Wexford Youths –v- Sporting Fingal

• Conor Meagher
• Fri, Jun 05 2009


After last weekend’s sunshine it can truly be said that summer soccer has begun in earnest. This Friday will be no different, hopefully, as fifth place Wexford Youths face fourth place Sporting Fingal at Ferrycarrig Park (kick-off 8pm). A Conan Byrne strike early in the first half saw off UCD for Sporting last time out, while Mick Wallace’s men fought out a precious away win against Waterford courtesy of the in form Gavin Doyle and recent addition Gary Sheahan with Willie John Kiely replying for the home side.

After the game, Mick Wallace, who was also at the Champions League Final last week, said: "Packie Holden had a great game in goal while the defence did very well to contain what is probably the best attack in the division – Kiely, Cummins and Waters are a serious handful. Up front, Gavin Doyle and Gary Sheehan worked to a standstill, neither finishing the game as both were doubtful before the start. Together they gave the Waterford defence a tough time and earned their goals."

Wallace will look to these players, along with Conor Sinnott, to steady his team after the Waterford win put a shine on the team following losses against Bohs and Shels Left-back, Johnny Flynn O’Connor returns for Wexford while Doyle and Sheehan are back to full menacing strength for this match, however Keith Kearney and Marty Kelly are still unavailable for selection.

Sporting will be without defenders Shaun Maher and Stephen Paisley, while strikers Gary O’Neill and Daniel Corcoran are ruled out. Also, Robbie Doyle and Philip Byrne will face late fitness tests and Robert Bayly is suspended after picking up yellow card in four matches. Fingal boss, Liam Buckley had this to say about his opposite number tomorrow night: “Mick Wallace has built a great unit at Wexford and their latest results have shown they are steadily improving. To beat both UCD and, most recently, Waterford United away from home is fantastic for them and I know they were unlucky not to take something out of the Shelbourne game.

“From our end, we got the three points we needed last week at UCD to keep us in the mix. The performance was good but it was all about the result, bearing in mind the defeat against Waterford United six days earlier. The number of players out injured has meant lads have been asked to play out of position and they’ve done a decent job. Thankfully, I expect most of the players to be back in action within a few weeks,” added Buckley who will be hoping his side can remain unbeaten on the road after winning four of their six games thus far and drawing the other two.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Home win, Wallace’s side have shown resilience the last few weeks after a stuttering start to the season and will look to build on beating Waterford last time out. 2-1.