Hynes heads Drogs winner

Drogheda United 1Wexford Youths 0

The First Division side put it up to their more illustrious opponents for the opening quarter and Drogheda keeper Gabriel Sava saved brilliantly from Shane Nolan and then Dean Broaders, who was rightly penalised for jumping into the Italian as he scrambled to the net from the rebound.

The Boynesiders, who had a couple of decent chances themselves, eventually grabbed the lead goal in the 27th minute when Peter Hynes got on the end of a superb Ryan Brennan cross to head past Wexford netminder Aidan Keenan from six yards.

But the big striker was unable to convert a similar opportunity just after half-time, nodding wide from a Philip Hand free kick.

Gavin Brennan then had a shot cleared off the line by Jamie Carr and substitute Declan O’Brien was similarly denied by CJ Browne as the Drogs looked to kill off the tie.

Tiarnan Mulvenna then had a close-range effort ruled out for offside on 82 minutes, and seconds later Wexford missed a great chance of an equaliser as Nolan sliced wide from 12 yards.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Sava; Quigley, Crowley, Gannon, Hand; R Brennan, Foley, Sullivan, G Brennan; Mulvenna, Hynes. Subs: O’Brien for Sullivan (59min).

WEXFORD YOUTHS: Keenan; Clarke, Carr, Browne, Dermody; Nolan, Croke, Molloy, Hawe, Broaders; Elmes. Subs: Furlong for Broaders (81min), Mulcahy for Molloy (81min).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).