Bonnar blasts critics
Knives sharpened after shock loss to Carlow
THE CRACKS in Colm Bonnar’s relationship with Wexford hurling supporters were beginning to fester on this week ten years ago.
The county was left reeling after a shock first-ever defeat to neighbours Carlow in a competitive outing on a 0-16 to 0-13 scoreline.
And although the team answered the critics in the only way they could – with a 0-24 to 0-12 home win over Kildare in Division 2 of the Allianz League one week later – that still wasn’t enough to insulate the manager from the harsh words.
Ironically, Bonnar is now Carlow boss ten years down the line, and he jumped to the defence of his players in an interview with our reporter, Brendan Furlong, in our issue of March 31, 2010.
‘There was a lot of bad publicity following the loss to Carlow, but no one is giving Carlow the credit for the work they have put in, particularly at under-age level, over the last number of years,’ he said.
‘They only lost by a single point to Clare, a game which I believe they should have won, so that puts the whole thing in perspective. The league is renowned for throwing up those type of results.
‘Constantly knocking players is not good. People are too quick, too fast to jump on the bandwagon. It’s a pity people are not a bit more positive regarding the players,’ the former All-Ireland medal winner with Tipperary added.
The crowd was small in Innovate Wexford Park for the clash with Kildare on March 28 and, while it was a comfortable victory by double scores, the fact that a goal wasn’t scored did cause some concern.
The visiting team included Buffers Alley clubman Paudie Reidy at right corner-back, having moved south from his native Clane, while they also featured the Harneys, David and Lorcan, sons of Larry who had assisted the Monamolin men with considerable distinction too in the seventies.
Wexford led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 14 minutes, and Andrew Shore,
Peter Atkinson, Colm Farrell, Diarmuid Lyng and Rory Jacob were among the marksmen as they stretched that advantage to a more comfortable 0-12 to 0-6 by half-time.
Substitutes Eoin Quigley and Malachy Travers went on to contribute to the scoresheet as Wexford ended with a dozen points to spare.
Wexford: Noel Carton; Eoin Doyle, Barry Kenny, Paul Roche; Richie Kehoe, Darren Stamp (0-1), Ciarán Kenny; Willie Doran, Colm Farrell (0-3); Diarmuid Lyng (capt., 0-4 frees), Harry Kehoe (0-3), Andrew Shore (0-4); Rory Jacob (0-4), Peter Atkinson (0-3), Paul Morris. Subs. - Jim Berry for Morris (47), Eoin Quigley (0-1) for Doran (55), Malachy Travers (0-1) for Farrell (56), Tomás Mahon for Atkinson (60).