Wexford too hot to handle for Minors

WEXFORD WICKLOW 0-11 1-2

THERE was no joy for the Wicklow Minor footballers when they faced Wexford in the Leinster League in St Patrick’s Park Enniscorthy back in 2010.

With the sides just three weeks away from a crucial champi-onship meeting in Aughrim the very least to be gained from victory was a well needed jolt of confidence and that’s just what the home side got with a dominant display.

The wind, a pretty decent aid on this bright afternoon, helped Wexford in the first half and they took full advantage by building a seven-point lead at the break with Stephen Olahan kicking Wicklow’s only score of the half to see them trailing by 0-8 to 0-1 at the break.

Wicklow, for their part, were poor in possession. Countless times good situations and opportunities to break quickly were coughed up with shocking passes from both hands and feet.

The game almost changed completely in the space of 30 seconds midway through the half when the visitors produced their second score, a goal, and narrowly missed out on a second.

Olahan acrobatically punched Danny Keane’s long punt into the net from the edge of the square before Cormac O’Brien was forced to dive full-length to keep out Rory Doyle’s low strike.

Despite the scare Wexford steadied and clipped over two further points through Brendan Carney and Murphy. Olahan, the only scoring contributor for his fallen side, raised the final white flag of the afternoon but only managing 1-1 with the breeze was not good enough for Wicklow.