Wexford Youths -v- Limerick FC

• Conor Meagher
• Thu, Oct 01 2009


This Friday Wexford Youths will face a double challenge at Ferrycarrig Park, as firstly they host their bogey-side Limerick and secondly, they are at home. (Kick-off 7.30 pm)

Fans of Mick Wallace’s fifth-placed side will know that throughout the season their home form has held them back from pushing up the table while seventh-placed Limerick have held the mantle of bogey-side for the Youths since their first encounter as a League of Ireland team. Although five points separate the sides, with Wexford’s terrible home form and their reluctance to beat teams like Limerick who put it up to you, Mick Wallace will hope his settled young side can finally show some application to match their attitude at home.

Last time out in the League, Wexford were comprehensively beaten 2-0 away to Athlone Town, a result that followed on from a great win away to Sporting Fingal and an improved draw at home to Longford Town – in which a late equaliser/lapse in concentration took the three points from the Warriors. Their games before had seen a change in attitude and personnel, as the disenchanted Gavin Doyle and Johnny Flynn O’Connor moved on from the club, leaving the likes of Garry Sheahan and Gareth McCurtain to take on regular first team roles – McCurtain proving his range of qualities in reverting from an attacking midfielder to a full- back with few glitches.

“We didn’t play well against Athlone, so we need to produce a good display against a really good Limerick side on Friday”, commented Wallace after the loss to Athlone. He will need to plan well as his captain Conor Sinnott was red carded in that game and misses out. Patsy Malone and Shane Dempsey will return from suspension and hopefully grasp the chance to further develop their midfield partnership.

Limerick’s form of late has been more than decent, putting the Youths victors last week to the cleaver most noticeably a few weeks ago. Two three-all draws for Limerick at home to Monaghan and away to Shels saw them garner two points to keep track with the "Magic Mons" in sixth, and their whopping 6-1 defeat of Athlone previously had showed what they can do when applied to a game correctly. Limerick will look to catch up with the home side by beating them Friday and hoping Monaghan don’t win their game in hand so close to season’s end.

Extratime.ie Prediction: 1 -1 . As is the norm with Wexford at home, a dominance of possession will precede taking the lead before a defensive lapse lets Limerick back in.