Wexford Youths -v- Kildare County

• Conor Meagher
• Fri, Jul 31 2009


Fifth placed Wexford Youths welcome bottom of the league Kildare County this Friday with a confirmed half seven kick-off at Ferrycarrig Park. Despite attempts by the home side to change their pre-season arranged opening start time of 8 o’clock to the new time a few weeks ago, the FAI over-ruled it as it had not came through the correct channels. Friday’s fixture will see the first ‘official’ seven thirty start - an idea aimed at giving young families a better chance of making the home games thought up by Club Promotions Officer and Captain Conor Sinnott. Wexford come into the game having recovered from two defeats, against UCD at home and away to Limerick by beating Finn Harps in Ballybofey. Kildare were beaten at home by Monaghan last out after recording and impressive draw with Limerick at home and whipping Mervue 4-1 away.

The Youths will feel confident with their team and attitude settling back after players being absent on holidays lately and they seem to have gone for a set 4-4-2 the last while with Sheahan and Doyle dove-tailing well with support on the wings by Sinnott and the always impressive Jimmy Keohane out wide. Noel O’Connor took charge last week with Manager Mick Wallace away and spoke before the match of the journey being a chance to bond for the tem. In the run up to this weeks’ match he said “We had a great result last Saturday night at Finn Park. The thing is that Finn Harps underestimated us, we can’t allow that to happen when we play Kildare”. O’Connor went on to say how “Kildare are a much different side to what we faced back in May. They have a new set up and are improving all the time. Players like Davy Byrne, Philip Hughes and Stephen Burke bring experience to the side and if we don’t rise to the challenge then we could be in trouble”. The Youths are still without Kyle Dempsey, Danny Furlong, Marty Kelly, Liam Miller, Lee Aust, Tim McGrath and keeper Packie Holden but that has little effect given the teams strength in depth this season.

The last time the two sides met it was way back in May and County Manager Joey Somerville had only taken charge of the side, looking to stop their alarming form – form that saw them lose by three goals to the Youths. New signing Davy Byrne made an impression that night, getting sent off and banned for four games though wasn’t the impression he’d have meant. The defender has since returned to the side and has some practice in the friendly matches arranged as part of the Football Festival at County’s home ground over the last few weeks.

With extra additions over the last two months and a new determination, Somerville has seen a new life breathed into the former whipping boys saying ‘We’re going to have some very disappointed lads sitting in the stands tomorrow night but that is the sort of competition for places that we want. We need to have a bench full of players who can come on and influence a game and we will certainly have that for the Monaghan game’ in reference to the new set up on kildarecountyfc.com recently. After some positive results of late, Somerville will be hoping for an upset here – although he will see it as progression and deserved of his developing team if they claim the points.

Extratime.ie Prediction: 3-1. Kildare showed against Mervue what they are capable of but got found out against Monaghan, it all depends on the Youths bringing their away form and attitude home. If they do, it could be messy no matter how tight a side Kildare have become.