Two dramatic Jason Russell saves in the closing minute helped Wexford Youths secure a draw with Shelbourne in this eircom League Division 1 game at Ferrycarrig Park.
An exciting start produced two goals in the space of a minute.
Shels keeper Dean Delaney was forced to tip over a Patsy Malone seventh header from a Conor Sinnott cross. Sinnot's resulting corner was headed clear by Damian Brennan but fell to the feet of Garrett Larkin who drilled a tremendous twenty metre drive to the bottom right hand corner of the net.
The visitor’s response was swift for they attacked straight from the restart, with Mark O'Brien playing a low ball into the area, where the unmarked Anthony Flood was left with the simple task of shooting low past keeper Russell.
Both sides enjoyed periods of supremacy with both Flood and Anthony Russell going close but it was still 1-1 at the break.
Within two minutes of the restart Flood set up substitute Keith Dunne who blazed wide from ten metres, a great chance of taking the lead gone abegging.
Wexford Youths having survived some pressure struck for their second goal when Conor Sinnott drilled in a twenty-five mere free-kick from right edge of the area after sixty minutes.
Russell in the home goal denied Dunne with a fine save fifteen minutes later.
After seventy-four minutes Shelbourne equalised with a Damian Brennan header from a Keith Dunne free-kick, the goal arriving following a period of prolonged pressure.
Two great saves from Russell denied Flood in the closing minute while Hughes knocked a cross just wide seconds later as Shels were denied a late winner, but in the end a draw was a fair result from a splendid game of open football.
Wexford Youths: Jason Russell, Thomas Hawkins, Joey Wadding (Kyle Dempsey 65) Anthony Russell, Marty Kelly, Patsy Malone, Liam O'Loughlin, Garrett Larkin, Gavin Doyle, Conor Sinnott (Danny Furlong 84), Richie Fitzgerald (Darren Browne 84).
Shelbourne: Dean Delaney, Alan Murphy, Robbie Hedderman, Greg O'Halloran, Damian Brennan, James Chambers Keith Dunne 45), Dave McGill, Mark O'Brien (Alan Mulcahy (66), Anthony Flood, David Freeman (Philly Hughes 66), James Keddy.
Referee: Pauric Sutton (Clare).
