Down dismissed in style
Footballers spring welcome qualifier surprise
INNOVATE WEXFORD Park buzzed with excitement on June 27, 2015, as the Wexford Senior footballers claimed their first major scalp under the reign of new manager David Power with a thrilling five-point win over a Down side destined to compete in Division 1 of the Allianz League eight months later.
The northerners made the long journey south with high hopes of success after losing by a point to Derry in the Ulster championship quarter-final, but this All-Ireland qualifier first round clash saw the home side scale the heights as a ferocious appetite for hard work propelled them to a fully-merited 2-16 to 2-11 victory.
Six points without reply, three on either side of half-time, gave Wexford the initiative, but there was still the worry that Down might launch a decisive late burst – just like Westmeath had done in Mullingar – when the home side’s lead stood at 0-15 to 1-10 with 14 minutes left.
However, those fears were allayed in a devastating burst lasting no more than 80 seconds when the Rossiter brothers from Rosslare pounced for a brace of dramatic goals at the Clonard end to leave Wexford supporters in dreamland.
The first arrived in the 57th minute when a flowing move ripped the Down defence apart, with the excellent Michael O’Regan popping a handpass to his right to Naomhan Rossiter whose shot across goal came back off the post.
His sibling, Tiarnan, was alert to the break, and he got the decisive touch which stretched the Wexford lead to five points.
Down had no time to recover from this crushing blow before they conceded a second goal, and this time the adventurous Naomhan Rossiter did it all himself.
The teenager had been given a second-half marking assignment on the battle-hardened Kevin McKernan, but his eagerness to aid the attack at every opportunity was amply rewarded when he crashed a shot across Stephen Kane and into the far corner of the net to spark delirium among Wexford supporters in the covered stand (2-15 to 1-10).
Down did pull a goal back when substitute Arthur McConville’s shot was parried by replacement netminder Anthony Masterson but still crept over the line.
And although Paul Devlin reduced the deficit even further to four points from a free, an element of panic was evident in the approach of the visitors, who also lost defender Conor Garvey on a straight red card.
A super shoulder by Graeme Molloy thwarted one dangerous run from Conor Laverty, and Wexford were the stronger side in additional time.
The return of the St. James’ stalwart to centre-back for his first full game of the year after knee surgery solidified the team, and he made some marvellous tackles and catches in the second-half in particular.
Ciarán Lyng closed the scoring from a free after a foul on the outstanding Brian Malone, whose driving runs from midfield caused untold problems for Down.
A young, developing team accepted the accolades of a thrilled home crowd on the final whistle, with the win every bit as impressive as the 2-13 to 0-12 success over the same opponents in Croke Park seven years earlier.
Wexford: Shane Roche; Joey Wadding, Simon Donohoe, Naomhan
Rossiter (1-0); Rob Tierney, Graeme Molloy (0-1), Adrian Flynn; Syl Byrne, Brian Malone; Kieran Butler (0-1), Ciarán Lyng (capt., 0-6, 5 frees), Tiarnan Rossiter (1-1); Ben Brosnan (0-3, 1 free), Michael O’Regan (0-3), Kevin O’Grady (0-1). Subs. - Eoghan Nolan for Flynn, black card (18), Anthony Masterson for Roche, inj. (31), John Tubritt for Butler (59), James Breen for N. Rossiter (65), Paddy Byrne for O’Regan (70+3).
Down: Stephen Kane; Damian Turley, Luke Howard, Darren O’Hagan; Ryan Boyle, Conor Garvey, Paul Devlin (0-2 frees); Peter Fitzpatrick, Kevin McKernan; Conor Maginn, Mark Poland (0-2), Jerome Johnston (1-1); Caolan Mooney (0-2), Conor Laverty (capt., 0-2), Donal O’Hare (0-2 frees). Subs. - Ryan Johnston for Maginn (43), Packie Downey for Fitzpatrick (48), Arthur McConville (1-0) for O’Hare (58), Niall Madine for McKernan (59), Ross McGarry for Poland (59).
Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).