Faithful hold the whiphand
First-half goals are decisive
OFFALY WEXFORD 2-12 0-10
TWO FIRST-HALF goals proved crucial in helping Offaly to hold the whiphand, eventually forging an eight-point victory over Wexford in this Leinster Under-17 football championship game in Innovate Wexford Park on Friday.
Wexford were playing into a stiff breeze through the opening half and, having trailed by 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, they conceded the opening goal on 18 minutes.
The crucial score arrived in first-half additional time though when Offaly struck for their second major, a score which left the Model county boys with a real mountain to climb on the resumption.
While Wexford contributed some neat football into the breeze, they were finding it difficult to create chances close to goal, while Offaly struck for four points inside the opening ten minutes to lead by 0-4 to 0-1, the solitary Wexford point being a Todd Hynes pointed free following a good run by Pádraig Hughes who was fouled close to goal.
After Ciarán Breen had extended the Offaly lead, Wexford mounted a promising attack but Hynes saw his point attempt drift just wide.
Then came the crucial breakthrough on 18 minutes when dangerous full-forward Kevin McDermott created space after a fine run to finish low to the right-hand corner of the net, leaving his side with a 1-5 to 0-1 lead.
After McDermott had increased his side’s lead further with a fine point, Wexford responded with a point from the dangerous Seán Forde.
Wexford were stifling most of the Offaly attacks in the lead-up to the break but were struck a cruel blow one minute into additional time when a lobbing ball across goal from Bill Parle found its way to the corner of the net off the fingertips of ’keeper Joshua Burke. Wexford finished the half with a Michael Carroll point but trailed by 2-8 to 0-3 at the break.
Wexford showed much improvement on the resumption, playing some quality football as they set about reducing the deficit.
Todd Hynes and McDermott exchanged early points, but then came a fine spell for the home side resulting in points from Michael Carroll and two ‘45s from the impressive Liam Coleman, while they continued to attack which led to further points from Sam Audsley and Hynes to reduce the deficit to 2-10 to 0-9.
However, with the midfield area becoming very congested as Offaly pulled two players back, the up to then impressive attacking duo of Seán Forde and Pádraig Hughes found space difficult to find.
Wexford’s scoring options suffered as a result, although they did finish with fine points from Hynes and substitute Brendan Corcoran who looked quite lively on his introduction to the full-forward line.
However, those two first-half goals separated them all through.
Wexford: Joshua Burke (St. Fintan’s); Liam O’Connor (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Tommy Ryan (Gusserane), Sam Audsley (St. Martin’s, 0-1); Seán Delaney (Naomh Eanna), Niall Murphy (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Ryan Furlong (Sarsfields); James Lawlor (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Liam Coleman (Castletown, 0-2 ’ 45s); Pádraig Hughes (Ballinastragh Gaels), Seán Forde (Ballinastragh Gaels, 0-1), David Pettit (Our Lady’s Island); Fiachra Hourihane (Oylegate-Glenbrien), Michael Carroll (Glynn-Barntown, 0-2), Todd Hynes (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown, 0-3, 2 frees). Subs. - Eoghan Herlihy (Oylegate-Glenbrien) for Furlong (37), Cathal Meenagh (Castletown) for Pettit (39), Brendan Corcoran (Réalt na Mara, 0-1) for Hourihane (49), Robert Cogley (Bannow-Ballymity) for Carroll (56).
Offaly: Ryan King; Jamie Kelly, Cathal O’Meara, Clive Kinane; Adam Bolger, Aidan Bracken, Ciarán Farrell; Peter Byrne (0-1), Loran O’Reilly (01); Conor McCarthy (0-3, 1 free), Bill Parle (1-1), Ian Daly; Ciarán Breen (0-1), Kevin McDermott (1-3), Seán Flynn (0-2 frees). Subs. - Cathal Nolan for Farrell (24), Jamie Coates for Breen (57).
Referee: James King (Dublin).