Final victory is bittersweet for Donoghue as duo see red
GALWAY manager Micheál Donoghue was left frustrated after two of his players were sent-off on the way to claiming the Walsh Cup title.
Both were contentious decisions with Padraic Mannion and Jarlath Mannion, on his debut, getting straight red cards against Wexford at Bellefield in Enniscorthy on Saturday.
In the first Walsh Cup final meeting between the sides, the hosts also had Liam Ryan and Cathal Dunbar sent off.
Donoghue said he was left confused by Kilkenny referee Sean Cleere’s performance at times.
‘These things happen but, for the time of the year, it’s mad,’ he said.
‘I’m going into my fourth year, I have never given out about officials but I thought they (the red cards) were harsh.
‘You can always tell by the crowd. It’s a tight ground. Supporters are close to the pitch. I think everybody was bemused with them.’
O’Donoghue seemed to put an apparent lack of spark in the game down to the fussiness of officials.
‘No, there wasn’t (a lot of intensity). Again, that’s down to the officials. I don’t think there was a mean stroke. There was nothing in it. They make those decisions and then the game turns out 14 versus 13. Crazy.’
Donoghue fielded an experimental side with only Aidan Harte, Padraic Mannion, Cathal Mannion and Joe Canning retained from last August’s All-Ireland final defeat to Limerick.
Former Hurler of the Year, Canning, scored 0-13 while Harte bagged their goal.
‘You are trying to put a sprinkle of experience with inexperience,’ said Donoghue.
‘In fairness, you could hear them [the experienced players] today. They were vocal, the way they instructed the younger fellas and guided them through the games was exceptional last weekend and again today.
‘It’s about giving the younger fellas game time, especially against quality opposition like Dublin and Wexford. Everything now is geared towards the start of the League.
‘We have used it for the last couple of years to try get a few new players. Obviously it’s building towards the Championship but our full focus since we came back has been on January 27 for the start of the League.’
Wexford must now regroup before they host the reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick at Wexford Park next Sunday.
Davy Fitzgerald’s side led in the opening quarter but trailed by 1-8 to 0-9 at half-time.
They missed a number of goalscoring opportunities late in the game with Aidan Nolan, Seamus Casey and Mark Fanning (penalty) all guilty.
But one week on from their big win over Kilkenny at the same venue, and having fielded a much stronger starting 15, this defeat will have hurt Wexford more.
‘It’s that time of the year as well. It’s hard to see where you are at,’ said captain Conor McDonald.
‘There are fellas getting a look in. They were the same. They were missing as many fellas as we were. ‘You just have to put your shoulder to the wheel in those kinds of conditions. It was tough going.
‘The proper competitive games are coming in the next few weeks. Over the years the players have matured a little bit and they are coming back in better condition than they would have in previous years. ‘You don’t mind coming training as much if you are not at it at this
early in the year.’ GALWAY: F Flannery; J Grealish, R Burke, A Harte; K Hussey, P Mannion, J Mooney (J Coen 45); C Mannion, S Kilduff (S Linnane 58) (S Bannon 63-64, blood); R O’Meara (K Cooney 57), J Canning, J Coyne (J Flynn 45); J Mannion, S Bleahene (T Haran 68), D Glennon. Yellow cards: D Glennon 20, J Mooney 44, K Hussey 64. Red cards: P Mannion 38, J Mannion 40 Scorers: J Canning 0-13 (10f, 1’65), C Mannion 0-4, A Harte 1-0, S Kilduff 0-1, J Coyne 0-1, S Bleahene 0-1, D Glennon 0-1, S Linnane 0-1, T Haran 0-1. WEXFORD: M Fanning; S Reck (P Foley 35), L Ryan, C Firman (D Reck 27); S Donohue (R Higgins 56), M O’Hanlon, S Murphy; A Nolan (H Kehoe 56), D O’Keeffe; D Dunne, K Foley, I Byrne (P Morris 35); C Dunbar, C McDonald, L Óg McGovern (S Casey 56). Yellow cards: M Fanning 17, C McDonald 48, C Dunbar 72 Red cards: L Ryan 38, C Dunbar 72 Scorers: I Byrne 0-5 (5f), M O’Hanlon 0-2, D Dunne 0-2, P Morris 0-2, C McDonald 0-2, P Foley 0-2 (2f), M Fanning 0-1 (0-1pen), H Kehoe 0-1, D O’Keeffe 0-1, K Foley 0-1, C Dunbar 0-1. INPHO Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)