A glimpse of the future! Wicklow see off Wexford
Cunningham earned praise
TWO first-half goals from Fergus Daly and Conan Daye just before the half-time break gave Wicklow the platform to go on and beat neighbours Wexford in the O’Byrne Cup in Aughrim this week in 1993.
Wet and windy conditions didn’t help either team to play any quality football to any great extent but it was Wexford who showed the great degree of ambition and passion despite ending up on the wrong end of the scoreline.
‘Both teams fielded somewhat understrength for this match,’ we were told in the match report, with Wicklow lining out without Pat O’Byrne, Pat Baker and defender Thomas Donoghue while Wexford were unable to call on Paddy and Noel Fitzhenry and Louis Rafter on the day.
‘Wicklow were playing with the aid of a galeforce wind in the first half and needed to put points on the scoreboard before half-time to build up a sufficient cushion to withstand the expected Wexford onslaught in the second half.
The home side were unable to build that advantage however, and the teams were level at 0-2 apiece after 20 minutes.
All that was to change from the 24th minute when Kevin O’Brien dispossessed his man with a trademark tackle before floating the ball into the goalmouth.
Wexford goalkeeper John Cooper and one of his defenders got in a tangle when Paul Allen challenged and the ball broke to Fergus Daly who had the simple task of tapping the ball into the empty net.
‘It was another quickly delivered ball from wing-back Mick Murtagh that led to Wicklow’s second goal 90 seconds later.
Conan Daye fielded the high ball inside his opponent and then squeezed his shot between the keeper and his right-hand post. These scores had the effect of settling Wicklow who finished the half stronger to lead by 2-3 to 0-2 at the break,’ read the report.
Overall, however, there wasn’t much praise for the Wicklow performance on the whole despite the victory.
However, Kevin Cunningham was singled out for his ‘eager beaver’ approach and was said to be ‘shaping up like a find for the team’.
‘Wicklow were to only score once more in this match, a second-half point by Kevin Cunningham from a free in the 21st minute but before that Wexford blew their chance of winning by kicking seven wides in addition to their four points.
‘The Kenny brothers, Hugh and Billy, and Mick Murtagh shone in the Wicklow defence as Wexford piled on the pressure in the second half.
Wicklow: Tommy Murphy; Wayne Rooney, Hugh Kenny, Brendan Brady; Donal Lenihan, Billy Kenny, Mick Murtagh; Sean O’Brien, Raymond Danne (0-1); Kevin Cunningham (0-2), Paul Allen, Kevin O’Brien; Conan Daye (1-1), Darren Behan, Fergus Daly (1-0). Sub: Terry Allen.
Wexford: John Cooper; Cormac Jevens, John O’Gorman, Ger Halligan (0-1); Barry Kirwan, John Dunne, Paddy O’Gorman; Greg Waters (0-1), John Roche; John Harrington, Eamonn Cleary, Pat Byrne (0-1); Niall Guiden, Martin Hanrick, Billy Dodd (0-4). Subs: Bernard O’Gorman.
Referee: Pat Power (Dublin)