FAI YOUTH INTER-LEAGUE Fleming grabs late winner for Wexford
SOCCER Slaneysiders will meet Inishowen in last eight
DYLAN Fleming poached a late winner for Wexford Football League as they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FAI Youth Inter-League with a committed performance in Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday.
It was the perfect end to a week to remember for the talented Gorey Rangers defender, who was one of only three players to play all 180 minutes for the Ireland Under-18 home-based side that outgunned Wales to win the John Coughlan Memorial Cup without conceding a goal.
Wexford had to do it the hard way, however, hitting the net twice in the final 17 minutes after falling behind to a Dylan Foley strike midway through the first-half.
Substitute Stephen Neville turned home an Andy Kennedy free-kick in the 74th minute to drag the Slaneysiders level, and Fleming pounced on an error from Cork goalkeeper Matthew Dawson to grab the decisive goal with eight minutes remaining, earning a home tie against the Inishowen League next weekend.
Aided by a stiff breeze at their backs, Cork saw plenty of the ball in the opening 45 minutes but found it difficult to penetrate a well-marshalled Wexford defence.
The first chance of note actually fell Wexford’s way in the 13th minute as Cillian Gilligan played in Dylan McVeigh, and instead of taking the shot on himself he slid the ball through to the inrushing Jamie Thomas, but his effort from an acute angle was blocked.
Moments later Kyle Firman sent a rising left-footed shot over the bar after a Gilligan corner was cleared into his path just inside the area. At the other end Greg Barrett fired a long-range shot straight at Wexford netminder Darragh Brooks after being teed up by Nathan Browne.
As the looming rain clouds overhead parted to reveal a brief glimpse of spring sunshine, so did the Wexford defence and Jason Hogan raced through on goal.
His shot was well smothered by goalkeeper Brooks but Dylan Foley was quickest to the rebound and he blasted the ball to the back of the net.
Visibly buoyed by the breakthrough, Cork began to play with increased confidence and had a chance to double their advantage when Nathan Broderick supplied a slide-rule pass for Jason Hogan, but the striker’s touch was too heavy and Brooks was out quickly to narrow the angle and make the block.
On 40 minutes Wexford showed they still posed a threat when Dylan O’Brien turned and fired over the bar, but Cork cranked up the pressure before the half-time whistle.
Crucially for Wexford, the Leesiders couldn’t carve out any openings in that period of pressure and going in just a goal adrift with the elements behind them in the second-half wasn’t a bad place to be.
Wexford had to be patient after the turnaround, with Cillian Gilligan twice trying his luck without troubling goalkeeper Matthew Dawson before the breakthrough came in the 74th minute.
Andy Kennedy had sent in a succession of dangerous deliveries from dead balls so it came as no surprise when he supplied the assist for the goal.
The winger floated in a beautiful left-footed free-kick from near the right touchline that was just begging to be turned in the net, and substitute Stephen Neville got the vital touch to steer it beyond Dawson.
Nine minutes later Wexford were in front.
Goalkeeper Darragh Brooks punted a free-kick from just inside his own half into the danger zone, and when his opposite number let the ball slide through his hands, Dylan Fleming was quickest to react to poke the ball over the line.
Wexford now face the Inishowen League in the quarter-final on Sunday next, March 5, at 1 p.m. in Ferrycarrig Park. WEXFORD FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Darragh Brooks, Dion Murphy, Ben Butler, Dylan Fleming, David Christie, Dylan O’Brien, Jamie Thomas, Kyle Firman, Cillian Gilligan, Dylan McVeigh, Andy Kennedy. Subs. - Yousif Ayman for Butler (60), Stephen Neville for McVeigh (68), Brandon Sinnott for Thomas, Ethan Vickers for Firman (87), Seán Murphy for Murphy (90), also Jake Cassidy, Rhys Doyle. CORK YOUTH LEAGUE: Matthew Dawson, Seán O’Reilly, Shane Nagle, Ethan Hurley, Colm O’Driscoll, Adam Crowley, Nathan Browne, Greg Barrett, Jason Hogan, Nathan Broderick, Dylan Foley. Subs. - Eoghan Murphy for Browne (65), Cillian Cooper for Hogan (76), David Nason for Barrett (76), Callum Finnegan for Dawson (90), also Lee Cooke, Darragh Crowley, Callum Long. REFEREE: Nicholas Boland. Assistant referees: Anthony Tobin, Darren Ennis.