Twelfth defeat for U-19 squad
U.C.D. romp to five-goal win
WEXFORD F.C. U.C.D.
WEXFORD SLUMPED to their twelfth loss in 14 SSE Airtricity Under-19 Southern Elite League games against U.C.D. in Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday.
James Quinn’s side were cut to ribbons soon and often as the high-flying south Dublin club came down the N11 determined to cement their spot in the top four with just four games to go in the regular season.
It didn’t even take complicated attacking patterns to get in on the Wexford goal, as simple long balls over the top had the hosts at sixes and sevens, and it came down to a case of how many U.C.D. wanted to score in the end.
The first few minutes were reasonable, as Shane Beary-Cahill almost caught the U.C.D. ‘keeper off his line with a long-range strike that just flew over, but Wexford were given a warning moments later when Luke Boore forced Colum Feeney into a sharp save from Jack Ryan’s corner.
The visitors had an even better chance when Seán McDonald put a chance on a plate for Ryan but he shanked his shot wide with the goal gaping.
However, when Ryan slipped John O’Keane through in the 16th minute, he took it wide around Feeney and curled a succulent effort into the top corner over a crowded goal-line.
A poor first touch allowed Feeney to claim at Ryan’s feet as he went clean through the heart of the defence.
The second goal did come in the 34th minute when McDonald was fouled 30 yards from goal and Luca Lovic curled his free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner.
Two quickly became three when O’Keane crossed from the right and McDonald fired past Feeney at the second attempt. Moments later the U.C.D. striker difted in on a long ball over the top and hit the crossbar with the ‘keeper stranded.
More route one sent O’Keane clean through in the 40th minute but he hit the foot of the post. Beary-Cahill fired over from the edge of the area just before the break but his side must have been delighted to hear the halftime whistle.
To Wexford’s credit it was more competitve early in the second-half, and Kyle Scallan forced Carl Williams to save his closerange header.
However, U.C.D. did make it 4-0 when Ryan’s corner pinged around the box and the alert Seán Quinn fired home from ten yards out.
Substitute Luke Hannigan sped away from the last defender and made it five eleven minutes from time before Feeney did well to repel a sixth, parrying Esteban McVilly-Brown’s effort late on.
Wexford go on their travels to Cork City next Saturday before playing their final game for almost a month when they host Waterford eight days later.
Wexford F.C.: Colum Feeney; Danny Bruce, Ger Murray, Kyle Scallan, Ciarán Paige; Adham Masood, Cian Larkin (capt.), Craig O’Reilly, Shane Beary-Cahill; Vincent Quinlan; Danny Doyle. Subs. - Ciarán Murphy for Masood (77), Dylan Wall for Beary-Cahill (77), Liam Berry for Quinlan (78), Yaw Aboagye for Doyle (78), Liam Evans for O’Reilly (87).
U.C.D.: Carl Williams; Evan Farrell (capt.), Dan Mullen, Luke Boore, Jack Whelan; Luka Lovic, Seán Quinn; John O’Keane, Jack Ryan, Charlie Smith; Seán McDonald. Subs. - Luke Hannigan for Smith (75), Billy Griffin for Ryan (77), Esteban McVilly-Brown for Whelan (83), Robin Windvogel for McDonald (83).
Referee: Brian Fenlon (Wexford).