Footballers pull through
Underdogs Carlow took fight to neighbours
ANY FALSE notions Wexford football fans may have entertained that a run to the National League Division 1 final would make their Leinster championship task that bit easier were firmly dispelled in Croke Park on June 5, 2005.
Pat Roe’s charges entered the quarter-final against Carlow as warm favourites, but former Meath midfielder Liam Hayes had our neighbours in fine fettle, and they recovered from a poor start to make a real game of it.
A hat-trick of goals inside the opening 16 minutes proved decisive in the long run as Wexford laboured thereafter and had to work extremely hard to secure a 3-12 to 2-10 success.
Indeed, when Simon Rea kicked a super equaliser from the right flank (3-7 to 2-10), it looked like our bogey team from that era might be ready to inflict another shock defeat.
However, Carlow eventually ran out of legs and didn’t score again, whereas the benefits of that big outing at the same venue in the league final loss to Armagh were clear as five unanswered points got Wexford over the line.
Matty Forde – who took over captaincy duties in the absence of John Hudson with a thigh injury – came to the rescue, not for the first time, with a trio of exceptional scores, but the final margin was flattering to the victors.
The Starlights attacker was replaced by Rosslare’s Darren Foran, while John Hegarty also missed out with a hamstring problem as Páraic Curtis came into the back line, and championship debutant Shane Cullen moved to left half-forward.
There was another first start at this level for teenager P.J. Banville, with Diarmuid Kinsella omitted from the starting line-up after missing some training while sitting his final college exams.
Wexford goaled at an early stage, with Paddy Colfer flicking a Redmond Barry delivery into the path of David Fogarty at the Hill 16 end.
With Matty Forde available to his left, the St. Anne’s man opted to take it on himself, deftly side-stepping a defender before applying a confident finish beyond netminder John Brennan.
And the Carlow defence was breached for a second time when Banville controlled a Philip Wallace free before sending a cracking low drive into the far corner of the net.
More sloppy defending allowed Matty Forde in for the third – and best – goal of the match. David Murphy’s perfectly-weighted delivery found the Kilanerin ace inside Brian Farrell, and the All Star slammed a majestic effort into the top corner from the edge of the large rectangle.
Those three goals should have been the signal for Wexford to drive on, but instead they gradually retreated as the Walsh brothers, Thomas and Patrick, got on top at midfield for Carlow.
And the Barrowsiders pulled a goal back in the 21st minute when Mark Carpenter latched on to a misplaced Wexford pass and embarked on a scything run before beating John Cooper with a low finish.
The margin had been reduced to 3-5 to 1-7 by half-time, although Carlow were dealt a big blow just before the break when wing-back Richard Sinnott was dismissed on a second yellow card.
Colm Morris was the spare man for Wexford on the re-start, but he conceded a penalty in the 43rd minute for a foul on Carpenter, and Simon Rea made no mistake from the spot.
Wexford’s lead was cut to the minimum (3-6 to 2-8), and Jim D’Arcy was introduced in a successful bid to gain control of the troublesome midfield area.
Together with David Fogarty, they won practically everything in that department after Rea’s equaliser in the 56th minute.
Substitute Diarmuid Kinsella restored the lead, before Matty Forde suddenly came alive after a quiet third quarter.
He hit a fine effort with the right boot and then, summing up why he was such a nightmare for defenders, utilised his left to curl over the best point of the match.
Paddy Colfer made it 3-11 to 2-10, before Forde ended proceedings with another party piece, turning Liam Murphy inside out before curling over a beauty from the right flank.
Wexford: John Cooper; Niall Murphy, Philip Wallace, Colm Morris; Páraic Curtis, David Murphy, Darragh Breen (0-1); Nicky Lambert, David Fogarty (1-1); Redmond Barry (0-1), Darren Foran, Shane Cullen (0-1); P.J. Banville (1-0), Paddy Colfer (0-1), Matty Forde (capt., 1-6, 0-2 frees). Subs. - Diarmuid Kinsella (0-1) for Lambert, inj., Jim D’Arcy for Morris, John Hegarty for Foran.
Carlow: John Brennnan; Brian Farrell, Cormac McCarthy, Paul Cashin; John Hayden (capt.), Liam Murphy, Richard Sinnott; Patrick Walsh, Thomas Walsh (0-1); Brian Carberry (0-1), Ray Walker, Patrick Hickey (0-2 frees); Simon Rea (1-6, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen.), Mark Carpenter (1-0), Mark Brennan. Subs. - Paul Kelly for Farrell, Johnny Nevin for Walker, Willie Power for Hayden, Joe Byrne for Hickey, Brian Kelly for Rea.
Referee: Jimmy McKee (Armagh).