Wexford Youths  1 – 0  Waterford United

Cruel luck saw a vicious injury-time deflection hand Wexford Youths all three point in the South East derby at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night.

In a forgettable first half, chances were few and far between as each team struggled to get to grips with the other. Vinny Sullivan and Shane Dempsey traded long-range efforts, but it was 25 minutes before either defence was troubled, and it was the visitors who were forced to scramble clear after a deep Dean Broaders free kick from the left was spilled by Chris Konopka, Liam Kearney on hand to clear up. Five minutes later and the blistering pace of Gary Sheahan almost paid dividends for the home side, as he beat Alan Carey into the area, got to the ball first to touch it past Konopka, but then poked into the side netting as he fell to ground six yards out. At the other end a George O’Callaghan free kick had Packie Holden scurrying across goal to save in the top left corner, but five minutes from time Wexford again had a great sight of goal, as Kevin Rowe crossed low for Danny Furlong 10 yards out, only for Liam Kearney to get in a superb block as he pulled the trigger.

Liam Kearney was in action again early in the second half, testing Packie Holden with a low strike, but Blues chances were at a premium as they found it well-nigh impossible to get through the Youths two banks of four arrayed before them. The half-time introduction of James O’Sullivan gave them added impetus down the right, but as they pushed forward they also left themselves open to the counter, and a 5-on-4 breakaway on 62 minutes saw Kevin Rowe cut in onto his right foot and rifle a 20-yard effort just wide of the far post. Almost immediately at the other end a lovely 1-2 between Liam Kearney and George O’Callaghan saw the Conna man go closer still, curling a left-footer towards the far post from 15 yards, only for Holden to somehow get across to tip it behind.

On 75 minutes O’Callaghan was left cursing his luck as he got on the end of O’Sullivan’s knock back across the area to volley goalwards from eight yards out, but a vital touch deflected the ball behind for a corner. And ten minutes from time an incisive ball from John Kearney was well controlled by sub David Grincell 20 yards out, who turned and shot crisply, but straight at the Youths keeper. The missed chances were threatening to tell on United, as a minute before normal time Danny Furlong saw his great chance charged down by Alan Carey on the edge of the area, and the inevitable duly came to pass two minutes into stoppage time. Wexford broke once more, and as the ball was only half-cleared, with two Blues players down and calling for a free out, play was waved on and Jimmy Keohane drove in low from the edge of the box, the ball taking a horrible deflection up and over the committed Chris Konopka and into the net. Within seconds of the restart the Youths broke clear again, but Konopka did brilliantly to get down to save 1-on-1 against Furlong. Right at the death a superb 15-yard George O’Callaghan volley from Liam Kearney’s corner kick whistled inches over the crossbar, as the Blues’ bad luck was complete. Neither side probably did enough for the win, but that’s little consolation for any side that suffers such a late setback.

Wexford: Packie Holden, Anto Russell, Dean Broaders (Shane Sinnott 93), David Breen, Anthony Wolfe, Patsy Malone, Jimmy Keohane, Shane Dempsey, Danny Furlong, Gary Sheahan, Kevin Rowe (Chris Kenny 86) – subs: Aidan McCann, Mike Mullen, Pa Doyle

Goals: Keohane 92

Booked: Sheahan

Waterford: Chris Konopka; Paul Carey, Alan Carey, John Kearney, Liam Kearney; Timmy Purcell (James O’Sullivan 45), Paul McCarthy, George O’Callaghan, Kevin Waters; Vinny Sullivan (David Grincell 74), Willie John Kiely (Gareth Cambridge 65) – subs: Kevin Burns, Gary Dunphy

Booked: O’Callaghan

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)