Soccer U.17

Wexford CBS 3-1 Enniscorthy CBS

The Bokerboys finish group with solid performance

Wexford CBS under 17 side rounded off the group stage of their league campaign with a 100% record to ensure passage into the semi-final of the competition. The Bokerboys started the game nervously and went behind to a well worked goal from a determined Enniscorthy side. Adam Dempsey and his defence could do nothing as a deflected cross found its way to an Enniscorthy player unmarked in the box who applied a neat finish high to Dempsey’s right hand side 1-0 to the away side. The Bokerboys response was excellent as from that point on they dominated possession and the game itself. The pace and energy of the wingers Luke O’Neill and Jamie Thomas was casuing their opponents a head ache and midway through the first half Luke O’Neill battled well in the box to claim possession of a Jamie Thomas cross and he slid an effort past the helpless keeper to level the scores. For the remainder of the half Wexford CBS played some dynamic football and created a lot of chances, but a combination of some good last ditch defending and an excellent goalkeeper couldn’t find another goal. Half time 1-1.

In the second half the home side really upped their game and within five minutes had taken the lead after Luke O’Neill combined well to play in Dion Murphy who coolly slotted home to put the Bokerboys ahead. Wexford CBS continued to apply the pressure and created more chances but just couldn’t find the finishing touch. Enniscorthy were looking dangerous on the counter but fine defending from Kallum Boraders and Jack O’Leary in particular kept them at bay. Luke O’Neill thought he had doubled the advantage midway through the second half, Kallum Broaders whipped in a dangerous ball which Luke met brilliantly on the volley smashing home into the top corner but the ref blew him offside in what had to be a close call. Substitute TJ Cousins did manage to add a third in the dying minutes as he latched onto a through ball from Dylan O’Regan advancing into a 1 on 1 with the keeper sending an effort across the keeper to find the net low to the left corner. Overall the Bokerboys coped well with the test provided by Enniscorthy and deservedly won guaranteeing themselves top spot in the group and passage directly to the semi-final of the league competition where they will hope to go one better than last year where they were defeated on penalties in the final. Best on the day from an excellent team performance were Kallum Broaders, Dion Murphy and Luke O’Neill.

Wexford CBS: Wexford CBS: Adam Dempsey (Wexford Youths), Paddy O’Reilly (Wexford Albion), Kallum Broaders (North End), Jack O’Leary (Wexford Albion), Ben Butler (Wexford Albion), Shane Hall (Wexford Albion), Dion Murphy (Wexford Albion),  Sam O’Neill (Wexford Albion), Luke O’Neill (Wexford Albion), Luke Dowdall (Wexford Albion), Jamie Thomas (Wexford Albion), Subs: T.J Cousins (Wexford Albion) for Dowdall, Dylan O’Regan (North End) for Hall, Cathal Kirwan (Wexford Albion) for Butler, Ryan Busher (Wexford Youths) for Thomas, Todd Hynes (North End) for L. O’Neill, also Cian Foley (North End), Leon Nolan-Cullen (North End)  Chris Cowman (Curracloe Utd.)