Wexford Youths U20s 3-1 Waterford United U20s

The AOL sponsored Waterford United U-20 side lost out to a physically stronger and vastly more experienced Wexford Youths team at Ferrycarrig Park last Sunday. A tough, physical encounter started evenly, with some fast-flowing football. Wexford, though, were in more determined mood, and this lead them to gain the upper hand early in the game, and as early as 11 minutes the hesitant Blues defence allowed Kevin Rowe in for a soft opening goal. Just four minutes later Wexford forced a corner on the right, and Shane Dempsey rose unchallenged in the penalty area to head high into the roof of the net.

Waterford were playing well below their best in the first half, and with Wexford much more up for the challenge, Mick Wallace’s side continued to dominate. This was a day when none of the Waterford players were on best form, and with the Youths on song it was not looking good for the young Blues. They did continue to try to lift their game, and they were rewarded on the half hour when a Ryan Foley corner caused panic in the home defence, and Lee Aust crashed an attempted clearance off Dempsey and into his own net. Foley had a great chance himself when Declan Woodgate’s ball over the top found him wide of the right post, but his volley on the turn flew over the top.

After the break, with the young Blues pushing to get themselves back into the game, they were caught by a sucker punch just shy of the hour mark, as Tiernan Rossiter rose highest at the far post to head home Michael Mullen’s right wing cross. Shortly afterwards Aust clipped the outside of the post with a low effort after a corner was poorly cleared.

The young Blues kept battling, and began to get some joy going forward, down the left flank in particular through the efforts of Paul Carey and Declan Woodgate. Two minutes from time a fine Woodgate run and cross set up Leo Jacques for a well-struck volley that was charged down. And right at the death a defence-splitting Paul O’Brien pass found Ben Ryan in space, but his cross-shot dropped onto the roof of the Youths net, and that was that. The young Blues are still in the hunt for the second quarter final spot, but they now must also hope for a bit help from another side.

Wexford: Pa Doyle, Jimmy Keohane, Warren Broaders, Aidan McCann, Chris Kenny, Gavin O’Brien (Gareth Wallace 55), Shane Dempsey, Tiernan Rossiter, Lee Aust (Robert Vickers 81), Michael Mullen (Marty Kehoe 74), Kevin Rowe – subs: Eoin O’Shea, Dara McDonald
Manager: Mick Wallace
Waterford: Kevin Burns, Aaron Butler, Kevin Gahan, Leo Jacques, Declan Woodgate, Ryan Foley (Jack Poyntz 81), Andrew Power, Conor Barry (Paul O’Brien 64), Clive Prendergast (Eoin Burke 55), Paul Carey, Ben Ryan – subs: Josh Byrne, Moses Okereafor
Manager: Paul O’Brien