Wexford comeback falls short
Route one approach pays off but Fermanagh too strong
FERMANAGH WEXFORD
A RETURN to the old style route one approach yielded a dramatic improvement in Wexford’s second-half fortunes, but it still wasn’t enough to stave off the defeat that most observers expected in this fiesty Allianz Football League Division 3 opener in Brewster Park, Enniskillen, on Sunday.
The visitors had to try something different at the break when they trailed by 2-4 to 0-3 after conceding two sloppy goals and not scoring from play until the third added minute.
Towering newcomer Nick Doyle was switched from midfield to the edge of the square, and the gameplan was clear as manager Paul McLoughlin roared at his players to ‘deliver’ the ball inside every time an attack was launched.
The Starlights lad posed a threat even though some of the service wasn’t up to scratch, and his 1-1 haul suggested that, at the very least, the Wexford mentors found a new full-forward on their long trek to Ulster.
Unfortunately, his goal in the 44th minute only rattled Fermanagh for a brief period, as they responded swiftly when they were gifted a third and went into the last quarter leading by 3-6 to 1-3.
The game wasn’t as unruly as some national radio reports may have implied, but it did degenerate after that third major for the home side.
Eoghan Nolan went to ground in the 48th minute close to the opposition goal as clubmate Craig McCabe waited to take a free, and it took referee Liam Devenney an age to deliver his findings even though he was close at hand, choosing to consult with both umpires and linesman Pádraig Hughes from Armagh.
After almost three minutes of deliberations, he booked Nick Doyle and Fermanagh full-back Che Cullen before running outfield and issuing a straight red to the home side’s influential midfielder, Ryan Jones.
Unfortunately, when play resumed McCabe sent the scoreable free to the left and wide, and then Conor Carty hooked an effort to the wrong side of the near post with a placed ball taken off the ground.
They were costly misses from an overall haul of eight wides (twelve for Fermanagh), although young Cathal Devereux made an immediate impact off the bench when he curled over a left-footed point from a lay-off by the hard-working Paul Curtis in the 57th minute.
Nick Doyle then fisted a Daithí Waters free over the bar with his back to the posts, and the natives were certainly growing restless when they gave away a soft goal midway through the last quarter.
A stray pass under no pressure was intercepted by Doyle who linked up with Curtis, and the corner-forward popped the ball to Tiarnan Rossiter who calmly side-footed to the far corner of the net with his left peg (3-6 to 2-5).
Unfortunately, Rossiter’s involvement thereafter was brief, as he received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Declan McCusker in the 65th minute.
Aidan Breen kicked what proved to be the last point from an Eoin Donnelly off-load before the only big flashpoint occurred directly in front of the Fermanagh dug-out.
Conor Carty tried to retrieve the ball after it crossed the line, and rival assistant manager Ryan McMenamin, the former Tyrone defender, was close to the scene.
A pushing match started and quickly escalated, with some of the home side’s bench quickly to their feet.
And when Glen Malone was targeted for some attention, his sibling Brian did what any self-respecting big brother would do in that situation and waded in to offer assistance.
When it all calmed down, McMenamin was ordered to the stand before Wexford’s experienced centre-back was shown a straight red card, and he will be an immense loss for the trip to Sligo next Sunday.
The nearly seven minutes of added time saw Fermanagh also reduced to 13 men as substitute Seán Quigley was shown a black card after all six replacements had been used.
And Daithí Waters collected the last yellow, joining a long list that also featured Barry O’Connor, Brian Malone, Nick Doyle, Tiarnan Rossiter (two), Robert Frayne and Conor Carty plus Fermanagh’s Daniel Teague, Eoin Donnelly, Che Cullen, James McMahon and Conall Jones.
Expectations were low before the game and, while defeat was indeed Wexford’s lot, they were more competitive than many - this writer included - had reckoned.
The pitch was extremely soft underfoot, and this led to a litany of errors and slow build-up play from both sides.
Wexford had a narrow escape early on, with Daniel Teague beating Mark O’Neill on the left before picking out onrushing midfielder Ryan Jones whose drive was deflected over the bar by Jim Rossiter in the second minute.
However, they were more than competitive in the first quarter without possessing a strong attacking threat in general play, whereas Fermanagh frustrated home supporters with four wides.
Donal Shanley equalised from a free after Paul Curtis was fouled in the sixth minute, and he missed his next placed ball before putting Wexford 0-2 to 0-1 clear after the nippy Clongeen attacker was once again impeded.
Fermanagh corner-back Kane Connor drove forward to kick a fine equaliser in the 21st minute, with Seamus Quigley restoring their lead from a free after Barry O’Connor was booked for a foul on Daniel Teague.
The first big body blow for Wexford arrived in the 28th minute when a Declan McCusker point attempt came back off the post. Netminder Pa Doyle moved to his left to make himself available for a handpass, but defender Barry O’Gorman fluffed his pick-up in the difficult conditions and Quigley had the simple task of swinging his boot and directing the ball into a gaping net (1-3 to 0-2).
Ryan Jones added to the lead from a pass by substitute Eamonn Maguire, with Eoghan Nolan and Barry O’Connor swapping positions in the centre of the Wexford attack before another giveaway goal was conceded in the 35th minute.
A hit and hope kick by Conall Jones was boxed back from the endline by an unchallenged Eoin Donnelly into the path of Seamus Quigley who once again let fly first time and rattled the net for a 2-4 to 0-2 lead.
Donal Shanley shot wide after yet another foul on Paul Curtis, but at least Wexford finished the half on a positive note when Eoghan Nolan found Daithí Waters who made a burst inside the 45-metre line and drove over their opening half from play.
Conor Carty replaced Barry O’Gorman at left half-back for the second-half, with Syl Byrne coming on at midfield, Barry O’Connor leaving the fray, and Craig McCabe moving out to the ’40.
Nick Doyle went to the edge of the square where he was flanked by Paul Curtis and Eoghan Nolan, with Wexford kept waiting on the field for a long time before the opposition returned.
Fermanagh brought netminder Patrick Cadden - a converted attacker - up to take two early frees, but he kicked both wide via his hands as the Wexford aerial bombardment got under way in earnest at the other end.
Conall Jones hooked a goal chance to the left of the posts after a high kick by Ryan Jones landed favourably in his path in the 42nd minute, but the latter kicked a point from the kick-out when it escaped Brian Malone’s grasp (2-5 to 0-3).
Wexford’s route one approach first paid dividends on their next attack, with Craig McCabe hanging the perfect ball in the air for Nick Doyle to knock down behind his direct opponent and pull to the net from close range.
Referee Devenney missed an off-the-ball foul on McCabe in the lead up to Fermanagh’s next point from substitute Paul McCusker, but the third goal for the locals was self-inflicted in the 46th minute.
Pa Doyle raced out to claim a McCusker kick that was dropping short, but a defender seemed to block his line of vision and the ball rebounded off his body into the path of an alert Conall Jones who drilled it powerfully to the net (3-6 to 1-3).
At that stage Fermanagh should have comfortably seen out the game, but that red card for Ryan Jones made life difficult and Wexford will take heart from outscoring their Rory Gallagher-managed rivals by 1-2 to 0-1 down the home straight.
Paul Curtis somewhat undid his best game in the jersey thus far by kicking three wides, but if he can work on his accuracy he has the potential to be a threat close to goal given his speed.
The remaining five misses came from Michael Furlong and free-takers Donal Shanley (two), Craig McCabe and Conor Carty on a day when Wexford conceded 21 of the 54 fouls.
The grand total of ten of the 21 players used were making league debuts, so they will be all the better for the experience before making the trip to face Sligo - who were hammered by Armagh - in Markievicz Park on Sunday.
Wexford: Pa Doyle; Michael Furlong, Jim Rossiter, Mark O’Neill; Glen Malone, Brian Malone, Barry O’Gorman; Daithí Waters (capt., 0-1), Nick Doyle (1-1); Donal Shanley (0-2 frees), Barry O’Connor, Tiarnan Rossiter (10); Paul Curtis, Eoghan Nolan, Craig McCabe. Subs. - Syl Byrne for O’Connor (HT), Conor Carty for O’Gorman (HT), Robert Frayne for Shanley (42), Cathal Devereux (0-1) for McCabe (55), Donnacha Holmes for Nolan, inj. (57), Mark Rossiter for Curtis (67).
Fermanagh: Patrick Cadden; Kane Connor (0-1), Che Cullen, Cian McManus; Declan McCusker, Lee Cullen, Barry Mulrone; Eoin Donnelly (capt.), Ryan Jones (0-3); Ryan Lyons, Aidan Breen (0-1), James McMahon; Daniel Teague, Conall Jones (1-0), Seamus Quigley (2-1, 0-1 free). Subs. - Eamonn Maguire for Teague (30), Paul McCusker (0-1) for Lyons (42), Mickey Jones for Quigley (52), Seán Quigley for L. Cullen (59), Ryan McCluskey for McMahon (63), Conor McGee for Maguire (65).
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).