Wexford Youths 1 - 0 Athlone Town
Credit:
Wexford Youths took their chance to move closer up the table this evening as a Jimmy Keohane goal midway through the second half gave them all three points against Athlone Town. The home side had been forced to play striker Gavin Doyle in goal midway through the first half, putting 17-year-old Keohane up front along side Garry Sheahan. The home side had Johnny Flynn O’Connor sent off for two yellow cards, but despite this the task proved too stern a test for a much improved Town.
The opening few minutes at Ferrycarrig Park looked as though the Youths would control Athlone. A skilled run by Robert Vickers beat Damien Rushe and his cross from wide provided Gavin Doyle with a great chance to score from five yards, but he placed his unopposed header over the bar after seven minutes. The next chance was a spurned free by Doyle, whose battles with Des Hope were growing. Athlone captain David Tyrell then took advantage of a Paul Rossiter interception from a Robbie Benson cross that deflected towards him but his tame half volley failed to beat Holden.
The Youths keeper then innocently stood on a routine back pass only to pick up an injury, and was unable to continue. With no sub 'keeper on the bench, he was replaced in goal by Gavin Doyle with Jimmy Keohane, just 17 years old, going up front beside Sheahan. The youngster almost saw a reward for his skill and positioning as his left foot curler late in the half travelled just wide after nutmegging Rushe. For Athlone, Benson and David Tyrell looked to control the game, feeding the runs of Johnny Mernagh and Noel McGee, but David Breen marshalled his troops expertly to resist them.
The second half took off where the first left, as Keohane was instrumental with Sheahan in setting Robert Vickers through, his shot clipped off the inside of Alex O’Reilly’s legs and went wide.
Dempsey was beginning to grow in confidence alongside Peter White as Athlone’s Benson saw his stamp in midfield from the first half fade. Mernagh went close though after 53 minutes when Benson sent Tyrell down the left past Russell and his cross was deflected into Mernagh’s path only for him to blaze over.
White teed himself up expertly next as he collected from Keohane, turned and shot left-footed only for O’Reilly to tip it over. On the 65th minute the game was decided as Sheahan chased down Rushe, beat him to the ball and crossed for Keohane to run into the box and smash the ball into the goal.
With ten minutes remaining the midfield of the Youths looked to have a battle on as Flynn O’Connor was given a second yellow and sent off for a late foul out wide on Kieran O'Reilly. However, a fantastic final display by the home team, especially Sheahan and Keohane as outlets right up into the third minute of added time saw them through to a deserved victory.
Wexford Youths: Packie Holden (Jimmy Keohane, 30min); Johnny Flynn O’Connor, Anto Russell, David Breen, Peter White, Paul Rossiter; Keith Kearney (Garrett McCurtain, 84min), Robert Vickers (Shane Sinnott, 87min), Shane Dempsey; Gavin Doyle, Garry Sheahan.
Unused subs: Martin Kehoe, Ritchie Fitzgerald.
Booked: Flynn O'Connor (33)(81), Kearney (44), Breen (55), Dempsey (90).
Athlone Town: Alex O’Reilly; Robbie Hamm, Thomas McGauley (Kevin Dunne, 72min), Damien Rushe, Des Hope; Mick Byrne, Kieran O'Reilly, Robbie Benson, David Tyrell (Kevin Horan, 83min); John Mernagh, Noel McGee (Thomas O’Halloran, 79min).
Unused subs: Ronan Stack, John McGuinness.
Referee: Derek Tomney
Attendance: 412
Extratime Man of the Match: Garry Sheahan - ran himself ragged and great work to make the goal for the impressive Jimmy Keohane who worked well in partnership after he came on.
The opening few minutes at Ferrycarrig Park looked as though the Youths would control Athlone. A skilled run by Robert Vickers beat Damien Rushe and his cross from wide provided Gavin Doyle with a great chance to score from five yards, but he placed his unopposed header over the bar after seven minutes. The next chance was a spurned free by Doyle, whose battles with Des Hope were growing. Athlone captain David Tyrell then took advantage of a Paul Rossiter interception from a Robbie Benson cross that deflected towards him but his tame half volley failed to beat Holden.
The Youths keeper then innocently stood on a routine back pass only to pick up an injury, and was unable to continue. With no sub 'keeper on the bench, he was replaced in goal by Gavin Doyle with Jimmy Keohane, just 17 years old, going up front beside Sheahan. The youngster almost saw a reward for his skill and positioning as his left foot curler late in the half travelled just wide after nutmegging Rushe. For Athlone, Benson and David Tyrell looked to control the game, feeding the runs of Johnny Mernagh and Noel McGee, but David Breen marshalled his troops expertly to resist them.
The second half took off where the first left, as Keohane was instrumental with Sheahan in setting Robert Vickers through, his shot clipped off the inside of Alex O’Reilly’s legs and went wide.
Dempsey was beginning to grow in confidence alongside Peter White as Athlone’s Benson saw his stamp in midfield from the first half fade. Mernagh went close though after 53 minutes when Benson sent Tyrell down the left past Russell and his cross was deflected into Mernagh’s path only for him to blaze over.
White teed himself up expertly next as he collected from Keohane, turned and shot left-footed only for O’Reilly to tip it over. On the 65th minute the game was decided as Sheahan chased down Rushe, beat him to the ball and crossed for Keohane to run into the box and smash the ball into the goal.
With ten minutes remaining the midfield of the Youths looked to have a battle on as Flynn O’Connor was given a second yellow and sent off for a late foul out wide on Kieran O'Reilly. However, a fantastic final display by the home team, especially Sheahan and Keohane as outlets right up into the third minute of added time saw them through to a deserved victory.
Wexford Youths: Packie Holden (Jimmy Keohane, 30min); Johnny Flynn O’Connor, Anto Russell, David Breen, Peter White, Paul Rossiter; Keith Kearney (Garrett McCurtain, 84min), Robert Vickers (Shane Sinnott, 87min), Shane Dempsey; Gavin Doyle, Garry Sheahan.
Unused subs: Martin Kehoe, Ritchie Fitzgerald.
Booked: Flynn O'Connor (33)(81), Kearney (44), Breen (55), Dempsey (90).
Athlone Town: Alex O’Reilly; Robbie Hamm, Thomas McGauley (Kevin Dunne, 72min), Damien Rushe, Des Hope; Mick Byrne, Kieran O'Reilly, Robbie Benson, David Tyrell (Kevin Horan, 83min); John Mernagh, Noel McGee (Thomas O’Halloran, 79min).
Unused subs: Ronan Stack, John McGuinness.
Referee: Derek Tomney
Attendance: 412
Extratime Man of the Match: Garry Sheahan - ran himself ragged and great work to make the goal for the impressive Jimmy Keohane who worked well in partnership after he came on.
