Wexford Youths -v- Athlone Town

• Conor Meagher
• Thu, Jul 02 2009


Family Friendly Kick-Off Time
This coming Friday Wexford Youths will take on Athlone at Ferrycarrig Park with an earlier than usual 7.30 kick-off. In a press release from the club on Wednesday it was announced that the earlier time would hopefully encourage reluctant parents to bring their children to the game, coming from discussions between the club and Promotions Officer and Captain Conor Sinnott. The Youths sit in fifth place since the midseason break while Town are 10 points behind them in ninth. Athlone have beaten Kildare twice away but lost out to Waterford, Sporting and Limerick in between of late while the home side are coming out of a triple header against Longford gaining three points away in league but being knocked out of the cup at the same venue after a replay.

A Beautiful Night to be remembered
Youths Manager Mick Wallace spoke of his delight after the win away to Longford ‘I would have been happy with a draw with 10 minutes remaining, more than happy with the win at the end. With a few of our star players off on holidays we have four of our Under 17 in the squad: Jimmy Keohane, Shane Sinnott, Martin Kehoe and Robert Vickers – three of which played’ and despite missing the holidaying star pairing of Conor Sinnott and Gavin Doyle the Youths ground out a surprising result. ‘The most pleasing aspect of the overall performance was the level of honesty from every player, for the full 90 minutes. Each player is only so good, but when you get total honesty you can’t ask for more.’ Tim McGrath, Kyle Dempsey, Lee Aust, Marty Kelly, Paul Murphy and Danny Furlong are all absent through injury and Patsy Malone and Captain Conor Sinnott are still away on much needed holidays however Gavin Doyle returns.

Looking to Bounce Back Athlone will travel down to Wexford hoping to build on their two wins away to whipping boys Kildare over the last four games but a defeat to Waterford away and a draw against Mervue at home show the stuttering form of the club. Town had been doing well up to the reverse of this fixture when they were defeated and will hope to win tomorrow evening to get there season going again.

Extratime.ie Prediction: A hard fought home win as the returning Gavin Doyle and Keith Kearney add experience to a team still missing key men in Sinnott and Malone.