IT'S BEEN a somewhat crazy start to the season for Wexford Youths who bounced back from an opening game drubbing to deservedly take a point from highly-rated Shelbourne in this very entertaining Airtricity League Division 1 clash at Ferrycarrig Park on Sunday last.

The first-ever Sunday league game at the venue attracted a disappointing attendance, but as for the action itself, it was one of the most enjoyable 90 minutes seen at the venue for some considerable time.

In the end Wexford Youths will look back on two points lost as, given their second-half control, they should have taken all three points. Centreforward Danny Furlong was the real villian, missing two clearcut goal chances in one-on-ones with visiting 'keeper Dean Delaney.

Wexford Youths had battled manfully through the opening 45 minutes, a period when Shelbourne looked the more composed side, deservedly going in with a one goal interval lead, while the excellence of home 'keeper Packie Holden kept it down to a single score with a string of excellent saves.

The goal that Wexford Youths gave away arrived in the 45th minute. With the back four caught all over the place as a long ball was played across the area, David Cassidy was allowed lots of space to control the ball and push it low beyond the advancing Holden with not a defender in sight.

Shelbourne were controlling the game through this period, with the goal a long time arriving. Prior to that the visitors were by far the more creative side but their finishing did not match their approach play.

Mark Hughes sent a third minute close-range header into the side-netting, while at the opposite end Jimmy Keohane was off target with a 20metre effort.

Twelve minutes in, Darren Forsyth forced a fine save out of 'keeper Holden. While the home side forced two successive corners, they proved fruitless as the visitors' centre-back, Kevin Doherty, capably dealt with both kicks.

But with Shelbourne continually pressing forward, the home side's back four came under pressure. Paul Sheils had a header from a David Cassidy cross superbly tipped over by Holden after 24 minutes, while nine minutes later Sheils forced another superb save out of the home 'keeper.

Cassidy's strike was a long time arriving, but Shels boss Dermot Keely must have been disappointed with just a 1-0 interval lead.

Whatever manager Noel O'Connor said at the break, Wexford Youths were far more adventurous in the second-half, with the talented Shane Dempsey and Shane Sinnott now beginning to make an impact in central midfield, while the makeshift back four in the absence of the injured David Breen, of Chris Kenny, Anto Russell, Patsy Malone and Dean Broaders, now gained a much tighter grip on the opposing front players.

Time and again Wexford Youths were making light of their slender physique as they proved a revelation with their second-half attacking football.

After 52 minutes, Gary Sheahan forced 'keeper Delaney into a save, while four minutes later Danny Furlong had a goal ruled out for offside.

The goal the home side had threatened arrived in the 57th minute. After Danny Furlong had been fouled some 30 metres from goal in a central position, Shane Dempsey superbly curled the ball around the wall, and while 'keeper Delaney got a hand to it, he could not prevent it from crossing the line for a deserved equalising goal.

Shels had a Mark Hughes goal disallowed for offside after 63 minutes, but Wexford Youths were the side playing with confidence as the Dubs were rattled and lost their composure.

After 67 minutes, Danny Furlong raced clear on goal but hesitated with his shot, allowing the advancing Delaney to smother his effort, while at the opposite end four minutes later Holden superbly tipped over a Kevin Doherty header.

Later on Furlong was once again in the clear, but the advancing Delaney kept out his shot when he should really have scored.

It was a brisk counter-attack and run from Furlong from just inside the Shels half, but what a pity he failed to prove more clinical as a goal at that stage would surely have given his side all three points.