WEXFORD YOUTHS put in a fabulous performance against Europe-bound Shamrock Rovers but were ultimately left disappointed as the Tallaght side clung to a narrow victory in the Leinster Senior Cup on Saturday evening last. It was an adventurous 4-4-2 for Wexford, with new signings Anthony Wolfe and Dean Broaders slipping into the boots of the departed Peter White and Conor Sinnott.

Gary Sheahan and Danny Furlong looked promising as a combination in attack, with the former continually causing the Premier division side problems with his pace.

The visitors should have fallen behind in the sixth minute when James Chambers headed narrowly wide from Billy Dennehy's cross, while Graham Barrett rose unmarked soon after but his effort was straight at Packie Holden as the Wexford defence looked susceptible to crosses.

Youths soon settled into their passing rhythm in midfield but again almost became unhinged in the 30th minute when Barrett rose highest for Dennehy's cross but glanced his effort wide.

What seemed to be the inevitable happened five minutes later. The previously quiet home support had only just started to make their voice heard when Dennehy, who had just switched to the right, swung in another great cross, and this time Ollie Cahill couldn't miss as he headed home from eight yards.

The Tallaght side almost doubled their lead 60 seconds later when Seán O'Connor's fiercelystruck shot deflected off Anthony Wolfe's head and onto the Youths crossbar.

Wexford's first clearcut chance arrived in the 40th minute and it fell to the man manager Noel O'Connor would have hoped it would fall to. Gary Sheahan ran onto a perfect Furlong through ball and connected well with the shot but couldn't steer it wide of Alan Mannus as the Rovers stopper saved with his feet.

Chambers dragged a shot wide from ten yards five minutes after the interval, but Youths marched down the other end and Sheahan's slide-rule pass to Jimmy Keohane sent the Kilkenny native in on the Rovers 'keeper. However, Mannus prevailed, again saving with his feet.

The home side's second came in the 53rd minute, with Dennehy arrowing an effort from the edge of the box into the top-left corner of Holden's net as the game looked up for Wexford.

However, the setback didn't deter Youths, with Anto Russell somehow failing to reply two minutes later when his shot from just under the crossbar was blocked by Enda Stevens.

Barrett thought he had made it three in the 61st minute, only to turn to see an offside flag raised by the assistant.

That decision was crucial for Youths as Sheahan crossed for Furlong to bundle over the line inside the six-yard box to cut the deficit in half entering the final quarter of an hour.

Dean Broaders almost grabbed an equaliser in the 81st minute but his skimmed effort landed on the roof of the net with the 'keeper well beaten. The visitors came even closer in the last minute of normal time when Mannus fumbled a Sheahan cross but, with the goal gaping, Keohane sliced his shot at an empty goal, from inside the six-yard box, over the bar and with it went Youths' final chance.