Wexford
Kennedy Cup 2024
Wexford
3
Dundalk
0
Wexford,
wearing the Barcelona colors, played an impressive game to win the first round
match at UL.
From
the beginning, Wexford played the ball around and maintained a strong defense
whenever Dundalk attacked. The first half seemed to be ending without goals.
However, with seven minutes to go, Lee Jordan calmly finished into the corner
on the break after some great build-up play.
In
the second half, it was Jordan again who scored from a difficult angle after
dispossessing the goalkeeper near the endline. Just before the final whistle,
Patryk Werra scored the third goal for the southeast side from long range.
Wexford
1
Wicklow
1
A
solid defensive performance, even after being reduced to ten men, kept Wexford
unbeaten after the first two rounds of the tournament in UL.
From
the start, it was evident that these two fierce rivals were evenly matched.
Wexford created the first significant chance, but a goal-line scramble was
successfully cleared. Both teams had half chances before and after the water
break, making it clear that only a remarkable strike would break the deadlock.
With
five minutes left in the first half, Wexford center back Bobby Connell scored a
volley from the edge of the box, giving his team a halftime lead.
After
the break, Wicklow dominated, led by forward Cian Murphy. Murphy nearly set up
the equalizer, but David McCormack's effort was well saved. Shortly after,
Murphy's impressive skills earned a penalty, which Sam Conyard converted.
Wexford
goalkeeper Elliott Barrett received a straight red card for handling the ball
outside the box. Despite this setback, Wexford's strong defensive performance
ensured they secured a share of the points in this M11 Derby.
Wexford
1
Limerick
District 0
A
solitary first-half goal proved decisive in this top-of-the-table clash, as the
southeast side emerged victorious against one of the home teams in the final
group game on Tuesday evening.
Wexford,
knowing that a win would secure them the top spot in the group, started the
match with intense pressure on their opponents. Within five minutes, Cormac
Cunningham capitalized on a high press, winning the ball back and firing it
into the top corner. Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, but just
before the water break, Limerick’s Jack Taheny broke through the defense only
to have his shot brilliantly saved by Oscar Cullen.
From
the water break to halftime, neither team could gain control as the midfield
turned into a battleground, leaving Wexford with a 1-0 lead at the break.
In
the second half, both sides continued to search for a crucial foothold, but
clear-cut chances remained elusive despite the players' fatigue. As the final
whistle blew, Wexford celebrated their hard-fought victory, having done enough
to secure their place in the Cup side of the draw.
Wexford
were then drawn to play West Cork in the cup quarter final Wednesday evening in
UL.
Cup
Quarter Final
Wexford
1
West
Cork 0
Wexford
have proven to be one of the best defensive teams in the tournament, having
conceded only one goal up to the semifinal.
The
first half of this quarterfinal was a hard-fought battle, with both sides
evenly matched. However, the southeast side gradually gained control in
midfield, creating several chances that were thwarted by West Cork's solid
defense.
After
the break, Wexford intensified their pressure and eventually broke the deadlock
when Lee Jordan found the back of the net with twenty minutes remaining.
Despite Munster's side pushing forward after the second water break, Wexford,
led by captain Sean Galway, held firm to secure a 1-0 victory. This win
advanced them to the cup semifinal on Thursday afternoon.
Cup
Semi Final
Wexford
0
South
Belfast 3
South
Belfast finally broke down the tournament's toughest defense, defeating their
southeast opponents in this highly anticipated Kennedy Cup semifinal.
Having
recently faced each other in the inter-league competition, the two teams were
evenly matched from the start. The deadlock was broken within ten minutes when
Rocco Devlin set up Beto Unhabo, who fired past the returning Elliott Barrett.
Despite this early setback, Wexford stuck to their game plan and created
several chances, most of which fell to the impressive striker Lee Jordan, who
couldn't find the equalizer before halftime.
Minutes
into the second half, Devlin assisted again, this time setting up Winner Kabuya
to slot the ball past Barrett, doubling South Belfast's lead. Wexford battled
admirably to narrow the gap but couldn't break through the opposition's strong
defense. As the final whistle approached, Belfast were awarded a penalty, which
Daniel Anderson converted, securing their victory and a place in the cup final.
3rd
and 4th place match
Wexford
0
Galway
.1
Wexford
fell short in their final game of the tournament, with a solitary goal making
the difference.
From
the start of this Friday evening tie in UL, it was evident that a single goal
would likely determine the higher placement in the final standings. The
Connacht side had the first attempt with a free kick that sailed over the bar.
Clear chances were rare, but Wexford’s Aaron Nolan had the best opportunity
before the first break, only for his effort to be well blocked by the opposition.
After
the break, Galway took the lead with Ronan Keating's shot finding the net,
putting them ahead at halftime. In the second half, Wexford fought hard to get
back into the game, creating chances on either side of the water break, but
they couldn’t break through Galway’s defense. Until the final whistle, Galway
stood strong, denying Wexford's valiant attempts to equalize.
Wexford
should be proud of their fourth-place finish in the competition.
After
the game we got the thoughts of Manager Simon Barnes. He details how “it has
been a brilliant week and the lads have been excellent.” Finishing fourth in
the tournament was a fantastic result for his side. He goes on to say how “ he
has had a great four years with them, and hopes they go onto bigger and better
things.”
As a
final word he mentions three of the
players who are lucky enough to be traveling to Blackpool next Friday with the
SFAI squad. “ We have three lads going to Blackpool next week, these are Sean
Galway, Darryl Kehoe and Aaron Nolan.”
Wexford
Kennedy Cup Squad
Séan
Galway: New Ross Town
Elliott
Barrett: St Joseph’s
Oisín
Ó Suilleabhán: St Joseph’s
Lewis
Nolan: St Joseph’s
Oscar
Cullen: Moyne Rangers
Aaron
Nolan: Newpark United
Daryl
O’ Brien: Bridge Rovers
Billy
Heffernan: Oylegate United
Bobby
Connell: New Ross Town
Patryk
Werra: St Joseph’s
Oisín
O’Connor: St Joseph’s
Charlie
McCarthy: Cushinstown
David
Byrne: Rosslare Rangers
Lee
Jordan: Shamrock Rovers.
Jack
Harding Kenny: Curracloe United
Cormac
Cunningham: Forth Celtic
Luke
Collins Turner: Shamrock Rovers
Leonardas
Krugelevicius: Campile United
Bernard
Switton: Gorey Celtic
Darryl
Kehoe: St Joseph’s
Head
of Delegation: Ian Lawlor
Manager:
Simor Barnes
GK
Coach: John Rossiter
Coach:
Andrew Byrne
Coach:
Killian Moran
Physio
Michael O’ Neill
Secretary
Anne Marie O’ Neill.
https://wexfordweekly.com/2024/06/17/a-round-up-of-wexfords- performances-in-the-2024-kennedy-cup/sport/
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