Winning U-15 run ends
WATERFORD F.C. WEXFORD F.C. 3 1
WEXFORD TASTED the bitter pill of defeat for the first time, at the hands of rivals Waterford, in their latest SSE Airtricity Under-15 League game in the Regional Sports Centre.
Sunday’s game was one that Ferrycarrig’s newest outfit will be looking to forget in a hurry, as they squandered a myriad of opportunities to turn the game in their favour.
While Wexford’s performance perhaps wasn’t at the same level as against Limerick the previous week, they created more than enough to win the game.
Wexford began the tie in confident fashion and minutes after Evan Farrell had a goal disallowed for offside they took the lead for real. Graham O’Reilly broke magnificently before crossing onto the foot of Brian Byrne, and the striker steered his first-time effort into the bottom right corner past Seán Maher.
Yet, as the half went on momentum began to shift in favour of the home side as they enjoyed their best period of the game. Kyle Cuddy went close as David Murphy tipped his shot onto the post, before Donal Porter fired home after a scramble in the penalty area.
The Model county reacted well to the goal and earned a stoppage-time penalty when Darragh Levingston was fouled from a Darragh O’Donoghue corner. Levingston stepped up and placed his kick to the left and Waterford ‘ keeper Maher was equal to it.
Wexford dominated after the re-start and should have regained the lead. Farrell hammered a shot into the side-netting and Dowling fired straight at the ‘keeper when he burst through on goal.
Waterford took a surprise lead in the 53rd minute, when their first real venture into the final third put the ball on a plate for Ian Byrne to head home high past David Murphy.
It was beginning to look like it just wasn’t going to be Wexford’s day. Levingston hit the bar from a free-kick before Dowling rounded the ‘keeper, only for the lineman’s flag to deny them again.
Cuddy nodded home Kacper Zajal’s free in the 65th minute to put the game beyond Wexford, but there was still time for Farrell to see his, and another Wexford penalty, kick saved. His shot to the right was this time batted away by Kyle Shelly.
Wexford remain top of the Group 3 table by two points at the halfway stage of the season. Their next game is the reverse fixture against Waterford on Tuesday, September 26, in Ferrycarrig Park, where Wexford will look to make amends for this result.
Wexford F.C.: David Murphy; Seán O’Brien-Murphy, Kyle Scallan, Dylan Whelan, Darragh O’Donoghue; Luke Greene, Graham O’Reilly, Darragh Levingston, James Dowling, Evan Farrell; Brian Byrne. Subs. (rolling) - Brody Murphy, Rian Fitzpatrick, Cormac Bruce, Cian Kinlough, Darragh McGuire, Cormac Doyle.
Waterford F.C.: Seán Maher; Killian Griffin, Cian Browne, Ethan Flynn, Donal Porter; Dean Larkin, Charlie Binions, Scott Delahunty, Kacper Zajal, Robert Bulmer; Kyle Cuddy. Subs. (rolling) - Ian Byrne, Abel Alabi, Jack Deegan, Sam Morrissey, Kyle Shelly, Ravell Rilonda.
Referee: James O’Neill (Waterford).