Patient Wexford break down Ramblers’ wall
WEXFORD TRAVELLED to Munster for the final game of the SSE Airtricity Under-15 League group stage knowing that only a win would guarantee progression to the quarter-final stage of the competition.
What faced the Ferrycarrig outfit in Mayfield was a Cobh Ramblers team without a single point, as nine losses from nine games meant they lay adrift at the bottom of the Group 3 table.
However, one must be wary of underestimating this improving Rebel side. After their 9-0 drubbing in Gorey at the beginning of the season, they have improved massively. Losing recently by just 1-0 and 2-0 to Cork and Limerick respectively, it has been a coming of age for the once whipping boys of the group.
What they put in front of Wexford was a wall. A wall of nine defenders as they sat deep in their 4-5-1 system and a wall which Wexford would have to chip away at until finally breaching it just five minutes from time.
They were smart to play on Wexford’s nerves, which would have been almost unpreventable as time ticked on, knowing what was at stake.
An early goal for Wexford certainly would have made the afternoon a lot easier, but it didn’t come. James Dowling went close from Cormac Bruce’s cross after six minutes, but Wexford were clearly facing a challenge which they were yet to experience, a team parking the bus in front of them.
Cobh’s tactics certainly seemed to be working a treat for the firsthalf as, while Wexford dominated possession and failed to concede any real shots on goal, they were limited in their own chance creation too.
While Luke Greene and Graham O’Reilly both shot over the bar, Brian Byrne forced Darragh Coakley into a fingertip save.
The Model boys shifted away from their trusted 4-2-3-1 formation for the first time this season at half-time and that is testament to Cobh’s organisation.
Leaving three at the back, they pushed Darragh Levingston into his more natural role in midfield and gave Byrne a strike-partner in the shape of Brody Murphy.
This looked to have done the trick at the time, with Levingston thumping the crossbar soon after the re-start as a goal appeared to be imminent.
Byrne was again denied by the impressive Coakley before Evan Farrell’s cross was headed agonisingly wide by Murphy.
As the second-half reached its halfway point with Wexford still needing a goal from somewhere, nerves began to jangle. As the Yellowbellies began to roll the dice with substitutions, it was the introduction of the unassuming Cian Kinlough which finally cracked Cobh’s wall.
Byrne fired into the side-netting with just ten minutes remaining as a panicked Wexford began to shoot on sight.
The goal finally came just as hope was starting to slip from Wexford hearts and minds. In fairness to this young side, under such pressure it was a superbly worked goal.
Kyle Scallan began the move, passing sideways to Seán O’Brien-Murphy. The Wexford defender played into the feet of Levingston who quickly found Kinlough between the lines.
With four around him, he threaded a ball through to Murphy, whose cross was finished at the second time of asking by Byrne.
Wexford kept it tight in the final moments as relief undoubtedly oozed through their veins. The fulltime whistle signalled the end of the group phase but vitally, thanks to Brian Byrne’s late winner, not the end of Wexford’s season.
They become the first Wexford F.C. under-age side to qualify for the knockout stages of the League of Ireland system. Their final position, either as group winners or runners-up, will be decided in a week when Waterford take on Limerick at the R.S.C.
Wexford: Dylan Whelan; Seán O’Brien-Murphy, Kyle Scallan (capt.), Darragh Levingston, Shane Gibson; Luke Greene, Graham O’Reilly, Evan Farrell, James Dowling, Cormac Bruce; Brian Byrne. Subs. (rolling) - Brody Murphy, Cian Kinlough, Mark Atkin, Rian Fitzpatrick, Darragh O’Donoghue, Darragh McGuire.
Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Coakley; Eoin McGrath, Michael Corcoran (capt.), Luke O’Sullivan, Sam O’Driscoll; Tiernan O’Brien, Josh McCarthy, Cillian O’Shea, Jake Lynch, Bradley Walsh; Victor Ugwah. Subs. (rolling) - Kane Rowlands, Josh Toomey, Kyle Harrington, Kalem Keane, Adam Hastings, Calum Clarke.
Referee: John Hennessy (Cork).
Camolin Celtic 0, Ferns United 4: Ferns made it two wins from two in the Shield as they overcame a hard-working Camolin side which made the Premier outfit work for the three points that guaranteed them a place in the semi-finals.
Liz Evered is back in scoring form as she grabbed two, while Hayley Nolan and Laura Barcoe were also on target.
Adamstown 9, Kilmore United 0: Kilmore are going through a rebuilding stage while Adamstown are probably stronger than they ever have been, and they made life miserable for the visitors, knocking in nine without reply and losing their goalkeeper, Anne Marie Lacey, with a suspected fractured wrist in the process.
Chantelle Martin, Tash Martin, Sandra Thorpe, Leanne Delaney, Stephanie Sinnott, Eimear O’Brien, Eimear Mernagh, Nikki Dunphy and Jasmine Martin were all on target. All in Adamstown and the league wish Anne Marie a speedy recovery.
Stoney L.F.C. 0, St. Leonards 3: St. Leonards booked their place in the last eight of the Shield when they overcame a resilient Stoney side 3-0. The visitors’ ability to take their chances was the main difference between the sides as Fiona Ryan, Eimear Gabbett and Aoife Drennan all scored to give St. Leonards victory.
Seaview United B 0, Cushinstown A.F.C. 2: Cushinstown picked up their first win of the season when they overcame a young Seaview second string 2-0 in Fethard. Amie Gaffney got back to scoring form when she netted both goals in this Shield game.
Bunclody A.F.C. 7, Ajax Athletic 1: Bunclody are through to the quarter-finals of the Divisional Shield after this 7-1 win at home to an Ajax side which had no answer to the scoring power of the home team.
Britney Conroy scored four with Mikayla Farrell adding two and Alma Morris also finding the net.
Forth Celtic 5, Courtown Hibs 4: One of the best games of the day saw Forth Celtic eventually overcome Courtown Hibs by the odd goal in nine in a thrilling encounter where forwards on both sides were dominant.
Lauren Ramsey scored a hattrick for Hibs with Marian Cardiff also finding the net, but two goals from Sarah Siggins and one each from Sarah Harding-Kenny, Natasha Byrne-Rossiter and Rianna Cullen gave Celtic their first league points.
Fastnet Rovers 2, New Ross Town 2: New Ross Town thought they had done enough to secure three points as they led 2-1 with a minute left, but Rovers scored a late equaliser to snatch a point. Kathlynn Gabbett gave Fastnet the lead but goals from Sinéad Quinn and Jenny Canning had Town ahead until Annie Breen scored the late leveller.
Bridge Rovers 5, Shelburne A.F.C. 1: Bridge Rovers opened their league bid with a win when they proved too strong for Shelburne, running out 5-1 winners.
Aoife Regan-O’Keeffe scored a hat-trick for Rovers with Ciara Kehoe and Kelley Scallan also on target.