U-15 boys breeze into final
Impressive hosts brush midlanders aside in fine style
THE WEXFORD wave blew away a young Midlands side in New Ross on Sunday to reach the Subway championships Leinster Under-15 plate final.
It was a difficult assignment for the visitors, who were younger and smaller than their impressive hosts.
Yet Wexford didn’t take anything for granted, as they went right for the throat from the first whistle and had as many as nine separate chances to score in the opening ten minutes.
It was just continuous pressure at that stage. Seán Cooney was unmarkable on the left, with strikers Ben Rossiter and Mylie Fortune proving a handful for the midlanders’ defence.
Given the sheer number of chances being created, and the dominance the physically imposing Tadhg English and Darragh Farrell had in midfield, it was somewhat surprising that, out of those nine opportunities, the one they took was from a set-piece.
Luke Farrell would eventually directly contribute to three of his side’s four goals, and his first involvement came when his left-wing corner was headed by Ryan Curran. Charlie Rapper made a fine stop but couldn’t stop the imposing Wexford defender from firing home the rebound.
Rapper prevented both Fortune and Cooney from adding to the goal tally in that period with smart stops, and he was impressive despite conceding four times.
There was nothing he could do to stop Ben Rossiter from making it 2-0 in the 15th minute after Fortune’s shot was blocked.
Midlands, bolstered by players from Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and the edge of Galway, looked set to fall three behind when Cooney was fouled in the box.
However, after dusting himself off, the Wexford winger saw his penalty superbly saved by Rapper.
Wexford did make it three in the 32nd minute when Luke Farrell’s corner landed at the feet of Tadhg English, and the midfielder poked home from eight yards out.
Another Farrell dead-ball fell to Curran right before the interval and his sharp finish made it 4-0 at half-time.
Things changed markedly in the second-half, as Midlands played their football with a lot more confidence and Wexford weren’t as sharp or as hungry as they had been in the first period.
Tadhg McDonald came on and looked most likely to add to their advantage but was denied by new ‘keeper Aaron Dunne on several occasions.
Indeed, when the game’s fifth goal came, seven minutes into the second-half, it was the visitors who nabbed it.
A probing run from Aaron Dalzell ended with his attempted pass striking a Wexford hand. Referee Ger Morris awarded the penalty and Jack Daly coolly converted.
Apart from the probing of the technically impressive McDonald, the closest Wexford came to adding to their advantage late on was when Ryan Curran got himself upfield looking for his hat-trick, however, his powerful strike was superbly tipped away by Dunne.
The win sees Wexford advance to the Leinster Plate final against Carlow, winners over N.D.S.L. on Sunday. Whoever takes the victory in that tie moves into the All-Ireland Plate semi-final against Cavan/Monaghan.
Wexford: Paul Byrnes; Luke Farrell, Gary Kennedy, Ryan Curran, Jamie Kealy; Kyle Baker, Darragh Farrell, Tadhg English (capt.), Seán Cooney; Ben Rossiter, Mylie Fortune. Subs. (rolling) - Tadhg McDonald, Josh Smyth, Jack Fanning, Tiernan Doyle, Killian Whelan, Jack Mullen, Morgan Ellis.
Midlands: Charlie Rapper; Ryan Mnguni (capt.), Keelyn Conroy, Jack Daly, Ricky Hanlon; Eric McLoughlin, Ryan Little, Conor Devane, Kevin Sweeney, David Costelloe; Aaron Dalzell. Subs. (rolling) - Aaron Dunne, Daniel Connaughton, Jack Connolly, Scott Clynes, Hubert Zakrzewski.
Referee: Ger Morris.