Wexford Youths -v- UCD

• Conor Meagher
• Thu, Jul 16 2009


Top-Four Challengers or Fighting for Fifth?
Fifth placed Wexford Youths will welcome the challenge of third placed UCD on Friday evening at Ferrycarrig Park (7.30 kick-off) in a match the home side cannot afford to lose as their season takes shape. Defeat here would see them move from being top-four challengers to facing a battle with Limerick for fifth place for the remainder of the season. Limerick away, and a loss, was the last action in the League for the Slaneysiders while the Belfielders arrive fresh from a home loss to Shels. Both side's form of late has seen them record victories only to draw or lose after. The Youths may have the upper hand in returning players and the fact that a Liam O’Loughlin winner saw them beat the Students away in April.

Hoping to Bounce Back
Wexford manager Mick Wallace must hope that his side can come back from being outplayed in Jackman Park last Friday away to Limerick. The Youths were two goals down inside 25 minutes, something that allowed the home team to relax slightly and despite sustained possession in the second half, Wallace’s men could not fashion much to harm Pat Scully’s team.

Speaking to wexfordyouthsfc.ie Wallace said: "We were outplayed against Limerick last Friday, we know that, but we’re still learning all the time" in a clear reference to his side's youthful age and experience. The loss saw Limerick close the gap to five points with Wexford in fifth and Wallace said how: "We know that the UCD game is a tough fixture, but it is clearly a must-win if we want to keep pressure on the top four. Otherwise it’s a battle for fifth place for the rest of the season” declared Wallace.

UCD manager Martin Russell will hope to use the home defeat to the Youths earlier in the season imagine as a spur to inspire his team. Defeats to Shels and Sporting Fingal are the only blips on the radar for his side going back ten games or more in all competitions, so they will prove a hard test for the Youths either way.

Captain Returns to Add Much Needed Experience
Suspended duo Conor Sinnott and Johnny Flynn O’Connor return for the Warriors to strengthen midfield and left back respectively. Sinnott, who is the captain and Club Promotion Officer for the club, has been missed the most lately despite Peter White and Shane Dempsey filling in impressively for him. The injury list has been added to, though as David Miller has been confirmed as being out for the season with a confirmed cruciate injury. Keeper Packie Holden is still out with his knee injury sustained when he stood on the ball against Athlone. Danny Furlong, Kyle Dempsey, Lee Aust, Marty Kelly, Tim McGrath and Paul Murphy are all still long term casualties.

Students missing Key players
UCD are without Ciaran Kilduff as the striker is out with a back injury. Goalkeeper Ger Barron is a slight doubt having picked up a dead leg against Shelbourne last week. After picking up a red card against Shels, Ronan Finn is suspended for this game.

Russell will be looking for his side to return to form after losing at home to Shelbourne last week.“We’re looking to get back on the winning run. Wexford have been playing some fine football this year so it’s not going to be easy,” said Russell.

“They have improved again this season, fair dues to Mick [Wallace] for the work he’s done down there. We always think if can play well we can come away with a result.”

The UCD manager acknowledged that the Students need to keep the pressure on Shelbourne in order to stay in the promotion hunt.

“There’s still plenty of football. We have to play each other again. Obviously you try to stay in the pack as tight as possible so Shels don’t open up too much of a gap,”