JUST ONE CHANCE
Play-off discarded in league revamp
WEXFORD YOUTHS will have just one opportunity to bounce back immediately to the SSE Airtricity Premier Division after a new format for 2017 was announced recently.
It has been decided to create two ten-team groups rather than the current situation whereby the top twelve compete at Premier level with the remaining eight in the First Division.
And in order to facilitate that for 2018, no fewer than three teams will be relegated from the top flight in the forthcoming campaign, with only the First Division champions promoted.
The two-leg promotion/relegation play-off between the eleventh finisher in Premier and the Division 1 runners-up has been discontinued, but unfortunately that decision was made two months too late for Youths who fell at that hurdle to Drogheda United in early November.
The fixtures for the eight-team First Division have been released, with the Ferrycarrig Park crew set to face the other seven participants four times apiece over the duration of the season, twice at home and twice away.
New manager Damian Locke will have his first outing in St. Colman’s Park on the last Saturday in February, with the full details as follows -
Saturday, February 25, away to Cobh Ramblers, 7.15 p.m.; Friday, March 3, home to Athlone Town, 8 p.m.; Friday, March 10, away to Cabinteely, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, March 17, home to U.C.D., 8 p.m.; Monday/Tuesday, March 20/21, EA Sports Cup first round; Saturday, March 25, away to Waterford, TBC; Friday, March 31, away to Shelbourne, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, April 7, home to Longford Town, 8 p.m.
Friday, April 14, home to Cobh Ramblers, 8 p.m.; Monday, April 17, EA Sports Cup second round; Friday, April 21, away to Athlone Town, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, April 28, home to Cabinteely, 8 p.m.; Monday, May 1, EA Sports Cup quarter-finals; Friday, May 5, away to U.C.D., 7.45 p.m.; Friday, May 12, home to Waterford, 8 p.m.; Friday, May 19, home to Shelbourne, 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 27, away to Longford Town, 7.30 p.m.
Friday, June 2, away to Cobh Ramblers, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, June 16, home to Athlone Town, 8 p.m.; Friday, June 23, away to Cabinteely, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, June 30, home to U.C.D., 8 p.m.; Friday, July 7, away to Waterford, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, July 14, away to Shelbourne, 7.45 p.m.; Friday, July 21, home to Longford Town, 8 p.m.
Friday, July 28, home to Cobh Ramblers, 8 p.m.; Friday, August 4, away to Athlone Town, 7.45 p.m.; Monday, August 7, EA Sports Cup semi-finals; week ending Sunday, August 13, Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup first round; Friday, August 18, home to Cabinteely, 8 p.m.; week ending Sunday, August 27, Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup second round; Friday, September 1, away to U.C.D., 7.45 p.m.; week ending Sunday, September 10, Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup quarter-finals; Friday, September 15, home to Waterford, 8 p.m.; Saturday, September 16, EA Sports Cup final; Friday, September 22, home to Shelbourne, 8 p.m.; week ending Sunday, October 1, Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup semi-finals; Saturday, October 7, away to Longford Town, 7.45 p.m.; Sunday, November 5, Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final.
Manager Locke continues to build a squad for the forthcoming season, and already goalkeeper Graham Doyle has re-signed along with Craig McCabe, Andrew O’Connor, Shane Dunne and Eoin Porter.
Another boost is the decision of Craig Wall to return to the club after departing in the early stage of last season, while John McKeown has transferred in from Longford Town.
However, on the negative side, Youths have lost star centre-half Lee Grace who has followed last year’s manager, Shane Keegan, to Galway United.
Chris Kenny, the combative midfielder from Enniscorthy, has moved to Sligo Rovers, with Donegal native Jonny Bonner returning to home soil with Finn Harps.
Aidan Friel has also left for Longford Town and, although Waterford haven’t formally announced any of their transfer dealings thus far, it is believed that Paul Murphy and Gary Delaney will be lining out with them this season.
Meanwhile, Youths have announced the appointment of Wexford town native Laura Heffernan as the new manager of their women’s team.
She will be well known to all at the club as both a former player and assistant manager of the side. Heffernan spent the past year as a coach at Abbey Villa S.C., Massachusetts, and has now returned to take over the reins as manager from her former colleague, Gary Hunt.
Speaking shortly after the appointment, Laura said she was ‘delighted to be back with Wexford Youths Women, just thrilled to be a part of the set-up here once again and I am looking forward to the challenge of the 2017 season’.
The Continental Tyres Women’s National League is expected to return in spring and kick on into the new summer season.