Dundalk break Wexford hearts with stoppage time winner

Dundalk 3 Wexford Youths 2

Patrick McEleney's 93rd minute winner broke Wexford Youths hearts at Oriel Park as Dundalk came from 2-1 down to take all three points.

Dundalk’s home games this season have proved to be tight, often drab affairs, but this was anything but.

Wexford, quite bravely, opted to fight fire with fire and it made for a cracking game of football.

Shane Keegan's side took a shock lead in the 12th minute when Paul Murphy beat Gary Rogers with a well hit effort from 25-yards.

Dundalk restored parity in the 21st minute when David McMillan's header fell perfectly for Daryl Horgan to hammer home.

Eric Molloy stunned the home crowd into silence though in the 57th minute when he brushed Meenan off the ball way too easily before shooting under the legs of Rogers.

Meenan, however, atoned for the error in the 76th minute when he curled a vicious corner past Graham Doyle from the left.

It looked like the points would be shared but McEleney took control of a quick free kick to slot the ball home and maintain Dundalk’s four point lead over Cork City at the top.

The teams, incidentally, meet this coming Friday at Turner’s Cross.

DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon (O'Donnell 74), Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Benson (McEleney 64), Shields; Mountney (Meenan HT), Finn, Horgan; McMillan.

WEXFORD YOUTHS: Doyle; McCabe, Delaney, Last, Friel; Molloy, Kenny, Bonner, Mulligan;

Dunne (Furlong 88); Murphy (G Delaney 88).

Referee: N Doyle (Dublin)