U-15s zoom in on semi-final

CABINTEELY WEXFORD F.C. 0 2

WITH TWO games left in the SSE Airtricity Under-15 shield second phase mini-group, Wexford F.C. are within touching distance of a semi-final spot after their third win on the bounce, this time away to Cabinteely on Sunday.

Mark Doran’s side are now seven games unbeaten, stretching all the way back to the middle of July. In truth, at the moment they are playing like a side which believes in itself and which knows this competition is there for the taking.

This followed the pattern of other recent games. Wexford were slow to get going but they are getting zoned in on the gameplan of sitting in their own half, allowing the opponent to have the ball in defence, and springing when they look to push forward.

The only kink in the system this time was the introduction of Conor Carew into a rolling midfielder role. It involved sitting in front of the back four with a responsibility to provide cover for the flanks.

It’s a job he performed admirably and he was needed. Wexford had a mini-crisis with injuries and illness. Between picking up problems in training, losing players to G.A.A. and warm-up worries, the visitors were uneasy coming into the game.

While Darragh McGuire was ruled out after a late fitness test, Dylan Casey played and his inclusion as the rock in defence was vital.

With Evan Connolly pulling the strings in midfield and Evan Farrell in a great run of form, this result was no surprise.

There wasn’t a pile of first-half chances but Wexford were comfortable. Set-pieces did provide some anxious moments but they held firm and, in fact, they believed they should have taken a lead in at the break.

Referee Gavin Colfer had no linesmen for this game and it cost Wexford. Seán Redmond’s long crossfield ball picked out Evan Farrell just inside the area and his header flew into the top corner, however, the official disallowed it for a questionable offside decision.

When Cabinteely’s Euan Curran was dismissed for a second yellow card early in the second-half, Wexford went to two up front and it soon paid dividends. Tyler Dunphy rounded the hosts’ ‘keeper but had his effort from an acute angle cleared off the line.

However, there was no stopping his whipped shot from just outside the area when the ball broke for him on the hour mark. Playing with the lead and great confidence, Wexford wrapped up the win with Dunphy’s late second, from Farrell’s feed, to remain top of the table.

Wexford will qualify for the semi-finals should they beat Shelbourne this coming weekend, and a draw will be enough if Cabinteely fail to beat U.C.D.

Even should the Ferrycarrig Park side lose, they will still have another opportunity to secure the last four spot in their final game, away to the same opposition.

Wexford F.C.: Luke Murphy; Seán Redmond, Dylan Casey, Patryk Remiasz, Seán Fitzpatrick, Evan Farrell (capt.), Paddy Redmond, Conor Carew, James Cullen, Evan Connolly, Kyle Clancy. Subs. (rolling) - Seán Adam Gourley, Harry Curtis, Liam Doyle, Tyler Dunphy, Aaron Phelan, Darragh McGuire (inj.).

Cabinteely: Kajus Aksamitas; Seán McClean, Reece McCormack, Ben Houton, Steve Simpson (capt.), Euan Curran, Cillian Melwani, Ben Feeney, Josh Daly, Josh McGlone, Ben Somers. Subs. (rolling) - Godswill Chinedum, James Bingham, Tariq Al Muigeiry, Alex Flynn, Amer Boulbassir, Roy Byrne, Stephen Doran, Eoghan Murphy, Tomasz Sadowy.

Referee: Gavin Colfer (Dublin).