Brave Tullamore edged out by Banville's winner
Tullamore Town 0 Wexford Youths 1
Mick Wallace brought his pink battalions to Leah Victoria Park last Saturday and emerged victorious from this hard fought encounter by the narrowest of margins.
The visitors were quickly into their stride and Patrick Dunican had to be at his best to tip a swirling cross shot from Joseph Wallace around the post and then Donal Shanley's dangerous left wing cross found Aaron Kinsella but his shot was charged down. As Tullamore hit back, Mark Casey's twenty yard effort was well held by Shane Sinnott down low to his left.
With 15 minutes gone, Wexford nearly made the breakthrough when Shanley found room in the area but he was denied by a great sliding tackle from Ross Kinnarney. As the game continued to ebb and flow Gary Hutchinson picked out Shane Martino on the right and he skipped past his marker but Gary Delaney knocked his dangerous cross behind. Martino was proving a constant threat on the right and was again denied by a great Delaney tackle as he bore down on goal.
With 40 minutes on the clock Martino picked out Mark Casey and his cross was taken off the toe of the in-rushing James by Timmy Dwyer. As the first half moved into time added on the visitors nearly broke the deadlock when they won a corner on the right and Gary Delaney rose above the defence to send his header crashing off the crossbar as the interval arrived with both sides tied at 0-0.
Wexford began the second half as they had started the first with Donal Shanley getting in a fine header that was well held under the bar by Patrick Dunican. Tullamore immediately hit back when Rory Condron played a great ball down the left to Michael James and his pinpoint cross was headed narrowly over by Ted Conway. With Diarmuid Carroll outstanding at the back they continued to press and good play by Terry Byrne and Shane Martino created danger in the visitors defence but Dale Scallon got across to clear.
On the hour Wexford went perilously close when Eric Banville picked the ball up wide on the right and cut it back to Aaron Kinsella, but his first time effort was superbly saved by Dunican. With the home side struggling up front, manager John O'Connor introduced Aaron Hensey into the attack and he was quickly into the action when he got on the end of a Terry Byrne pass and brought a smart save from Shane Sinnott.
But with 65 minutes on the clock Wexford made the vital breakthrough. Evander Chatara picked the ball up wide on the left and fired in a great cross to the far post, where Eric Banville sent a lovely controlled volley into the bottom left hand corner to put his side in front.
The introduction of Macdarragh O'Neill on 75 minutes brought an added dimension to the home attack and his impact was immediate when he won a corner on the right and, from the resultant kick, he headed the ball across the face of the goal to Rory Condron, but his close range header was well held by Sinnott. The visitors nearly increased their lead when Ben Duffy went on a surging run through the middle but he was denied by a fine save from Patrick Dunican but, with minutes remaining, Tullamore were presented with a wonderful opportunity to level the game. Condron picked out Aaron Hensey in the area but his well struck volley flew inches outside the left post as Wexford ran out winners of this compelling cup tie.
This Tullamore side is packed full of talented young players, the majority of whom will still be eligible for Youths football next season. Against a bigger and more experienced Wexford team they gave an outstanding account of themselves and were a little unfortunate to lose out on the day.
There were excellent contributions from Patrick Dunican, Diarmuid Carroll, Mark Casey and Gary Hutchinson with Gary Delaney, Aaron Kinsella, Joseph Wallace and Donal Shanley the pick of the visitors, but the man of the match award went to Tullamore's flying right winger, Shane Martino.
Tullamore Town: Patrick Dunican, Matthew Hynes, Diarmuid Carroll, Ross Kinnarney, Rory Condron, Shane Martino, Gary Hutchinson, Mark Casey, Michael James, Terry Byrne and Ted Conway. Subs: Aaron Hensey, Macdarragh O'Neill, Adam Shelly, Thomas Cooney and Dillon Melia.
Wexford Youths: Shane Sinnott, Dale Scallon, Rajiv Kumar, Mark Donoghue, Gary Delaney, Ben Duffy, Aaron Kinsella, Joseph Wallace, Eric Banville, Donal Shanley and Timmy Dwyer. Subs: Stephen Keogh, David White, Evander Chatara and Brandon O'Callaghan.
