Mauling for Minors
Footballers given lesson in Longford
WEXFORD’S ALREADY slim hopes of qualifying for the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor football championship semi-finals were crushed in the stifling heat of Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Wednesday when they were given a lesson by rampant home side Longford.
The omens were bad from as early as 46 seconds when rampaging wing-back Peter Dempsey made the first of several untracked runs, exchanging passes with Jordan Martin in the right corner before crashing the ball into Anthony Larkin’s net.
The pressure never relented throughout the opening half, and there was no chance of a recovery for an outclassed Wexford side when they trailed by 1-11 to 0-3 at half-time.
Indeed, that margin could easily have been higher, as Larkin made one fine save to deny James Moran a goal, while Keelin McGann blazed another chance wide when it seemed easier to score.
A second opportunity for Dempsey was also kept out by a last-gasp block as Longford profited from their near-total dominance of the opposition kick-out.
Wexford had fared quite well in that area in the previous week’s loss to Laois, claiming ten marks, but this time around their rivals attacked Larkin’s re-starts with relish and they simply couldn’t match their enthusiasm.
Longford tended to break the ball rather than attempting clean catches, and invariably there was a blue-clad jersey on hand to latch on to possession.
All six of the winners’ forwards had scored by half-time, five from play, with Euan Finneran and Darragh O’Connell adding to that early goal before Conor Kehoe kicked Wexford’s opening point from a Ciarán Kavanagh pass in the eighth minute.
Jordan Martin (’45) and Emmett Nolan went on to swap points, but the eventual losers were outscored by 0-8 to 0-1 from the 14th minute until half-time.
Indeed, Longford hit their eight on the bounce to effectively make the outcome safe before Lee Jordan finished a move featuring Jack Finucane and substitute Jack O’Leary to leave a gap of eleven at the interval.
Wexford went for 16 minutes without a score, and a near-total lack of possession, as Euan Finneran, Cian Dooner (two), Keelin McGann, Eoghan McCormack, Jordan Martin (two frees) and Darragh O’Connell all raised white flags for the leaders.
A pointed Lee Jordan free represented a brighter start to the second-half, but it was a false dawn as an additional 1-3 was conceded before he converted another placed ball in the 46th minute.
The second Longford goal arrived midway through the third quarter, and it was a beautiful team move brimful of unselfish passing to the best-placed colleague.
Cian Dooner and Keelin McGann were involved before team captain Eoghan McCormack put the ball on a plate for Jordan Martin who simply couldn’t miss as he palmed it to the net with gratitude (2-13 to 0-4).
Wexford actually didn’t score from play in the second-half, with Lee Jordan knocking over three placed balls while centre-back Robert Murphy converted another.
They have only chalked up an overall tally of 2-17 in three games, including 0-11 from frees, and it means that their last Group 2 game at home to Carlow on Tuesday, July 3, will be of little interest.
By that stage it may still be mathematically possible for the team to reach the semi-final of the newly-introduced shield competition, but that’s not much of a consolation prize to take from a very disappointing campaign.
Wexford: Anthony Larkin (Starlights); James O’Leary (Our Lady’s Island), Jamie Sheehan (Gusserane), Lee Nolan (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown); Harry Kehoe (Volunteers), Robert Murphy (Kilanerin, 0-1 free), Ciarán Kavanagh (HWH-Bunclody, capt.); Emmet Cullen (Gusserane), Mark Kehoe (Gusserane); Jack Finucane (Sarsfields), Emmett Nolan (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown, 0-1), Paudie Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien); Conor Kehoe (Sarsfields, 0-1), Lee Jordan (Starlights, 0-4, 3 frees), Ciarán Regan (HWH-Bunclody). Subs. - Ollie Gahan (St. Patrick’s) for L. Nolan (17), Jack O’Leary (St. Fintan’s) for Cullen (26), Seán Murphy (Volunteers) for H. Kehoe (44), Adam Mullins (Our Lady’s Island) for C. Kehoe (44), Jason Devereux (Our Lady’s Island) for Casey (49), Jack Donohue (Bannow-Ballymitty) for E. Nolan (59), also Byron Sweeney (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown), Joe O’Sullivan (Horeswood), Gloudie Makiese (St. Joseph’s).
Longford: Patrick Murray; Cian Nolan, Dario Ciglianio, Ronan Kenny; Peter Dempsey (1-0), James Moran, Cian Belton; Jonathan Borland, Richard Prior; Euan Finneran (0-3), Eoghan McCormack (capt., 0-3), Keelin McGann (0-1); Jordan Martin (1-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ’45), Darragh O’Connell (0-2), Cian Dooner (0-3, 1 free). Subs. - Darren Moffett for Kenny (40), Jake Donnelly for Dempsey (40), Conor Leonard for Borland (44), Cian O Núalláin for Prior (49), Reece Reilly for Martin (52), Daniel Reynolds for McGann (52).
Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath).