Promising finish to U-17 season halted in Derry

WEXFORD’S PROMISING end to the season came to a shuddering haul in the semi-final of the SSE Airtricity Under-17 Southern Elite League Shield in Derry recently.

The Ferrycarrrig Park side advanced to the last four courtesy of wins away to Cobh and at home to Athlone but found the long trip to the north a step too far in the end.

Wexford made the journey to the tip of the island the day before but the change of routine and the travelling didn’t help the Ferrycarrig Park side early on as the hosts flew out of the blocks in the first 15 minutes.

Just when it looked like Wexford were getting a foothold in the game against powerful, physical opponents on a tight, astro-turf pitch, Kian McGarvey nipped in to score after Colum Feeney had made a good save.

The game settled a bit and Wexford got their bearings. They had a couple of chances before the break that fell to Craig O’Reilly and Liam Berry. The latter, in particular, had a decent chance but he just couldn’t make a solid connection with his weaker foot.

The visitors switched to three at the back in the second-half and they were on the front foot after the re-start. However, from a left wing cross Caolan McLaughlin nipped in to head home unmarked and it shattered Wexford.

Substitute Mikey Sweeney made it three after a ball over the top sent him away on Feeney. To the Wexford lads’ credit they kept going right to the end and bossed the last 15 minutes but couldn’t find a goal to give them hope.

While this has been a tight-knit, hard-working side throughout the season, there has been several stand-out performers including full-back Jack Gallagher, midfielder O’Reilly, goalkeeper Feeney and attacker/winger Adham Masood.

They are four lads that should have no problem making the step-up to Thomas O’Connor’s Under-19 side, while several other lads are also expected to move up the age groups too.

Meanwhile, still under-age for next season and expected to return to Derek O’Brien’s side are Reece Murphy, Cian Foley, Jason Daly and James Esser. Murphy and Foley, in particular, have given a string of superb showings this season and much is expected of them.

As well as the return of manager O’Brien, his sidekick Derek Browne will also be back after the winter break, with goalkeeping coach Philip Murphy making up a hard-working management trio after overseeing 75 training sessions and 24 official games this season.

Wexford F.C.: Colum Feeney; Jack Gallagher, Reece Murphy, Paddy Barron, Cian Foley; Craig O’Reilly, Caellum Travers-Devlin; Brandon Deady, Ciarán Paige, Adham Masood; Liam Berry. Subs. - Conor Signorelli for Travers-Devlin (53), Oscar Smith for Paige (61), Jason Daly for Berry (72), also James Esser.

Derry City: Daniel Haughton; Danny McGlynn, Calum Boyle, Ethan Harkin, Ronan Boyce, Jack Malone, Cian McGarvey; Daniel Ward, Mikey Friel, Caolan McLaughlin, Fionn McClure. Subs. - Mikey Sweeney for McGarvey (66), Aaron McGurk for Friel (75), Adam Taggart for McLaughlin (75), also Leannan McCann, Aidan McHugh.

Referee: Vincent McLaughlin.