LEINSTER SHC QUARTER-FINAL: WEXFORD 5-19 ANTRIM 0-21
Wexford had nine different scorers and showed an impressive eye for goal that saw them to victory over round-robin table-toppers Antrim at O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.
That victory sets up a semi-final for the Yellowbellies against Leinster champions Dublin on June 14.
Rory Jacob and the impressive Conor McDonald scored four goals between them, with three of those coming inside 12 minutes to give the victors the breathing space they needed.
Jacob registered the opening two majors. The first came as he raced onto a long ball by Rossiter and gave Chris O’Connell no chance for the game’s opening score.
The second came two minutes later as O’Connell made a brilliant save from Liam Óg McGovern but Jacob was on hand to sweep home from close range.
McDonald smashed another rebound beyond O’Connell in the 12th minute but with Neil McManus and Conor McCann doing well from play and Paul Shiels converting four frees, Antrim remained in touch, trailing by 3-9 to 0-10 at the interval.
McDonald and McGovern added to Wexford’s goal tally in the second half, with McDonald’s aerial presence a significant threat throughout.
Antrim were reduced to 14 when Eoghan Campbell was dismissed for a wild pull on Rossiter in the 60th minute.
McManus and McCann kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Saffrons, while substitute Darren Hamill contributed four points from play in 18 minutes of action but Wexford were always in control.
The combination of a numerical disadvantage, plus a workload of five games in six weeks clearly took its toll in the closing stages as Wexford scored five consecutive points in the closing minutes, with substitutes Ian Byrne and Garrett Sinnott amongst those getting on the scoresheet.
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SCORERS FOR WEXFORD: C McDonald, R Jacob 2-2 each; P Morris 0-6(5fs); P Doran 0-3; L Óg McGovern 1-0; I Byrne 0-2; J Guiney, L Ryan, L Chin (f), G Sinnott 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR ANTRIM: P Shiels 0-6(fs); N McManus 0-5; C McCann, D Hamill 0-4 each; Conor Johnson, PJ O’Connell 0-1 each
WEXFORD: M Fanning, L Ryan, M O’Hanlon, K Rossiter, L Chin, A Shore, C Kenny, D O’Keeffe, H Kehoe, P Morris, P Doran, J Guiney, R Jacob, C McDonald, L Óg McGovern. Subs: D Redmond for Kenny (ht), R Kehoe for Chin (59), PJ Nolan for O’Keeffe (59), I Byrne for Guiney (61), G Sinnott for Nolan blood (63-64), Sinnott for Doran (66).
ANTRIM: C O’Connell, A Graffin, C McKinley, Ciaran Johnson, O McFadden, N McAuley, E Campbell, P Shiels, M Bradley, C Carson, N McManus, C McCann, C Clarke, Conor Johnson, PJ O’Connell. Subs: B McFall for Conor Johnson (41), M Donnelly for Clarke (46), D Hamill for McFadden (52), S McAfee for Carson (58)
REFEREE: A Kelly (Galway)
Report from www.gaa.ie
