Struggling Under-19 squad rooted to foot of table
CABINTEELY WEXFORD F.C. 1 0
WEXFORD REMAIN rooted to the foot of the SSE Airtricity League Under-19 Southern Elite Section table after falling to another defeat, their third in a row, this time against Cabinteely in Stradbrook on Saturday.
After two thumping losses to Cork City in quick succession, Wexford were surely looking for- ward to a tie against a host side which had previously managed just two wins in eleven league games this season.
However, the Ferrycarrig Park crew haven’t tasted victory since they beat Limerick in the first game of the season and when you get into that kind of funk it’s tough to drag yourself out of it.
This is a game Wexford dominated, with their midfield duo of Vinny Quinlan and Dean George in complete control. However, they saw chances come and go throughout and eventually paid for their profligacy when Ross Maloney netted for the hosts ten minutes from time.
Wexford set their stall out in the first-half and played all the football. At the back Neil Murphy and Martin O’Connor formed a formidable partnership that was rarely troubled. The odd time Jason Maguire was called into action he was up to the task, while his distribution was outstanding.
Dean George had the best Wexford chance of the first-half. He got into a great position on the edge of the area and had several options. He chose the shot but missed the target and a great opportunity was gone.
After the break Wexford bombarded the Cabinteely goal. Neil Murphy saw his goalbound header cleared off the line while Vinny Quinlan smacked a rasper from the edge of the box, from a clever corner routine, that the ‘keeper plucked out of the top corner.
Under-17 last season, Ciarán Murphy has returned to Wexford in recent weeks and Dylan Bradley should possibly have done better when he header the winger’s cross wide. Danny Doyle got in one-on-one but a bobble at the most inopportune time saw the striker fire narrowly over the bar.
After all those chances came and went, it was probably no real surprise when Cabinteely tucked away their only clearcut opportu- nity with ten minutes remaining. Wexford now have six games remaining, all at Ferrycarrig Park, starting with Shamrock Rovers on Sunday afternoon.
Wexford: Jason Maguire; Adam Feeney, Martin O’Connor, Neil Murphy; Adam Rochford; Ciarán Murphy, Dean George, Vincent Quinlan, Dylan Bradley; Jack Healy, Danny Doyle. Subs. - Jack Bates for Feeney, Eoin Curran for C. Murphy, Robbie Kane for Healy, also Adam Dempsey, Cian Doyle, Adam Doyle.