Wexford reach first ever FAI Cup semi-final with emphatic victory over Treaty

Reece Webb of Wexford celebrates in exultation after his side's victory. 

FAI Cup quarter-final: Wexford FC 4 Treaty Utd 1

A historic night for Wexford FC was crowned when their side gained an emphatic victory over Treaty Utd in their FAI Cup quarter-final fixture at Ferrycarrig Park.

While it was a night to forget for Treaty Boss Tommy Barrett, the homesides manager, James Keddy, saw his side thump the Shannonsiders as they extended their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions.

It was a historic night for Wexford, qualifying for their first ever FAI Cup semi-final, while earlier that evening they unveiled plans for a new stadium.

Prior to the game,Wexford CEO Tony Doyle, provided a glimpse of the club's future, showing on screen to the assembled crowd including FAI officials and club officers and members, a glimpse at his future vision, a new, state-of-the-art, 6,000 capacity football stadium situated right in Wexford town.

Just under a year ago, it was revealed that the club had been busily working with Wexford County Council, the FAI and the Wexford Football League to move their operation from the remote surrounds of Ferrycarrig Park into the town.

Crisis gave way to opportunity. The planned route for the M11 motorway extension from Oylegate to Rosslare would pass right through the club's grounds, but with the assistance of Wexford county Council, Wexford FC have secured lands to the rear of Min Ryan Park in Killeens on the outskirts of Wexford town, which will fit in with the new South East Technological University (SETU) campus.

There are steps in place and Tony and his team are hopeful of achieving the first big one with an application gone to the Department of Sport for Large Scale Infrastructure funding totalling around €5.5m.

Oisin O'Reilly rises to head the ball. 

Phase 1 of the Project is two full, floodlit, all-weather pitches, with a 2,500sqm pavilions.

Tony explains: 'We've applied for €5.5m. That won't allow us to complete the full pavilion, we'll leave upstairs as a shell until we get to Phase 2, which will also be the stadium itself.

'But downstairs, we'd have multiple changing rooms, physio room, a delegate room, ticket office, reception, press room, a club shop and cafe. That would be all Phase 1. Then in the next stage, you'd be looking at putting your bar, restaurant and function room upstairs, your revenue generators really.'

Games will continue at Ferrycarrig Park for the foreseeable future for it is largely dependent on the pace of the N11 motorway project and the CPO process.

Fellow Division 1 outfit, Treaty Utd simply had no answer to the hosts, who were two up inside the opening eleven minutes, going on to lead 4-0 by the interval.

Determined to protect their seven wins in a row, in front of an attendance of 1,063, Wexford took the lead with just five minutes on the clock, as Daragh Levingston sent in a cross from the right, which was helped by Sean McHale, and Isamala steered his finish into the corner of the net.

Within three minutes the lead doubled when Isamala sent a long ball forward, with Thomas Oluwa beating keeper Corey Chambers in the race for possession, and was taken down. Oluwa stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the resulting penalty, 2-0.

It was 3-0 midway through the half when Luka Lovic knocked an Aaron Dobbs cross down for Isamala to finish, and to cap a dominant opening period, Oluwa made in 4-0 to take in at the break.

The second half deteriorated as Wexford's dominance continued, with the Treaty goal coming in additional time through sub Trpimir Vrljicak, but it mattered little.

Wexford will look to consolidate their promotion play-off spot, they currently sit sixth in the table, when they entertain Bray Wanderers this Tuesday evening.

Wexford FC: C Walsh, D Isamala, C O'Malley, L Temple, S McHale (B Lynch 60), D Levingston, L Lovic (C Crowley 60), R Web, K Corbally (K Harnett 78), T Oluwa (A Lennon 90), A Dobbs (captain, C Curtis 78).

Treaty Utd: C Chambers, R Lynch, E O'Connor, B O'Riordan (R Boevi 78), F Doherty (O O'Reilly 26), C Horgan (C Conroy 46), M Walsh (captain), A Byrne (S Healy 46), L Devitt (Y Mahdy 33), L Lynch, E Curran (T Vrlhicak 53).

Referee: G Colfer.