OK lads, here's the plan.
The plan worked a treat.
Dazzling Darren
Lamberts Lightning Strike seals epic win
Wexford CBS ...4 East Glendalough....3
The newly installed all weather pitch at Arklow Town FC was the venue for a thrilling Wicklow/Wexford senior soccer semi final on Thursday 12th January last. The CBS entered the match as reigning champions and as such were slight favourites over their Wicklow opponents. However, considering the presence of players with both county and international experience in the Wicklow team, the Wexford lads knew they were up against a quality team. It looked like there would be little to choose between the two sides and thats exactly how it turned out.. The game began in bright sunshine with the Wexford lads completely dominating the early stages. Keith Morrissey and Dylan Walsh caused havoc on the wings supplying dangerous balls into the excellent forward pairing of Danny Fitzpatrick and Darren Lambert. Indeed it was the Wexford boys who scored first with the impressive Robin Dempsey getting on the end of a Dale Scallan free kick with a wonderful diving header. Ten minutes later the Boker boys doubled their lead with great work from Lambert whose cross set up an opportunity that was neatly tucked away by Fitzpatrick. Ten minutes before the break the Wexford boys seemed to have booked their place in the final when Lambert himself controlled the ball on the edge of the area before swivelling and firing the ball low and hard into the net. Half time saw a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead for the Wexford men.
The second half, however was to be a totally different affair, as the Wicklow team came out with all guns blazing. An early strike reduced the deficit to two and it became obvious that the Wexford boys would spend the entirety of the second half on the back foot. It was during this period that the defence of Pierce Dooley, Dale Scallan, Peter Furlong and Jason Kearns were severely tested, yet for the vast majority of the half they dealt comfortably with the pressure being exerted. With fifteen minutes to go however, Glendalough struck again setting up a frantic finale. Special mention must go to Wexford Midfielder John Bridges who showed exceptional leadership when panic seemed to be setting in. Despite the best efforts of the Wicklow men it seemed that the CBS would hold out until with the final kick of normal time a wickedly deflected shot found its way past the unfortunate Ryan Furlong in the goal to send the game into extra time. The huge shift in momentum seemed to swing the odds in favour of the Wicklow team yet it was here that the true character of the CBS boys shone once more. Despite the last minute devastation they had just suffered they immediately picked themselves up in extra time and following great work from both Morrissey and Fitzpatrick the ball found its way to Lambert at the edge of the area, who once more was unerring in his placement. Only sixty seconds gone in extra time and the Wexford boys were back in front. Supported by the substitutions of John Joe Brown and the excellent Evan Dunbar
the Wexford lads ensured that there would be no more come back heroics from the Wicklow team and saw out the remainder of extra time with only the odd scare at the back. The full time whistle was met with great joy by the Wexford boys who can now look forward to a final appearance against either Enniscorhty Vocational College or Presentation College
Wexford CBS Squad
Ryan Furlong Robin Dempsey
Jamie McDonnell Danny Fitzpatrick
Pierce Dooley Dylan Walsh
James Flood Sean Kearney
Dale Scallan Peter Furlong
Jason Kearns John Bridges
Evan Dunbar Gavin O’Connor
John Joe Brown Emmet Connor
Keith Morrissey Keith Mernagh
Darren Lambert Larry Stout
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