Captain Kenny heads Wexford to Leinster Cup win
WEXFORD F.C. CABINTEELY F.C.
ROSS KENNY’S second competitive goal in the Wexford F.C. colours decided the outcome at a murky and misty Ferrycarrig Park on Tuesday when the home side triumped in their oft-postponed Leinster Senior Cup opener against Cabinteely F.C.
The winner arrived in the 82nd minute, with Dean Kelly floating a free-kick into the box from the left after a foul on Dean George.
The captain managed to escape the attention of the Cabinteely defenders, and his glancing header marked the club’s first-ever cup win after three opening round exits last year, along with the recent EA Sports departure at the hands of Cobh Ramblers on penalties.
There wasn’t much appetite for football on the night, given the awful weather, the Champions League semi-final second leg on the box, and the fact that the sides were set to meet again in a far more important league clash just 72 hours later.
In the circumstances, it was no surprise that less than 40 hardy souls watched the action unfold, and Kenny did them all a favour by ensuring they wouldn’t have to endure extra-time.
Wexford had a great chance inside three minutes when Aaron O’Connor floated a cross from the left into the box, but right winger Liam McCartan got underneath the ball and his half-volley flew over the bar.
And the best opportunity for Cabinteely in the opening half arrived in the 35th minute when a deep cross by Keith Dalton was controlled by Kaleem Simon who laid it off into the path of Aaron Robinson. The midfielder got a lot of power behind his shot, and Kealan Gaffney did well to make the save.
The visitors continued to create the better openings in the second period prior to the goal, with their three most clearcut chances all falling to left winger Paul Fox.
He shot to the left and wide in the 55th minute, and he really should have tucked away the opening created by an inch-perfect cross from Keith Dalton on their next attack of note.
Substitute Luke Clucas then picked out Fox again in the 62nd minute, but he blazed over.
With the dreaded prospect of extra-time looming large, Ross Kenny settled the contest although Cabinteely did press hard for an equaliser in the closing stages.
Shots by Keith Dalton and Luke Clucas, plus a header from Aaron Robinson, didn’t hit the target though, leaving Wexford to advance to the next round.
The home side may have won this particular battle, but Cabinteely prevailed in the war three nights later.
Wexford F.C.: Kealan Gaffney; A.J. Lehane, Owen McCormack, Ross Kenny (capt.), Seán Hurley; Thomas Croke; Liam McCartan, Aaron O’Connor, Ryan Nolan, Dean George; Danny Doyle. Subs. - Dean Kelly for Croke (68), Shane Barnes for Lehane (80), Mark Slater for O’Connor (80), also Seán Maher, Mikey Byrne.
Cabinteely F.C.: Stephen McGuinness; Adam Maher, Seán Fitzpatrick (capt.), Seán Bregazzi, Rob McGee; Anthony Dolan; Keith Dalton, Aaron Robinson, Eoghan Morgan, Paul Fox; Kaleem Simon. Subs. - Luke Clucas for Simon (HT), Jack Hudson for Fitzpatrick, inj. (54), Zac O’Neill for Dolan (81), also Jamie Broderick, Kyle Hogan, Owen Massey, Peter Quinlan.
Referee: Seán Grant (Rosslare).