DANNY FURLONG bagged a hat-trick as First Division Wexford Youths hammered Premier Division Derry City in an amazing FAI Ford Cup tie at Ferrycarrig Park.

 

Mick Wallace’s Youths went into this tie with memories still fresh of their 2008 EA Sports Cup Final hammering by the Candystripes but that 6-1 loss was more than erased by this remarkable result.

The Candystripes left leading scorer Eamon Zayed on the bench as they gave some of their younger squad members a start but they never produced anything like their best form.

City almost took a fortunate lead in the third minute when a deep cross by Eddie McCallion went over the head of home keeper Packie Holden and bounced back off the far upright before being scrambled clear.

Wexford’s first threatening attack of note came in the 25^th minute when a long range striker by Danny Furlong was held by Derry keeper Ger Doherty.

Youths snatched a shock lead in the 32^nd minute when Ben Ryan split the visiting defence and set up Danny Furlong to produce a composed finish under the exposed Doherty.

Doherty was called into action again two minutes before the break when he denied Furlong a second goal after the striker had got in behind the City defence once more.

Wexford extended their lead in first half injury-time when Dean Broaders was taken down in the Derry penalty area by Barry Molloy and Furlong stepped up to send Doherty the wrong way from the spot-kick to make it 2-0.

Ryan almost produced a sensational third goal for Youths three minutes into the break when his attempted chip was palmed over by a scrambling Doherty.

From the resulting corner Kevin Rowe headed wide from a matter of yards as Derry seemed to be completed shell-shocked.

Derry created an excellent opportunity to get back in the tie in the 54^th minute when David McDaid squeezed the ball under the advancing Holden but Shane Nolan cleared off the line.

Nolan’s older brother Ireland international Eddie was in attendance at Ferrycarrig Park and would have been impressed by that piece of defending.

Gareth McGlynn volleyed narrowly over in the 69^th minute but with Derry throwing the kitchen sink into attack, Ben Ryan almost punished them on the counter 60 seconds later. Doherty saved bravely at the midfielder’s feet.

Ryan did make it 3-0 a couple of moments later when his shot took a wicked deflection off a Derry defender and looped over the helpless Doherty for a fortunate third goal for the home side.

Furlong completed a remarkable hat-trick in the 80^th minute when he tapped home from a matter of yards after slipping the ball to strike partner Darragh Walshe then arriving on cue to convert from the low cross.

City’s night was summed up in injury-time when Holden made a brilliant save to deny McDaid from close range. From the resulting corner Zayed tapped home but it was scant consolation for the visiting Derry fans.

WEXFORD YOUTHS: Holden; Nolan, Broaders, Keogh, Kehoe, Malone, Ryan, Wall, Furlong (Kinsella 90), Walshe (Mullen 90), Rowe (Grincell 56).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion (P McEleney 70), Lafferty, Graecen, Molloy, McClean, Harkin, Higgins, McLoughlin (McGlynn 46), McDaid, McCrudden (Zayed 46).

Referee: James McKell.