Under-15 boys beat Sligo away to make shield final

SLIGO ROVERS WEXFORD F.C. 0 2

WEXFORD F.C. booked their place in the SSE Airtricity Under-15 Shield final opposite Dundalk with a clinical performance against Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds on Sunday.

Mark Doran’s boys came into the game as slight underdogs, with Sligo on a run of form that had seen them fly through the second phase of this competition.

However, Wexford were battle hardened by navigating, and usually winning, tough games.

It meant everything was set for an intriguing battle and these two sides didn’t disappoint. Wexford have made hay in recent weeks by sitting deep, allowing their opponents possession in their own half, and pouncing when they pushed forward.

They changed the gameplan here and pressed higher up the field and, while it put added pressure on the Wexford three-man defence, they excelled once again.

Initially it also aided a scrappy opening but the workrate of the visitors unsettled a Sligo side that boasted four under-age internationals.

When things started to settle down, Wexford pounced.

Doran’s side had gone close when the impressive Kyle Clancy forced the home sharp save.

Three minutes later they took the lead. Another outstanding performer, Dylan Casey, whipped in a free-kick, and a game of pinball in the Sligo box ensued before Patryk Ramiasz nodded in.

Wexford mixed it up a little in the second-half and chose to go for the jugular.

Tyler Dunphy came on to aid the attacking efforts and he immediately made the home defence feel ill at ease.

The tireless Evan Farrell was first to go close while Liam Doyle headed an effort narrowly wide.

At the other end, the excellent Luke Murphy made a solid stop as ‘keeper into a Sligo struggled to get the better of the rock-solid Wexford defence.

The second goal was always likely to be pivotal and it came in the 59th minute.

Tyler Dunphy undoubtedly has the talent of a starter and is a match-up nightmare for opponents, and it was he who picked up the ball on the left edge of the area, jinked past two defenders and curled a stunning shot high to the hosts’ net.

Sligo, two goals down, were bound to have some sting left in their tail and they did force Murphy into a superb save with ten minutes remaining.

While things looked secure, Wexford still went to four at the back for the last few minutes and they saw out the game without too much stress.

Doran’s boys will travel to Dundalk, who overcame Kilkenny-Carlow 3-1 in their semi-final, in the shield decider.

The date is not yet set but the game is expected to be played in the week of the mid-term break, before Senior Cup final Sunday.

Wexford: Luke Murphy; Darragh McGuire, Seán Redmond, Dylan Casey, Patryk Ramiasz, Seán Fitzpatrick, Evan Farrell (capt.), Conor Carew, James Cullen, Evan Connolly, Kyle Clancy. Subs. (rolling) - Aaron Phelan, Seán Adam Gourley, Harry Curtis, Liam Doyle, Tyler Dunphy, Paddy Redmond, Dylan McEvoy, Kyle Rankin.