Wexford F.C’s new venture
THE INAUGURAL SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Under-15 campaign is nearing its opening day and Wexford F.C. have been busy preparing their squad for the first game of the season.
The Ferrycarrig Park club, who have been placed in Group 3 alongside Waterford, Cobh Ramblers, Cork City, the Kerry League and Limerick, kick off their campaign on Sunday, August 20. That will be the first of ten games in this initial shortened season, where a top two finish will see them advance to the national quarter-finals.
Cobh Ramblers will make the journey to Wexford on opening day. This fixture is set for Ramstown in Gorey and acts as the ideal opportunity to launch Wexford F.C’s partnership with Gorey Rangers, as well as marking the official opening of the new pitch in Ramstown.
Wexford’s first away day is also their longest journey, as they make the trip south-west to face the Kerry League on August 27.
In the month of September, the Model county side will play three of their four league games at home, with Cork and Limerick visiting Ferrycarrig before two big games at the midpoint of the season against nearest rivals Waterford F.C.
October reverses that order as Wexford visit Limerick, Cork and then Cobh on the final day of the season on October 22. Between Cork and Cobh, the Kerry League will visit Ferrycarrig for the final home game.
With D-Day approaching fast, the management team of Billy Molloy, Mikael Allain and Jason Goodison will have been encouraged by their pre-season performances to date.
After five weeks of training in Ferrycarrig, Wexford began the first of their pre-season friendlies in U.C.D. Dominating but struggling to find an end product in their opening game versus Longford Town, they eventually ran out 1-0 victors with Cian Kinlough netting the only goal.
Wexford found their scoring form in their next game and Dundalk were the victims of a 6-0 rout. Brian Byrne netted a hat-trick while Darragh Levingston, Evan Farrell and James Dowling all helped to put the Louth boys to the sword.
Last week, the newly-formed squad were faced with a different test as American side Tormenta F.C. visited Ferrycarrig Park. The club from South Georgia got the better of Wexford’s youngsters in the opening game, winning 2-1 with the home side’s goal coming from Brody Murphy.
Murphy was on the scoresheet twice in the second game between the sides as Wexford turned on the style and turned the tide, running out 4-1 winners. Evan Farrell and Graham O’Reilly added the other two.
Last weekend, St. Patrick’s Athletic edged out the Ferrycarrig boys by two goals to nil in their fifth pre-season friendly.
Wexford will continue their final two weeks of pre-season with a training camp followed by another visit to the capital to play St. Kevin’s Boys.
The 20-player squad which was confirmed last week is: Cian Browne, David Murphy; Seán O’Brien, Darragh McGuire, Kyle Scallan, Dylan Whelan, Cormac Doyle, Rian Fitzpatrick, Shane Gibson, Darragh O’Donoghue; Luke Greene, Graham O’Reilly, Darragh Levingston, Cian Kinlough, James Dowling, Mark Atkin, Cormac Bruce, Evan Farrell; Brian Byrne, Brody Murphy.