Wexford Youths just about survived an amazing Galway United comeback from 5-0 down to all but secure the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division relegation play-off place in a madcap game at Ferycarrig Park.

Three goals up at half-time, Youths added a further two strikes eaerly in the second half as they looked on course to record their biggest win of the season.

But Galway stormed back from the hour mark with four goals in 14 minutes to leave Youths hanging on at the finish.

Aidan Keenan returned from suspension in attack for Youths who also brought Conor Whittle and Andrew O’Connor into their midfield in a total of three changes form their 4-1 defeat at St Patrick’s Athletic last week.

Galway also rang the changes from their 5-0 home mauling to Cork City last week with Kevin Horgan coming into goal with Alex Byrne, Killian Cantwell and Marc Ludden coming in. 

Youths had the perfect start with the lead goal inside three minutes.

Lee Chin, moved up into central midfield, played a ball forward for Keenan who held off Cantwell to turn and shot low to the net.

Galway ought to have been level minutes later from either of two chances.

First Vinny Faherty flicked just over the bar from Kevin Devaney’s ball in from the left.

Devaney was involved again, linking with Enda Curran, to set up Gary Shanahan whose shot came back of the crossbar.

Despite a heavy downpour from an electrical storm overhead, the game remained open with Youths’ Chin bringing a fine diving save from Kevin Horgan from Conor Whittle’s corner on 19 minutes.

Youths lost Keenan to a shoulder injury after 27 minutes. But it took his replacement Danny Furlong 12 minutes to punished a dreadful mistake to double Youths’ lead.

Devaney’s attempted back pass fell way short from a Jonny Bonner free kick and Furlong nipped in to trickle the ball past Horgan to the net.

A further defensive blunder, this time by Stephen Walsh, within a minute gifted Conor Whittle possession on the edge of the Galway area and the winger ran in to shoot past Horgan.

Whittle might have had a second in first half stoppage time but for a good save with his feet from Horgan.

But Horgan was helpless to prevent Youths' fourth goal five minutes into the second half.

Chin nodded down Craig McCabe’s long throw for O’Connor to side-foot home.

Three minutes later Galway's Walsh inexplicably passed straight to Furlong who drilled a shot to the net from the edge of the area.

Devaney began Galway’s revival with a goal on 61 minutes from a cracking shot to the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later Youths' defender Aidan Friel turned a Shanahan cross into his own goal.

That gave Galway real impetus and Devaney got his second of the game four minutes later from Faherty’s assist.

Substitute Conor Melody kept the fun going on 74 minutes when shooting home Galway’s fourth as Youths held out for victory.

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Aidan Friel, Lee Grace, Chris Kenny (Peter Higgins 69), Craig McCabe; Conor Whittle (Shaen Dempsey 81), Lee Chin, Jonny Bonner, Andrew O’Connor; Paul Murphy, Aidan Keenan (Danny Furlong 27).

Galway United: Kevin Horgan; Colm Horgan, Kilian Cantwell, Stephen Walsh (Stephen Folan 55), Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan, Pau Sinnott, Alex Byrne, Kevin Devaney; Enda Curran (Conor Melody 45+4), Vinny Faherty (Padraic Cunningham 79).

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork).