Luke rescues U-17 point

LUKE O’NEILL came off the bench to grab a deserved point for Wexford Youths in their final SSE Airtricty Under-17 League Southern Elite game before the mid-season break against Limerick in Hogan Park on Sunday.

The talented winger smashed a low shot past ’keeper Carl Williams with his first touch after entering the fray to secure an excellent point.

Indeed, with substitutes Mikey Carroll, Adham Masood and O’Neill all making big impressions, Youths could even have snatched a late winner.

With Cian Larkin missing through injury, Wexford started the game a little slowly. Hosts’ striker Bradley McNamara opened the scoring and Jack Callaghan soon made it 2-0 as Limerick had their visitors chasing shadows in the first 30 minutes.

Rather than buckle, like they might have done in the early stages of the season when things weren’t going as well, Wexford responded with a few tactical changes and soon found a way back into the game when Cian Doyle sent a screamer into the top corner from fully 30 yards.

It was Doyle to the fore again just a few minutes later as he won a penalty in the area and stepped up to convert the spot-kick himself. From two down, Youths were suddenly level heading into the changing room at the interval.

The second-half began with both teams playing good football. However, midway through the period the hosts took the lead again when Bradley McNamara got in for his second goal.

But Wexford, who have picked up eleven points from a possible 18 since starting with three straight losses, are playing with confidence, and they got their just desserts when Luke O’Neill fired home the leveller in the last 15 minutes.

Garrett Larkin’s side now have a three-week break before they come back with a home tie against Cobh Ramblers.

Wexford will be without top performers Kallum Broaders and Paddy Barron but will hope to have Cian Larkin back from an injury to his nose for that tie.