TOP TWO END LEVEL
Oylegate recover to share the spoils
THE PUZZLE that is the top of the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-13 Division 2A table is not much closer to being figured out after the two main title challengers played out an entertaining draw in wet and windy Crossabeg sports grounds on Thursday.
The draw does mean that Oylegate are title favourites, but with unbeaten Shelburne right in the mix and Curracloe and Killenagh still harbouring hopes of winning out and snatching the crown, a fascinating few weeks are on the horizon.
Sitting pretty, 2-0 up in this one, Shelburne looked to be on course for a vital three points. Had they kept the lead, they would have just needed victory in their final game against Curracloe to take the title.
However, Oylegate knew that a big response would put the title back in their own hands.
Not only were they able to do just that, had it not been for Matthew Murphy in the visitors’ goal they could even have taken all the points.
Slick conditions meant both sides sparred for the opening ten minutes. However, as both teams settled, the visitors looked more likely to break the deadlock.
It came as no surprise when Richard Murphy sent Harry Kehoe into the clear and the Shelburne attacker calmly poked past Paul Burns.
Midway through the period Seán Connolly found himself in space in the penalty area but Burns produced a classy save. Murphy then saw his effort from close range somehow deflected over the crossbar by Richard Fortune.
Oylegate hadn’t posed much threat in the opening 21 minutes. That changed when Fortune found Darragh Harris on the edge of the box.
He turned crisply and sent a powerful left-foot shot at goal, but Murphy was up to the challenge and made a smart save.
Just before the break, Oylegate’s Mikie Doyle raced away and was fouled just inside the penalty area. He stepped up himself to the spot-kick, looking to send his side in level, but the conditions made it difficult and he dragged his effort wide left.
Shelburne looked to be on course for victory when James Murphy and Seán Connolly combined to cross on the right. The outswinger took a wicked deflection off Conal Byrne and looped agonisingly into the Oylegate net.
The hosts were never going to give up, despite the misfortune. Five minutes later Byrne stepped up to a free-kick, 35 yards from goal, and fired in a shot too hot for Murphy to handle in the Shelbourne goal.
Now on top, Oylegate pushed forward and levelled eight minutes from time when Harris raced onto Byrne’s long ball and clinically fired high past Murphy.
The home side had several chances to win and move top of the table but the Shelburne stopper made a string of superb saves to bank the point for his side.
Oylegate: Paul Burns; Adam Moulton, Conal Byrne (capt.), Ned Maher, T.J. Frost; Richard Fortune, Shane Doran, Adam Nolan; John Fortune, Mikie Doyle, Darragh Harris. Subs. (rolling) - Thomas Doyle, Ben Kelly, Cian Cullen.
Shelburne: Matthew Murphy; Cian Kennelly, Oisín Mac Eochaidh, Peter McGrath, Jimmy Doyle; James Murphy, Eamonn O’Shea (capt.), Conor Kavanagh, RIchard Murphy; Harry Kehoe, Seán Connolly. Subs. (rolling) - Jess Keever, Conor Boland, Mark McGrath, Oisín McAuliffe, Brian Dillon.
Referee: Mark Hogan.