League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Dundalk

• Caoimhin Reilly
• Fri, Aug 26 2016




WEXFORD YOUTHS

Wexford Youths will welcome champions Dundalk to Ferrycarrig Park for the second time this season on Friday night looking to secure their first league victory over the Lilywhites since 2008.

 

Last year’s 30-goal leading scorer, Danny Furlong, was among the goal scorers on that night and if Youths are to get either, something from tomorrow night’s encounter, and/or retain their top-flight status, they will need their record net-bulger to find his feet in the Premier Division rather swiftly as his disappointing four-goal league haul in 2016 points to why Shane Keegan’s men have slipped alarmingly towards the relegation slots.

 

Youths can take heart from their performances recently, while they have given Stephen Kenny’s trail-blazing Lilywhites incredibly tough examinations in both of the side’s meetings this campaign.

 

The men from the south-east advanced to a meeting with Derry City in the last eight of the FAI Cup with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Sligo Rovers in Wexford last Friday evening with Andy Mulligan’s 92^nd minute strike enough to see Youths progress.

 

Arguably, Youths’ best showings have actually been against the stronger teams having taken points off Shamrock Rovers and Cork City and, although they haven’t raided the Oriel Park outfit for points this term, they’ve challenged Stephen Kenny’s men rigorously.

 

A story of their season has been succumbing to late goals, and their two defeats to Dundalk epitomise this piece of analysis. Despite out-playing the Lilywhites for long periods at home in March, Youths imprudently allowed Ciaran Kilduff to punish their attacking innocence on the break-away to leave Keegan’s men, at that stage in the year, pointless in their opening top-flight season.

 

Similarly, in Oriel Park, Wexford were brave, expansive and entertaining in their play – finding porous gaps in a typically impermeable Lilywhite rear-guard. Regardless of the positive impression that they made though, they once more showed their inexperience at such an unforgiving level, as they twice allowed a lead to slip before eventually losing an incredible match by three-goals-to-two, as a consequence of Patrick McEleney in the 93^rd minute.

 

DUNDALK

Dundalk will look to further enhance their claim to being the best Irish club team ever when their bandwagon rolls into Wexford on Friday night, with their quest for three consecutive League of Ireland titles intensifying.

 

Stephen Kenny’s men, minus their talismanic ‘skipper Stephen O’Donnell, bowed out of UEFA Champions League contention in Warsaw on Wednesday despite putting in an incredible performance whereby they had chances to overturn the mammoth deficit that had been inflicted upon them from the first-leg at the Dublin Arena.

 

Robbie Benson, another fine wheel in the Lilywhites’ relentless midfield unit was exceptional on the night, as was Chris Shields and Paddy Barrett, however, it was the former UCD captain that attracted all the attention throughout Europe with his extraordinary right-footed volley which nestled firmly in the top-corner. It was a goal worthy of the Estádio José Alvalade, the Westfalenstadion and, indeed, the Bernabeu.

 

Dundalk, to a man, pushed for the goal that would prolong their Champions League dreams for at least another 30 minutes, however, their efforts were shattered when Legia’s left-sided gem, Michal Kucharczyk rounded Andy Boyle to fire past Gary Rogers deep into stoppage time.

 

Unfortunately, their gallant efforts failed to yield even the solace of an away victory, as the Lilywhites now await the draw for the Europa League group stages, something which Kenny will undoubtedly be planning for en route to Wexford on Friday afternoon in the aftermath of the draw.

 

The Lilywhites have boosted their panel of players in recent days, with the announcement that Alan Keane has joined the border outfit, assumedly as cover for the ever-present Sean Gannon.

 

Although, more significantly, Stephen Kenny has secured the services of Northern Ireland international and former Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Glasgow Rangers attacker Dean Shiels, with the son of Derry City manager, Kenny, likely to be part of the travelling squad, however, the club are still awaiting his international clearance meaning that his debut may be delayed until Tuesday night’s FAI Cup clash with Crumlin United.

 

Robbie Benson spoke to dundalkfc.com ahead of the trip down the M11 to Wexford and insisted that a win is vital for his side to continue their progress.

 

Benson said: “I’m very disappointed with the result on Tuesday night and to go out of the tie altogether. We have to keep our eye on the ball because the only way we’ll get back to the Champions League next year is by winning our domestic league and this weekend’s game against Wexford is a huge game for us.”

 

 

Referee: Robert Harvey

 

 

MATCH STATS

The last occasion that Wexford Youths defeated Dundalk FC was in October 2008. Danny Furlong was among the Youths goal scorers that night as they claimed a 3-1 victory over the First Division’s eventual winners at the Wexford venue.

 

The sides have played each other a total of 13 times in all competitions. Dundalk have won 11 of those games, with Wexford having won only once against the Lilywhites since they joined the league back in 2007.

 

Tomorrow’s fixture will see the reigning SSE Airtricity League Premier Division and First Division champions face off for the third time in 2016. Dundalk lead 5-3 on aggregate following the side’s meetings in April and May.

 

BETTING

Wexford Youths 10/1; Draw 4/1; Dundalk FC 1/4.

 

PREDICTION

Wexford Youths 1-3 Dundalk

 

Wexford Youths

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

 

 

Dundalk

Injured: Dane Massey.

Doubtful: Ciaran Kilduff.

Suspended: Daryl Horgan.