A lively crowd gathered in South Dublin as Wexford looked to continue their positive streak following last week’s home victory over Bray Wanderers.
Going into the match, Wexford were without Ryan Ritchie or Jamie Wynne, with both sent off the week prior versus Bray Wanderers. Adam Verdon and Zak O’Sullivan returned to the starting XI after impressive cameos off the bench to see off the victory over Bray in Wexford.
Despite being away from Ferrycarrig Park, it was Wexford who got off to the better start. With three minutes gone, Zak O’Sullivan flashed a long-range strike within inches of the UCD goal, a clear warning sign for the home side of the on-loan Waterford man’s quality.
It was the home side’s turn to respond. After valiant Wexford defending denied the home side a surefire goal with five minutes gone, a follow-up strike a minute later courtesy of Louis Dignam put UCD ahead.
A fourteenth minute flurry forward by UCD midfielder Ciaran Behan forced a brilliant double save by Paul Martin to keep the home side’s lead to one goal. Adam Verdon responded for us with a strike from range in the 21st minute, forcing UCD shot stopper Dara Kavanagh to parry away for a corner.
Against the run of play, a ricocheted pass down the middle put Ciaran Behan through on goal in the 29th minute, allowing the UCD midfielder to double The Students lead.
A brave Kian Dignam goal line clearance in the 35th minute kept Stephen Elliott’s side in the tie, and it nearly got even better for the visitors before the end of the half.
Wexford captain Mikie Rowe was inches away from his eleventh goal of the season, only to be denied by UCD’s Dara Kavanagh at his near post in first half stoppage time.
Halftime saw the introduction of Zayd Abada and Gideon Tetteh for Wexford, followed by Kyal Byrne, Alex Norval, and Adam Dobbyn later on.
A huge achievement for both Alex Norval and Adam Dobbyn, two academy graduates making their first senior appearances in the League of Ireland. A just reward for their hard work.
The home side would add a third in the 56th minute with a low strike from range.
However, Wexford would respond emphatically with a tidy finish courtesy of former Bray man Max Murphy in the 61st minute. The twenty-five-year-old fired home from the edge of the UCD penalty area, curving a shot beyond the outstretched palm of Dara Kavanagh for his third of the season.
Wexford continued the pressure with a surge forward in the 68th minute. Kaylem Harnett forced another Dara Kavanagh to make his third save of the evening.
The home side would add a fourth through Hugh Smith via a soft penalty in the 76th minute.
While the home side ultimately claimed all three points on the night, Wexford will feel hard not to have gotten anything from the game – and can look towards positive individual performances by the likes of Max Murphy and Kian Dignam.
Attention now turns towards a clash against Athlone Town in Ferrycarrig Park a fortnight from now, while our Women’s side also face Athlone Town at home today at 18:00.
Wexford FC: Martin, Murphy, Verdon, McCourt, Rowe (C), O’Sullivan, Harnett, Hodgins, Butler, Dignam, Doyle. Subs used: Abada, Tetteh, Norval, Byrne, Dobbyn.
UCD FC: Kavanagh, Murphy, Wells (C), Lennox, Curtis, Cailloce, Behan, Dignam, McCullagh, Smith, Ogbonna. Subs used: Goad, Akinrintoyo, Costello, Alonge, Sheeran.
Scorers: L. Dignam (6’), Behan (29’) (56’), Murphy (61’), Smith (76’)
Attendance: 244 (FAI Connect)
Report: David Murtagh
