Famine in seven days
32 - WEXFORD YOUTHS V FINN HARPS form as Youths held to scoreless draw
when Harps fielded one very familiar face in right-back Ethan Boyle, a native of Wexford town and former Waterford United captain.
Gareth Harkin was yellow-carded for a foul on Chris Kenny before Graham Doyle saved from a Hanlon shot which took a slight deflection.
Conor Whittle moved to rightback as the game entered the last ten minutes, after Shane Dunne came in to replace Craig McCabe who had a slight niggle.
Youths piled on the pressure in the closing five minutes plus four extra, all to no avail. Packie Mailey headed clear from crosses by Andrew O’Connor and Lee Grace, while Danny Furlong had a shot blocked for a corner on the left.
Whittle’s teasing delivery was missed at the back post by Chris Kenny and ended up going wide, while Lee Chin tried his luck from long range but was well off the target.
The talented all-rounder then reverted to right-back in the four added minutes, with Whittle pushing forward again while Shane Dempsey came in to central midfield.
The latter saw a free-kick cleared after Chris Kenny was fouled on the right, while his next delivery was knocked down by Danny Furlong but Aidan Keenan’s header didn’t trouble the goalie.
Andrew O’Connor had a shot blocked after Gallagher initially got a weak fist on his cross, while Youths came close again in the fourth added minute.
Paul Murphy’s long ball from the left broke on the far post to Chris Kenny whose powerful drive was well saved by the netminder. A corner arose, but when Andrew O’Connor’s delivery was cleared into the path of Shane Dempsey, he couldn’t get his shot on target.
Youths certainly couldn’t be faulted for endeavour, leaving supporters hopeful that ultimately they will do enough to preserve their top flight status.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle (capt.); Craig McCabe, Lee Grace, Chris Kenny, Andrew O’Connor; Conor Whittle, Lee Chin, Jonny Bonner, Aidan Keenan; Paul Murphy, Danny Furlong. Subs. - Shane Dunne for McCabe, inj. (81), Shane Dempsey for Whittle (90), also Peter Higgins, Aidan Friel, Vincent Quinlan, Eoin Porter, Corey Chambers.
Finn Harps: Ciarán Gallagher; Ethan Boyle, Packie Mailey, Josh Mailey, Ciarán Coll (capt.); Mickey Funston, Seán Houston, Barry Molloy, Gareth Harkin, Adam Hanlon; Ryan Curran. Subs. - B.J. Banda for Funston (74), Dave Scully for Hanlon (84), also Daire O Baoill, Tony McNamee, Gareth Doherty, Richard Brush, Tommy McMonagle.
Referee: Tomás Connolly (Dublin). PREMIER TABLE (before Monday’s game)
P W D L F A Pt Dundalk 31 24 2 5 67 22 74 Cork City 31 20 7 4 59 19 67 Derry City 32 16 11 5 46 29 59 Shamrock R 32 15 7 10 42 32 52 Sligo Rovers 32 12 10 10 37 35 46 Bray Wand 32 12 7 13 35 39 43 St. Pat’s Ath 31 12 6 13 40 37 42 Bohemians 32 12 5 15 30 36 41 Galway Utd 32 10 8 14 43 50 38 Finn Harps 32 7 8 17 22 49 29 Wex Youths 31 6 5 20 31 60 23 Longford T 32 2 8 22 23 67 14