Frustration for U-17s

THE consistently inconsistent season that Wexford F.C. are experiencing in the SSE Airtricity League Under-17 Southern Elite Division continued as they failed to get the better of Cork in Bishopstown on Saturday.

For Wexford, it was probably the final nail in their coffin. A top four finish is now not only extremely unlikely but verging on impossible.

It will frustrate the staff and loyal supporters who follow these boys around the country because on so many occasions this season they’ve been the better side, and have failed to get the points which they have deserved.

This was no different for the Ferrycarrig boys – they would have left the pitch feeling that they deserved at least a draw, if not all three points.

The knockout blow in this game was Cork’s early, 12th minute goal. Jamie O’Sullivan finished against the post after getting the better of Kyle Scallan.

Wexford initially struggled to react to going a goal behind but Brody Murphy could have drawn the sides’ level just after the half hour mark. Darragh Levingston’s pass set the pacey winger away only for his shot to be dragged an inch wide of the right post.

Brian Byrne had his first effort of the encounter easily saved and James Dowling side-footed into the side netting before the break.

After the restart, excluding the first ten minutes when Cork exerted some pressure, it was backs to the wall stuff for the home side.

Sean O’Brien-Murphy blazed over the crossbar before, with the goal gapping, Robert Bulmer’s thumping effort towards goal was blocked.

Dowling had the ball in the net with a quarter of an hour to go, only for Wexford’s celebrations to be halted by the linesman. But, to Wexford’s credit, they never gave up.

They switched to an attacking 3-5-2 formation which looked to have borne fruit as Murphy raced away from the defence only to be hauled down on the edge of the box by Jake O’Brien.

To Wexford’s dismay referee Ricky Crean only awarded the City defender a yellow card as Caellum Travers-Devlin sent the free-kick high over the crossbar.

Murphy had another effort side footed wide before Cork broke deep into injury time and with more than a hint of offside to the attack, Matt O’Reilly finished past Sean Maher.

Demonstrating footballs ironic side, Wexford went up straight up the other end and Kevin Murphy headed in a meaningless consolation before Crean blew the full-time whistle.

WEXFORD FC: Sean Maher; Shane Gibson, Kyle Scallan, Dylan Whelan, Sean O’Brien-Murphy, Luke Greene, Caellum Travers-Devlin, Darragh Levingston, Brody Murphy, James Dowling; Brian Bynre. Subs: Robert Bulmer for Byrne (61), Ethan O’Neill for Levingston (65), Kevin Murphy for O’Brien-Murphy (75), Graham O’Reilly for Greene (88). Also, Aaron Hall, Killian Griffin, Killian Flynn.

CORK CITY: Adam Cantwell; Uniss Kargbo, Alex Minihane, Jake O’Brien, Colin Hanifin; Matt O’Reilly, Eviison Ramani, Jamie O’Sullivan, Adam Hunt, Luke Desmond; Josh Lombardi. Subs: Oran Daly for Ramani (61), Ronan O’Brien for Hunt (65), Oran Crowe for O’Sullivan (81). Also, Darragh Burke, Rob Walsh.

REFEREE: Ricky Crean (Cork)