Wexford Youths 2-1 Finn Harps

Courtesy of Extratime.ie

by Conor Meagher

After just 10 minutes of this hard fought match between Wexford and Finn Harps the home side made their early promise show with a goal from a corner through Gavin Doyle via a Conor Sinnott in swinger, Doyle rose highest on the edge of the six yard box to power home a header. After missing a 2nd half penalty through Conor Sinnott The Youths went further ahead to make sure with another penalty converted by Gavin Doyle and, despite Conor Gethins’ headed goal, went on to win the game.

The home side nearly doubled the lead after 18 minutes when Sinnott sent Shane Dempsey free one on one with Gallagher who he rounded only to see Mukendi get back and clear the rolling goal bound shot to safety. A decent run down the right after 27 minutes and cross down the right from Harkin after being fed by Brolly spreading play across the pitch into space had to be intercepted by White for the Youths with Gethins lurking. The combination of Rossiter and Havlin was the best outlet for the middle spell of the half for the away side though they couldn’t fashion any clear cut chances despite some neat interchanges.

A Funston cross on 34 minutes was saved at 2nd attempt by Holden while the Harps defender then saw yellow after 37 minutes for chopping down Liam O’Loughlin after the midfielder had slipped a ball outside of him and ran clear.

After the half time whistle the 2nd half began with Wexford showing the same purpose but lacking that killer instinct while Harps looked to catch them on the break.

With 47 minutes gone Doyle won a penalty after being pushed over by Mukendi, Sinnott’s shot was saved and he blazed the rebound over while under pressure from the covering defence running in.

However on the 50 minute mark Johnny Flynn o’Connor went close next with a free that skinned the outside of the post after Sinnott had rolled a free kick into his path from 25 yards out. Harkin had fouled Doyle to concede the free. Then Gavin Doyle made it 2 – 0 from the spot as he buried his take after Liam O’Loughlin had been impeded by Havlin on 59 minutes.

69 minutes in and Gethins headed in from Brolly cross to give Finn Harps hope and they could’ve equalised from Harkin after Gethins set him free down the left after 80 minutes but he screwed his shot wide of Holden’s exposed goal while McDaid saw a well taken effort squeeze just over from the edge of the box late on. The last chance of the game saw Breen concede a free on the edge of the box only for Gethins to smash the free into the wall and the clearance was closely followed by the final whistle.

Wexford Team
Packie Holden, Anto Russell, David Breen, Peter White, Johnny Flynn O’Connor, Liam O’Loughlin, Gareth McCurtain (Malone 66), Conor Sinnott (Capt.), Shane Dempsey (Kelly 78), Keith Kearney (Rossiter 87), Gavin Doyle.
Subs – Paul Rossiter, Patsey Malone, David Miller, Ritchie Fitzgerald, Marty Kelly.

Harps Team
Ciaran Gallagher, Ian Rossiter, Michael Funstone - Booked 37 min, Sean Houston - Booked on 62 min - (Coughlin 63), Mark Mukendi, Shaun McGowan (Wormiskey 78), Ruairi Harkin, Johnny Havlin, David McDaid, Conor Gethins, Mark Brolly.
Subs – Christopher Coughlin, Mark Forker, Pat Marley, Oisin McMenamin, Garry Wonisky.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gavin Doyle

Ref: Phillip Cascarai

Attendance: 383

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