Youths fall to third spot
Harps slip, but Wexford can’t take advantage
THERE WAS double disappointment for Wexford Youths when they went down 3-2 to Shelbourne in their SSE Airtricity First Division clash in Ferrycarrig Park on June 5, 2015.
They dropped from second to third spot in the table as a result, and it was a frustrating night on the whole because Athlone Town also inflicted a first defeat of the season on leaders Finn Harps.
It meant that a chance to bridge the gap was squandered, with Gareth Coughlan proving a real thorn in the side as his hattrick propelled Shels into fourth spot, just one point behind Youths.
And while winger Andy Mulligan netted twice for the losers, on another night he too could have been entitled to a match ball as he had an early attempt well saved by Greg Murray.
The hosts welcomed Stephen Last and Danny Furlong back into their side after injury lay-offs, but a lack of sharpness at the back was punished in the twelfth minute when Dylan McGlade’s cross from the right was finished expertly by the in-form Gareth Coughlan.
The second goal was a real giveaway, with Coughlan availing of a misplaced Gary Delaney pass to double his tally.
However, Wexford Youths had renewed hope going in for the half-time break after
Danny Furlong threaded a lovely pass to his left for Andy Mulligan to side-foot past Greg Murray and reduce the deficit.
And they were really in business just three minutes into the new half when Mulligan doubled his tally, forcing home Craig McCabe’s long throw from the right at the near post.
Coughlan hit the crossbar from a freekick before centre-half Gary Delaney was dismissed on a second yellow card, and the destination of the points was decided by an exquisite finish in the 80th minute.
It was that man Coughlan again, completing his hat-trick as he curled in a beautiful left-footed effort to the far corner of Graham Doyle’s net.
One notable name in that Wexford Youths line-up was Carlow man Eric Molloy, the now 27-year-old who returned to competitive action in the second division in Poland last week with Stomil Olsztyn.
A real favourite with the fans during his time in Ferrycarrig Park, he was one of two Irish footballers who were the first to get back on the field of play anywhere in Europe, along with ex-international Cillian Sheridan of top flight club Wisla Plock.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle (capt.), Craig McCabe, Gary Delaney, Stephen Last, Jimmy Dermody, Peter Higgins, Andy Mulligan, Craig Wall, Danny Furlong, Eric Molloy, Aidan Keenan. Subs. - Lee Grace for Molloy (71), Conor English for Dermody (83).