U-17s back to winning ways
Byrne bags winnning goal
WEXFORD F.C. 2 LIMERICK F.C. 1
WEXFORD F.C. got back to winning ways with a thoroughly deserved win over mid-table Limerick in the SSE Airtricity League Southern Elite Division on Saturday in Ramstown.
This Wexford side will be growing fond of playing their home games in Gorey, having won all four games which they have played in the venue over the last year.
Match winner Brian Byrne will also be fond of the ground – his penalty which ensured that a valuable three points stayed in the Model County was his fifth goal in those four games.
However, for over half the game it looked as if it would be the same old story for the Ferrycarrig boys. Particularly in the first 30 minutes, they peppered the Limerick goal without finding the back of the net.
The early onslaught started from kick-off, James Dowling’s shot was blocked before Caellum Devlin-Travers hit the post direct from a free-kick.
Luke Greene rounded the keeper but his shot was cleared off the line and Sean Smithers’ shot was deflected over the bar from close range.
Darragh Levingston then had his effort saved from a Smithers pull back before Limerick registered their first shot – Mikey Conlon’s strike from a tight angle was matched well by Aaron Hall.
Hall was solid all afternoon between the sticks but Wexford were let off the hook the in 37th minute when Mark McInerney blasted over the bar from close range.
Levingston volleyed another over the bar before Derek Campion blew time on a goalless half.
The visitors started quick and had an unexpected lead within two minutes. McInerney rolled Sean O’Brien-Murphy before feeding Brian Ahearn to finish past Hall.
Wexford reacted quickly and within three minutes a Sean Smithers header into the ground bounced up above Sean Hamm and found the back of the net.
After those two goals in quick succession the game was finely poised. McInerney was comfortably Limerick’s biggest threat and he had a number of efforts off target. The home side were searching for the winner as well and it finally came with the introduction of Byrne.
Smithers’ corner was nodded on by Kevin Murphy and as the ball rebounded around the box, Byrne pulled towards goal only for his shot to be blocked on the line by the hand of defender Jake Dillon.
With Dillon given his marching orders, Byrne calmly stepped up to send Hamm the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Despite an accidental coming together between Wexford manager Billy Molloy and linesman Mick Farrell in the dying minutes, a battle which Molloy certainly came out on the better side of, Wexford held on to claim all three points in Gorey.
WEXFORD F.C.: Aaron Hall; Shane Gibson, Dylan Whelan, Kevin Murphy, Sean O’Brien-Murphy; Caellum Devlin-Travers; Luke Greene, Darragh Levingston, Brody Murphy, James Dowling; Sean Smithers. Subs: Graham O’Reilly for Greene (53), Brian Byrne for Devlin-Travers (73). Also, Sean Maher, Killian Flynn.
LIMERICK F.C.: Sean Hamm; Ronan Geary, Rian O’Connell, Scott Kirwan, Jake Dillon; Tony Mambouana (capt.), Dylan Cody, Jack Joyce, Brian Ahearn, Mikey Conlon; Mark McInerney. Subs: Sean McGrath for Joyce (46), Filip Mostowy for Conlon (46), Adam Fitzpatrick for O’Connell (61), Jamie Griffin for Cody (65).
REFEREE: Derek Campion (Wexford).