Wexford Youths 0
Derry City 0
IT WAS A tale of two in-form goalkeepers as Wexford Youths and Derry City played out an exciting scoreless draw at Ferrycarrig Park in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash.
Youths Graham Doyle and Candystripes goalkeeper Ger Doherty made numerous great saves to keep their respective sides in the game, as neither attack could outdo their respective opposing goalkeeper.
The sides traded early chances as Derry striker Nathan Boyle forced Youths keeper Doyle into a low save, before Youths Paul Murphy saw his header well saved by City keeper Doherty at the other end.
The home side should have taken the lead minutes later after an Andrew O’Connor corner kick dropped to Eric Molloy, but his powerful strike came crashing back off the crossbar.
Doyle saved from Boyle again as the chances continued, before Niclas Schubert forced Lee Grace to block as the visitors continued to create chances despite the hosts having most of the possession.
Barry McNamee threatened next after Doyle had blocked the initial through-ball, but the keeper was up block the rebound. Rory Patterson thought he’d opened the scoring past the half-hour mark but an offside flag ruled his goal out.
The Youths came back into the game and Jonny Bonner’s superb left-footed volley flew just past Doherty’s far post, before Murphy forced the netminder into a great save after Shane Dempsey flicked on a Doyle kick from the back.
The second half was less than a minute old when Niclas Schubert had a great chance to give the visitors the lead as he got in down the right but he fired into the side netting, before Boyle fired wide.
Both goalkeepers were called into making good saves as the half went on. Schubert did well down the right and found Boyle in the penalty are but Doyle pulled off a great low save to keep the Youths level.
At the other end, Andrew O’Connor beat four players on a great run down the left before the ball dropped for Bonner, but Doherty made a great low save.
And Shane Keegan’s Youths almost grabbed in the final minute of stoppage time as Aidan Keenan found Molloy who charged at the area from the right. He was impeded as he ran towards goal however chose to stay on his feet, but Derry City keeper Ger Doherty made a fine save to ensure a share of the spoils between the sides.
WEXFORD YOUTHS: Graham Doyle; Craig McCabe; Gary Delaney (Jonny Bonner 20), Stephen Last, Lee Grace; Andrew O’Connor, Eric Molloy, Shane Dempsey (Chris Kenny 90+1), Andy Mulligan; Aidan Keenan; Paul Murphy (Eoin Porter 83).
DERRY CITY: Ger Doherty; Conor McDermott, Niclas Vemmelund, Max Karner, Ben Doherty; Lucas Schubert, Conor McCormack, Harry Monaghan (Rory Holden 87), Barry McNamee; Nathan Boyle (Josh Daniels 71), Rory Patterson.
Referee: Tomas Connolly