Late goal prevents first win
Frustration for Wexford as students hit back near end
WEXFORD F.C. U.C.D. 1 1 IN OTHER circumstances a share of the spoils with a highly-regarded U.C.D. outfit would be regarded as a well-won point for Wexford F.C. in their ongoing quest to find their feet in this new SSE Airtricity First Division campaign.
However, the manner of the outcome in a blustery Ferrycarrig Park on St. Patrick’s night left home supporters in the small crowd of 242 somewhat deflated as their team had been so close to forging a much sought-after first win on their fourth attempt.
Indeed, they had held a precious lead from the 52nd to the 86th minute, only for U.C.D. captain Gary O’Neill to ruin the night with a superbly-taken goal from a free-kick.
It was redemption for the students’ midfield conductor as he had been denied a goal from the penalty spot just before half-time when Wexford captain Graham Doyle got down low to his right and brought off one of his trademark spectacular saves.
However, there was nothing the Ferrycarrig Park crew’s most experienced player could do to keep out that late set-piece from a central area by O’Neill who lofted it expertly over the wall and guided it into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
For a long time it looked like Doyle would be the ultimate thorn in O’Neill’s side, as he had also dived cat-like to pull off a superb save at the expense of a corner from the creative midfielder’s long-range shot shortly before that penalty award.
And while the veteran number one played a central part in those key incidents, a new arrival also left his mark with the Ferrycarrig Park faithful as centre-half Ross Kenny claimed the goal which gave them that precious lead early in the second period.
The former Athlone Town, Mervue United and Galway United defender bounced back from an uncomfortable night in Stradbrook one week earlier, displaying plenty of character in the process.
And as well as making a few vital interceptions and tackles, he opened his goalscoring account for the club after a well-worked move in the 52nd minute.
Thomas Croke earned a corner on the right, with left-full Andrew O’Connor opting to play it outfield to the unmarked Shane Dunne rather than first-time it into the box. It was left instead to Dunne to float a delivery to the far post at the town end where Kenny was on hand to direct it high into the corner of the net with a firm header despite Niall Corbet’s best efforts.
The goal left U.C.D. with no option but to go for it as they were also playing into a strong wind, and seven minutes later they brought on Daire O’Connor to support Georgie Kelly up front while taking off right-full Daniel Tobin.
It was a risk they had to take, but their gamble at the back nearly led to a second goal in the 65th minute when Maxim Kougogon’s back pass was met with a heavy touch by netminder Corbet.
The ball broke to Youths centre-forward Craig Hayes whose instinctive first-time drive unfortunately went high to the right and wide.
Corbet redeemed himself on the next Wexford attack, advancing smartly to ensure Ricky Fox’s long ball didn’t find Seán Hurley. All too often though, the home side misjudged the strength of the wind when trying to create attacks from deep, with several long deliveries drifting over the byline while a frustrated Hurley rarely had the ball played to his feet.
Nonetheless, he did got on the end of a Shane Dunne pass in the 68th minute and wasn’t too far away from the target, shortly after Seán Eve was introduced for his club debut in place of Thomas Croke.
Eve played in a more advanced role in an effort to feed off the hard-working Craig Hayes, and it looked as if this approach was designed to heap further pressure on the Belfield crew.
However, as the second-half wore on Wexford seemed to retreat when attack might have been a better form of defence, and this only played into the hands of U.C.D. who had been pressing for a while before that equaliser.
Hayes nearly claimed a freak goal in the 72nd minute, shortly after winning the last of Wexford’s three corners from a Craig Wall ball over the top.
Andrew O’Connor’s delivery from the right was too long, but Hayes did well to keep it in play before holding off a defender and swinging in a cross which struck the top of a relieved Corbet’s crossbar.
Shane Dunne also showed some innovation less than five minutes later when he stood over a free-kick which everyone expected him to loft into the box. He drilled it low and hard instead, and Corbet had to be alert to get his body behind it.
Ross Kenny then made a couple of vital defensive interventions, first nicking the ball away from substitute Daire O’Connor who was lurking with intent before winning a free as Jason McClelland tried to unlock the back four.
Another debutant, Jamie Fox, replaced Hayes up front before U.C.D. prospered fully from a push just outside the box as Gary O’Neill stepped up to deliver that hammer blow to Wexford’s victory hopes.
The captain had orchestrated everything from midfield for the visitors throughout, demanding the ball from his defenders at every opportunity.
The U.C.D. passing was neat and easy on the eye, although there was precious little in the way of end product until that late strike by O’Neill who bounced back impressively from his penalty miss.
They sensed a late win might be on after that equaliser, but their third and last corner was successfully defended before a Georgie Kelly shot was saved by Graham Doyle at his near post.
Wexford also had one last chance deep into added time after Liam Scales was booked for a foul down the right on Liam Donnelly who will be pleased after getting a first full 90 minutes under his belt.
The linesman’s flag was raised after Andrew O’Connor swung in the free-kick, although Ross Kenny’s header went over the bar one way or the other.
The home team showed two changes from the defeat away to Cabinteely, with Donnelly replacing Adam Hanlon on the right flank while Thomas Croke came in to central midfield for John McKeown.
The first chance fell to U.C.D. in the sixth minute after Ricky Fox was booked for a body-check on Jason McClelland, with Georgie Kelly’s glancing header from Gary O’Neill’s free-kick going narrowly wide.
Thomas Croke had the first effort at the other end shortly afterwards following a throw from Fox, making the best of what little space was available to him before testing Corbet at his near post.
Ross Kenny’s good tackle ensured Cian Kavanagh didn’t link up with Kelly in a dangerous position in the ninth minute, while the U.C.D. centre-forward couldn’t get a firm connection with another O’Neill free-kick either as Wexford struggled to gain a foothold.
As a matter of interest, referee Marc Lynch - who hadn’t covered himself in glory on the first day of the season in Cobh - had awarded eleven frees to U.C.D. before granting Wexford their first in the 34th minute.
Seán Hurley forced the first corner after a good run by Craig Hayes in the 20th minute, but Shane Dunne’s delivery was headed clear by Liam Scales.
Thomas Croke hooked a speculative effort over the bar and was then the player in the most forward position when Hayes sent in a dangerous low cross, but unfortunately he wasn’t close enough to make contact with the ball.
Vice-captain Craig McCabe was booked in the 32nd minute when he stumbled and handled the ball in a central location, but the wall did its job from Gary O’Neill’s set-piece.
O’Neill tested Graham Doyle for the first time eight minutes later after Ross Kenny’s headed clearance from a long free-kick by netminder Niall Corbet landed in his path.
It was a fine effort destined for the top left of the net until the Wexford captain knocked it out for a corner which was partially cleared, with Georgie Kelly offside from O’Neill’s subsequent low cross which he touched wide anyway.
However, U.C.D. were presented with a gilt-edged chance in the 42nd minute when a cross from the left was fisted clear by Doyle, but the linesman on the far side had spotted a push by a defender and flagged for the penalty.
Once again O’Neill couldn’t beat Wexford’s number one though, with the crafty Cat diverting his low kick out for a corner which Liam Scales was unable to turn into a goal at the far post.
Wexford had the last chance of the half when Shane Dunne was fouled and delivered a free-kick which wasn’t too far away from Ross Kenny’s head.
And though Seán Hurley missed the target with a wayward shot on the re-start, it wasn’t long before Kenny put his name in lights with that goal which handed the home side the initiative.
Alas, that late leveller means they remain at the foot of the table for the second week running, and the focus now turns to south-east rivals Waterford who occupy second position after two wins, a loss and a draw.
The teams’ EA Sports Cup tie tonight (Tuesday) has been postponed as a mark of respect to late Derry City captain Ryan McBride, but they will meet in the league in the R.S.C. on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Wexford F.C.: Graham Doyle (capt.); Ricky Fox, Craig McCabe, Ross Kenny, Andrew O’Connor; Liam Donnelly, Thomas Croke, Shane Dunne, Craig Wall, Seán Hurley; Craig Hayes. Subs. - Seán Eve for Croke (67), Jamie Fox for Hayes (83), also Owen McCormack, Conor Sutton, Lee Duffy, Corey Chambers.
U.C.D.: Niall Corbet; Daniel Tobin, Maxim Kouogun, Liam Scales, Evan Osam; Rob Manley, Greg Sloggett, Gary O’Neill (capt.), Jason McClelland; Cian Kavanagh, Georgie Kelly. Subs. - Daire O’Connor for Tobin (59), Josh Collins for Manley (74), Ben Hanrahan for Kavanagh (85), also Seán Coyne, Conor Crowley, Gareth Coughlan.
Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway). FIRST DIVISION TABLE
P W D L F A Pt Waterford FC 4 2 1 1 7 37 UCD 42116 37 Athlone Town 4 2 0 2 4 96 Cobh Rblers 4 2 2 0 10 4 8 Longford Tn 41124 54 Cabinteely FC 4 2 0 2 4 46 Shelbourne 40313 73 Wexford FC 40223 62