In what has an incredibly positive weekend for Wexford GAA, Michael Dwyer reports on the two games.
HURLING
WEXFORD: 1-17
DUBLIN: 1-17
After a pulsating affair, Wexford and Dublin must clash swords once more following a gruelling and intense 70 minutes on a glorious Saturday evening in Wexford Park.
Rory Jacob set the benchmark of skill when he sped through to point for the home-side on 15 seconds. However, the negligent fouling of Wexford gave rise to a Dublin lead through a couplet of Joseph ‘Joey’ Boland pointed frees. Liam Dunne’s side struggled to return to that original intensity after Dublin had a goal chance deflected by ‘keeper Mark Fanning. After a string of Dublin points, Wexford had to deal with a 5 point deficit after 11 minutes. In response to this sizeable early lead, a subsequent spell of Wexford splendour unfolded as the 20-year old Jack Guiney showed sparkling creativity popping two shots over the ‘bar. The next ten minutes were tit-for-tat between the sides as Rory Jacob, Jack Guiney, Podge Doran and Garrett Sinnott traded points with Shane Durkin, Joseph Boland (2) and Danny Sutcliffe. But the Sky Blues couldn’t withhold the engulfing threat of the home side. After Jack Guiney pointed a free, the resultant puck-out was placed firmly in the paw of Eoin Quigley who swivelled through a labyrinth of Dublin defenders to set up a rasping Jack Guiney goal on 30 minutes. Anthony Daly’s contingent were winded by Wexford and wastefully struck a trio of wides. Late points from Danny Sutcliffe and Joseph Boland gave Dublin the slenderest of leads at the break. While Dublin were fluid in the first quarter, Guiney’s goal restored Wexford’s confidence.
The purple-and-gold sparked with passion and determination in the latter half. Even though scores were regularly exchanged, the heat and mesmerising impact of the Wexford attack was evident. For the sky blue’s, Conal Keaney seemed wasted in defence. While he did make some clearances, the possible threat of the Ballyboden-St. Endas clubman up front could have caused problems for the dynamic defence of Wexford. Between the 49th and the 64th minute, Liam Dunne’s squad excelled. Andrew Shore and Richie Kehoe’s terrific defiance in the back’s provided the possession needed by Jack Guiney, Rory Jacob and Garrett Sinnott to create a three point lead. Even though they notched five consecutive scorable wides, a scrambled passage of play in the Dublin attack ended with impact sub’ Eamon Dillon netting. Paul Ryan’s point on 69 minutes gave the capital an undeserved advantage. However, Gary Moore was awarded a free on the 65 metre line. The hopes of Wexford rested with Jack Guiney who stood over the placed ball with injury time nearing completion. The Rathnure clubman played the hero and rifled the ball over the ‘bar to the delight of the home crowd.
This long awaited display from Wexford was an absolute credit to the revolutionary changes introduced by Liam Dunne and his selectors. While there were moments of poor quality, that didn’t detract from the intensity and fiery dedication shown by Wexford. There’s no doubt that if Wexford can reproduce the attack and energy of this performance, then they have every chance of progressing to a Leinster semi-final date with Kilkenny.
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown), Eoin Moore (Oulart-The Ballagh), Tomás Waters (St. Martins), Keith Rossiter (Oulart-The Ballagh), Richie Kehoe (Faythe Harriers), Andrew Shore (Parnells, Dublin), Ciaran Kenny (Buffers Alley), Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn 0-1), Ciaran O Shaughnessy (Shelmaliers), Garrett Sinnott (Oulart-The Ballagh capt. 0-4), Eoin Quigley (Sarsfields Cork), David Redmond (Oulart-The Ballagh), Podge Doran (Oylegate Glenbrien 0-1), Jack Guiney (Rathnure 1-8 0-5 frees), Rory Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh 0-3). SUB’s. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers) for Ciarán O’Shaughnessy, Paul Morris (Ferns St. Aidans) for Eoin Quigley, PJ Nolan (Askamore) for Harry Kehoe (inj.).
DUBLIN: Gary Maguire (Ballyboden-St. Enda’s), Niall Corcoran (Kilmacud Crokes), Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields), Paul Schutte (Cuala), Michael Carton (O’Tooles 0-2), Liam Rushe (St. Patricks Palmerstown), Shane Durkin (Ballyboden-St. Endas 0-1), John McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields capt.), Joseph Boland (Na Fianna 0-8 7 frees), Conor McCormack (Ballyboden-St. Enda’s 0-1), Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes), Danny Sutcliffe (St. Judes 0-3), David O’Callaghan (St. Marks), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden-St.Enda’s), David Treacy (Cuala). SUB’s. Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden-St. Endas) for Ryan O’Dwyer (blood sub.), Paul Ryan (Ballyboden-St. Endas 0-1) for David O’Callaghan, Simon Lambert (Ballyboden-St. Endas) for Shane Durkin, Eamon Dillon (St. Finbars 1-0) for David Treacy, Ruairi Trainor (St. Vincents) for Paul Schutte, Mark Schutte (Cuala) for Conor McCormack.
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).
FOOTBALL
WEXFORD: 2-13
LOUTH: 1-15
A dynamic performance at centre-field between Daithi Waters and Rory Quinlivan assured a Wexford triumph in the Leinster SFC quarter-final at a sunny Drogheda Park on Sunday.
After an even opening, Shane Lennon planted the ball past Wexford ‘keeper Anthony Masterson on 5 minutes. However, Wexford responded sharply with points including an Aindreas Doyle equaliser on 18 minutes. Even though a nasty foul on Ciarán Lyng went unpunished, it didn’t detract from his focus on victory. After slotting over a point, the St. Martin’s clubman buried the ball in the Louth net on 28 minutes creating a 4-point lead. A further point from Lyng epitomised an outstanding professional display by the Slaneysiders banking a halftime lead of 1-10 to 1-5.
After an exchange of points, the end of the third quarter saw Shane Roche’s shot ricochet off the upright into the path of oncoming PJ Banville who poached a lucky goal. Yet when Wexford were at a scintillating peak of their performance, they dropped in intensity and let Louth’s Paddy Keenan, Shane Lennon and Brian White slot over some well-taken scores. However, some late exceptional field work from Paddy Byrne ensured that Wexford secured a semi-final spot against Wicklow or Meath at the end of June. While the Yellow Bellies could have been more active in the second half, the overall performance was a positive one.
WEXFORD: Anthony Masterson (Castletown), Michael Furlong (Adamstown), Graeme Molloy (St. James’), Lee Chin (Sarsfields), Brian Malone (Shelmaliers), David Murphy (St. Mary’s Rosslare), Adrian Flynn (Gusserane 0-1), Daithi Waters (St. Martin’s), Rory Quinlivan (Parnell’s), James Holmes (Castletown 0-1), Ben Brosnan (Bannow-Ballymitty 0-5 4 frees 1 45′), Aindreas Doyle (Parnell’s 0-1), Ciaran Lyng (St. Martin’s), Redmond Barry (St. Annes capt.), PJ Banville (Horeswood 1-0). SUB. Shane Roche (Geraldine O’Hanrahans) for Redmond Barry, Conor Carthy (Castletown) for James Holmes, Paddy Byrne (Kilmore 0-1) for Aindreas Doyle, Robert Tierney (Glynn Barntown) for Lee Chin, Kevin Gore (Sarsfields) for Daithi Waters.
LOUTH: Neil Gallagher, Pádraig Rath, Dessie Finnegan, John Bingham, John O’Brien, Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid, Paddy Keenan (0-4), Brian Donnelly, Andy McDonnell (0-1), Brian White (0-5 3 frees), Conor Rafferty, Ciáran Byrne, Shane Lennon (1-4 0-3 frees), Derek Maguire (0-1). SUB’s. Colm Judge for Ciarán Byrne, Paraic Smith for Brian Donnelly, Ronan Carroll for Conor Rafferty.
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).
