Wexford FC hold title favorites Cork City to a draw as visitors extend unbeaten streak

Leo Murray — 1 April 2024

Wexford FC held First Division title challengers Cork City to a 1–1 draw on Easter Monday in Ferrycarrig in a game which saw exciting young attacker Jaden Umeh break a Cork City club record.

The home side made 4 changes to their starting lineup from their draw against Kerry FC, with manager James Keddy bringing defender Darragh Levingston in for the suspended Ben Lynch. With Kaylem Harnett and Mark Hanratty both also starting, and lastly Brandon McCann, at the expense of main man Thomas Oluwa.

City’s Tim Clancy made some noticeable changes to his side that narrowly defeated Athlone Town 1–0 last time out, as Barry Coffey was given a start in midfield, with a completely new attacking trio in Jaden Umeh, Cian Murphy and injury returnee Cian Bargary all given starts.

There was fine weather for a game of football in The Model County as both sets of fans created a compelling atmosphere before kickoff.

The game began and the visitors started strong, with a brilliant run down the right wing from Cian Bargary resulting in a low driven cross being met by young talent Jaden Umeh, who calmly slotted a shot past Wexford keeper Owen Mason to hand City the lead after only 3 minutes of play.

This handed Umeh the title of Cork City’s youngest ever goalscorer, at 16 years and 2 weeks of age, a record held by teammate Cathal O’Sullivan since their game against Bray Wanderers at The Cross.

The rest of the first half was dominated by the Leesiders, but although the lion’s share of chances fell to them, they couldn’t convert.

Among the biggest of such chances came for City’s Barry Coffey 4 minutes before the break, when a headed ball across the box fell to him at the back post. Coffey took it on the volley, forcing a brilliant reflex save from Owen Mason.

The second 45 began with a seemingly rejuvenated Wexford side starting strong, with winger Thomas Oluwa posing immediate threat down the left-hand side when he was substituted on at the start of the second half.

But the first big chance fell to City’s Evan McLaughlin, as striker Cian Murphy laid a ball off to his feet outside the box, but the shot left much to be desired, as a weak effort only rolled into the hands of the Wexford shot stopper.

From that point on, City looked like ghosts, as Wexford ran rings around the lackadaisical Cork side.

Wexford kept asking questions of the City team, and their form was rewarded just past the hour mark, when Wexford’s Oluwa had the beating of full-back Harry Nevin and rolled a low ball toward the Cork City box, which was subsequently helped into the 6-yard box by Aaron Dobbs and tapped in by midfielder Mikie Rowe, his first goal at home since joining Wexford in the winter.

City noticeably lacked the creativity of new marquee signing Jack Doherty, who so far has racked up 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games in the First Division, with his omission from the starting 11 a puzzling decision by manager Tim Clancy, and even more puzzling why the forward wasn’t subbed on when City needed him most.

The game admittedly did not hold much more action, with no more major threats from either team. The game ended 1–1, as both teams would admit their performances contrasted majorly between the halves.

Both teams play their next match on Friday, with Wexford FC home to promotion challenging Limerick side Treaty United, and Cork City are back at the Cross in a huge Cork derby as they take on Cobh Ramblers. Both games kickoff at 19:45.