U19's Open Campaign with Away Win   02/09/2013

Wexford Youths 1-2 Mervue Utd (U19 Airtricity League) 

Mervue Utd came from a goal down to secure an opening game away win over Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Two late goals from Aaron McDonagh and Michael James after the home side appeared to be in control with only 15 minutes remaining in the match secured all three points for Justin Neary's side.

While the first Mervue goal was controversial, the second was a wonderful effort from substitute, Michael James. With both sides looking a bit rusty in terms of passing and control, real chances were hard to come by in the first half.

On eight minutes, Mervue had their only shot on target of the first half when striker, Padraic Cunningham, managed a near-post flick, but Danny Bolger in the Youth's goal managed to palm it away.

Wexford then got the ball down to the other end of the pitch and Tony Smith had a headed effort from a Youth's corner which was deflected for a second corner by a Mervue defender.

On the quarter-hour, Dean Tierney for Mervue was set up inside the Wexford penalty area but poked his shot wide. With ten to go in the half, the Youth's Daryl Power, who had come on as a substitute for the senior side during the previous evening's match against Athlone, set up James Shiggins with a neat pass, but James's first-time effort from 20 metres went over.

A minute later, Ethan O'Neill's pull-back on the impressive Aaron McDonagh for Mervue earned him the first yellow-card of the match. This was followed by a further yellow for Daryl Power who took a shot after being blown up for offside and the first half ended 0-0 after plenty of endeavour from both sides but little goalmouth action.

Mervue made one change at half-time when Richard Fahy, who had limped off a minute before the break, didn't reappear and was replaced by Michael James. Mervue started the second period with three early corners but nothing came from any of them.

However, this was followed by a throw-in for Wexford in their own half and a good passing movement sent Daryl Power clear down the left. Power's low cross was turned in at the far post by Tony Smith for a 1-0 advantage to the home side. At this stage, Wexford looked the likelier side to take all three points as James Shiggins again went clear down the left but this time Power just couldn't get on the end of the cross. Shiggins then had another effort on target which was comfortably saved by James Healy in the Mervue goal.

The turning point of the match occurred just after seventy minutes, however, when an free-kick by Aaron McDonagh for Mervue was comfortably caught by Wexford's Danny Bolger at his near post. However, he was then adjudged by the assistant referee to have stepped behind the line with the ball in his hands. Keeper Bolger looked astonished at the decision. A controversial equaliser and it brought the match back to 1-1.

Both sides went for the win in the last fifteen and, with ten to go, Shiggins had a volleyed effort for the Youths which went over after Power had headed the ball against Mervue keeper, James Healy.

With five to go in normal time, Mervue got a cracker of a winner when substitute, Michael James, picked up a loose ball outside the corner of the Youth's penalty box and curled a delicious effort with his left foot just inside the far post for 2-1 to the away side and huge celebrations in the away dugout.

Wexford pressed forward after this set-back, but the nearest they got was a volley from Ryan Delaney from a corner which was blocked on the Mervue goal-line by a defender. Wexford couldn't benefit from a generous amount of additional time and the final whistle resulted in the three points travelling back on the bus to Galway.

Wexford will be disappointed by the result but they did enough on the day to show that they will be competitive. Best for Wexford were Daryl Power, Nevin Rossiter and Ethan O'Neill, while Mervue had a gem of a left-winger in Aaron McDonagh.

 

Wexford Youths: Danny Bolger, Peter Goldsmith, Ryan Delaney, Nevin Rossiter, Conor Maher, Liam Walsh (Podge Doyle, 90), Andrew Wall, James Shiggins, Ethan O'Neill, Daryl Power (Eoin Dunne, 85), Tony Smith (Eoin Delaney, 66).

Subs not used: Donal Shanley, Jason McHugh, Danny Niekis.

Booked: Ethan O'Neill, Daryl Power.

Mervue United: James Healy, Eric Neary, Macon Byrne, Paul Healy, Matty Flynn, Dean Tierney (Steven Killeen, 75), Moise Assogba, Richard Fahy (Michael James, 46), Padraic Cunningham, Dillon Murphy, Aaron McDonagh.

Subs not used: Cian McDonnell, Gary Bailey, Cian De Lamport.

Referee: Shane Dunphy

Report courtesy of www.loi19.com - for all your U19 Airtricity League news, reports, fixtures and tables

 





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