Record-breaking win
Furlong hits five fine goals as Youths run riot
THE RECORDS came tumbling down in Ferrycarrig Park on April 23, 2015, when Wexford Youths maintained their push towards the bright lights of Premier Division football with a stunning victory over Airtricity League newcomers Cabinteely.
The rampant home players were intent on pleasing their loyal band of supporters and duly delivered in style with a magnificent 7-0 win, having hit three goals without reply in the first-half.
And the resounding nature of the success offered full redemption after the south Dublin outfit had surprised Youths with a 1-0 victory when they met on a poor surface in Stradbrook – home of Blackrock RFC – on the opening day of the season.
The outcome here marked the biggest-ever league victory for Youths, going one better than a 6-0 thrashing of south-east neighbours Waterford United.
And it was a personal triumph for ace attacker Danny Furlong who scored an incredible five times on a night when he also beat Paul ‘Patsy’ Malone’s club appearance record by moving on to the 170 mark.
The Rosslare Strand native had 54 career goals before the 2015 season started, and he had added another five to his tally prior to doubling that figure in a remarkable display of finishing which lit up a gloomy evening weather-wise.
It was the only the third time in the history of the league for a player to score five goals or more in a First Division game.
Dave Warren of Cobh Ramblers still holds the record with six against Monaghan United in 2004, while Pat O’Connor of Home Farm smashed five past Longford Town in the 1988 season.
Furlong completed his hat-trick in the opening half, flicking home a Conor Whittle corner-kick in the eleventh minute, and then availing of assists from Andy Mulligan and Jonny Bonner respectively in the lead-up to the interval.
Mulligan was once more the provider for his fourth in the 52nd minute, while Aidan Keenan made the scoresheet from a Philip Drohan cross before Furlong added his fifth shortly before departing to a rousing reception.
Substitute Dean Broaders tucked away the seventh from the penalty spot after substitute Drohan was brought down close to the finish, capping a brilliant night for Shane Keegan’s side.
The record-breaking win came one day after talented teenager Kevin O’Connor completed a move to Premier Division Cork City, following in the footsteps of one of Wexford’s favourite football sons, Kevin Doyle.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle, Conor Whittle, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, Jimmy Dermody, Craig McCabe, Andy Mulligan, Peter Higgins, Jonny Bonner, Danny Furlong, Aidan Keenan. Subs. - Philip Drohan for Whittle (64), Conor English for Furlong (86), Dean Broaders for Keenan (86), also Ryan Delaney, Eric Molloy, Danielius Niekis.