Seán Kelly for Morgan (67), Craig O’Reilly for Byrne (74), also Corey Chambers, Mikey Carroll.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Brian Maher; Michael Barker, Michael Leahy, Kevin Toner, Ian Bermingham (capt.); Jamie Lennon, Graham Kelly; Ian Turner, Darragh Markey, James Doona; Thomas Byrne. Subs. - Joe Manley for Bermingham (HT), Jake Keegan for Byrne (50), Paul Cleary for Toner (70), also Brendan Clarke, Lee Desmond, Conan Byrne, Dean Clarke.

Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin).