Vital point for Under-15 side
Draw enough for semi-final
WEXFORD F.C. SHELBOURNE
WEXFORD F.C. got the point they required to reach the SSE Airtricity League Under-15 shield semi-finals when they shared the spoils with Shelbourne in a high-octane Group 4 contest at Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday.
The hosts got off to the ideal start, taking the lead with just eleven minutes on the clock through Liam Doyle, and although Max Kelly scored a fantastic equaliser for the Dubliners midway through the second-half, Wexford kept them at bay for the remainder of the contest to earn a precious point.
Shelbourne threatened on a couple of occasions early on, with Wexford goalkeeper Luke Murphy having to be alert to block at the feet of Josh Devereux in the sixth minute, and he was called into action again moments later when his gloves were warmed by a Harrison McGrane free-kick.
However, Wexford got their noses in front in the twelfth minute when a beautifully-delivered inswinging Seán Redmond corner from the right was forced in at the back post by Liam Doyle.
The home side tried to strike again when the iron was hot, and four minutes later Doyle had another sight of goal when he ran on to a sweet through ball from Seán Fitzpatrick, but goalkeeper Cathal Byrne was quickly off his line to make the block.
Shelbourne upped the ante to try to force their way back into the game as the first period wore on, and netminder Murphy did well to block a David Agbonyinma effort, before saving a Harrison McGrane snap-shot as Zach Donohue closed in.
Wexford had to soak up plenty of pressure in the second-half, although just over a minute after the re-start they came close to doubling their advantage, but Kyle Clancy saw his effort from a tight angle stopped by Byrne.
Shelbourne pushed forward in droves as they searched desperately for an equaliser, but they found it difficult to carve open a well-drilled home defence.
They did look dangerous from set-pieces though, and Robbie Dragusin slid in to meet a McGrane corner eight minutes into the half, but his shot trickled wide of the right post.
The introduction of substitutes Korde Odumosu and Aidomo Emakhu added fresh impetus to Shelbourne and the latter made space for himself and let fly from distance on the hour mark, but his effort failed to trouble Murphy.
When the goal did come it was a thing of beauty as Shelbourne captain Max Kelly unleashed a fantastic left-footed, dipping longrange strike that flew into the top corner of the net.
Shelbourne’s joy quickly turned to despair though as, after a brief flare-up following the goal, referee Michelle O’Neill showed Shelbourne’s Lee Costigan a straight red card for his part in the scuffle.
That said, the Wexford defence had to be alert to deny Agbonyinma almost immediately after his side had been reduced to ten men, although at the other end Wexford’s Conor Carew forced a save out of Byrne.
Wexford played out the remaining minutes without any real scares and, having finished top of the pile in a group containing Shelbourne, Cabinteely and U.C.D., they can look forward to their shield semi-final with a degree of confidence.
Wexford F.C.: Luke Murphy, Darragh McGuire, Paddy Redmond, Conor Carew, Seán Redmond, Seán Fitzpatrick, Patryk Ramiasz, James Cullen, Kyle Clancy, Liam Doyle, Evan Farrell (capt.). Subs. (rolling) – Aaron Phelan, Seán Adam Gourlay, Harry Curtis, Tyler Dunphy, Dylan McEvoy, Kyle Rankin.
Shelbourne: Cathal Byrne, Marc Nolan, Kleinfield Newti, Robbie Dragusin, Kevin Cummins, Josh Devereux, Harrison McGrane, Max Kelly (capt.), Zach Donohue, Ryan Reape, David Agbonyinma. Subs. (rolling) – Lee Costigan, Seán Hickey, Greg Kavanagh, Aidomo Emakhu, Korde Odumoso.
Referee: Michelle O’Neill.
SHELS WIN 4-2 ON PENS. WEXFORD F.C. ended their season with a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss against Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity Under-19 League Shield at Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday.
The north Dublin side scored all four of their penalties in the shoot-out, while Ciarán Murphy and Ciarán Paige both netted for Wexford, but ‘keeper Jack Lydon repelled efforts from Cian Larkin and Craig O’Reilly to seal a spot in the quarter-finals for the visitors.
James Quinn’s side came into the game with just one league win all season long but put it up to the capital outfit in this encounter. The hosts took the lead right at the end of the firsthalf when Liam Evans found the net in the 43rd minute.
Shelbourne got back on level terms when towering striker Adeola Abass beat Colum Feeney in the 54th minute.
Both sides had chances to win it in normal time, with Yaw Aboagye breaking though late on only to dribble a shot wide.
The eventual victors started extra-time on the front foot and Feeney was forced into a smart save from an Abass header.
However, there was nothing the Wexford stopper could do to deny the striker when he flicked a left-wing cross to the net moments later.
Seán Murphy was sent-off for a second yellow card offence after the goal and Shelbourne missed a glorious chance to wrap up the game when Bogdan Baci picked James Cummins out, but he completely fluffed his lines with only Feeney to beat.
Still, Shelbourne looked safe deep into added time, only for Ciarán Paige to get to the byline on the right, whip one last, low cross into the box, and it fell to Aboagye to bundle home the equaliser with the last kick of the game.
However, it wasn’t to be in the penalty shoot-out. After this bitterly disappointing season, the club will have to tave a good look at why this team performed so badly, for the second season in a row, and attempt to make improvements ahead of next term.
Wexford F.C.: Colum Feeney, Seán Murphy, Danny Bruce, Shane Gibson, Kevin Murphy, Cian Larkin, Ciarán Murphy, Ciarán Paige, Liam Evans, Craig O’Reilly, Yaw Aboagye. Sub. - Ethan O’Neill for Evans (61).
Shelbourne: Jack Lydon; Michael McHugh, Niall McCarthy, Brandon Mulvey, Flavio Marku, Mark Murray, James Cummins, Brandon McCann, Adeola Abass, Ross Strong, Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen. Subs. - Amadeusz Tarnopowicz for Mulvey (66), Daragh Keating for Strong (66), Aaron Connolly for Alamu-Tajudeen (79), Bogdan Baci for Murray, inj. (107), also Andrew Duggan.
Referee: Brian Fenlon (Wexford).