An All-Ireland final spot was booked by the Under-21s
Semple Stadium shoot-out ends in two-po RLING CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL oint success as ghosts of 2013 exorcised
WEXFORD’S PROGRESSIVE hurling summer was subjected to another wonderful twist in a Saturday evening shoot-out in Semple Stadium, Thurles, as three points without reply in the last ten minutes secured a first Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland Under21 championship final spot since 2001 at the expense of a shattered Galway team.
The momentum may have stalled at the same venue with that heavy Senior exit to Limerick, but things are back on track right now as the Slaneysiders can look forward to another trip to Tipp. to take on three-in-a-row seeking Clare in the decider on Saturday, September 13.
This was a quite remarkable contest in so many respects, particularly in the first-half when it was a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ as scores were picked off with amazing regularity and ease. Galway recorded the last three points to edge ahead at the break by 1-14 to 1-13, shooting just one wide in the process while Wexford only had three.
The amount of space afforded to forwards on both sides was more akin to the norm for a challenge game, with the Leinster champions’ backs looking vulnerable as the rival attackers didn’t pay much heed to a standard six-man formation and drifted around to great advantage. Wing-forward Pádraic Brehony, used in a midfield role by the Seniors, was a particular threat and posted an incredible 1-5 from play in that opening half alone, adding another point early in the second period before his influence was finally curbed.
Indeed, the tightening up of the Wexford defence was the key aspect which got the team over the line in a frenetic finish, and the benefit of those three games in the province was also felt as they displayed far more fire than their western opponents when the game was there to be won.
The pattern for that lively opening half was set after just 18 seconds when midfielder Conor Devitt latched on to an Andrew Kenny clearance to give Wexford the lead, playing into the town end. Galway’s sole wide before the break followed from midfielder Eanna Burke, with Gary Moore firing a line ball off target from the left flank before Cathal Mannion played in Pádraic Brehony for his opening score.
Shane Maloney raced away from Shane O’Gorman to ease Galway in front, but Gary Moore won the puck-out and replied in an instant. It was that type of half throughout, with practically every point matched by one at the other end and the loose hurling adding to the entertainment value for the 6,853 spectators.
Galway captain Jonathan Glynn’s effort was cancelled out by Pádraig Foley from a low Conor Devitt pass, before good work by Rhys Clarke on the left created the chance for the first of three Kevin Foley points in his best game of the campaign to date (04 to 0-3).
A Conor McDonald snapshot from a Clarke handpass was stopped for a ’65 which Jack Guiney sent wide in the eighth minute, and the Harriers attacker also picked out Aidan Nolan in similar fashion as Wexford registered again. The sheer economy of Pádraic Brehony’s play at the other end had to be admired though as he never took too much out of the ball and narrowed the gap to the minimum from a Shane Maloney handpass after nearly ten minutes.
Pádraig Foley caught Oliver O’Leary’s puck-out and fired over impressively for the second time to make it 0-6 to 0-4 in our favour, and Conor McDonald won an Andrew Kenny delivery and grabbed his opening score before posting our third and final wide prior to the interval.
That three-point gap was shortlived though as Pádraic Brehony with a brace and another Senior player, Cathal Mannion, now at full-forward, brought Galway level by the midway stage of the half. Jonathan Glynn had been moved to left halfforward where his ball-winning ability from puckouts was a big advantage, and the scores continued to flow as Jack Guiney earned a free which he converted before the rampant Brehony levelled after Glynn caught the puck-out (0-8 each).
Kevin Foley displayed good control before restoring the lead, but a Shane Maloney free left the teams level again prior to the arrival of the opening goal. A catch by Maloney set a flowing Galway move in motion, with Brehony playing a one-two with Mannion to create acres of space before planting a low shot out of Oliver O’Leary’s reach (1-9 to 0-9).
Andrew Kenny and a struggling Jack O’Connor switched wings in the half-back line, but it was the
area of greatest concern as Shane O’Gorman was also finding matters difficult in the centre. However, the immediate response was encouraging as Jack Guiney launched two frees between the posts after Pádraig Foley and Liam Ryan were impeded, the latter after a trademark rousing run which brought him to his own ’65.
Once again the big hand of Jonathan Glynn went up to catch the puck-out and earn a free which Shane Maloney tapped over, but Conor McDonald availed of a slip by a defender shortly after moving to right half-forward in a direct swap with Guiney and reduced arrears to the minimum (1-10 to 0-12).
Both men then played key roles in the Wexford goal in the 26th minute. McDonald’s delivery was won by Rhys Clarke who played a lovely crossfield pass into the ground for Guiney, and his blistering shot beat Shane Mannion all ends up to give the Slaneysiders - sporting a gaudy new jersey due to the clash between purple and maroon - the advantage once more.
McDonald added to the lead with a point before Glynn threatened after another catch but the danger was averted. Galway substitute Brian Molloy and Cathal Mannion pulled back points before a rare Liam Ryan slip saw the men in white create an overlap, but Andrew Kenny prevented a near-certain goal with a tremendous interception. Despite that our rivals continued to enjoy the better of the late first-half exchanges, and points in added time from Eanna Burke and Shane Maloney left them one ahead at the break (1-14 to 1-13).
Shoring up the defence was clearly the biggest task facing Wexford, although the Galway mentors no doubt felt the same about their own charges. And given the fact that just 13 points were scored in the second period, both succeeded to a large extent but the chief factor was that the Model county won that half 8-5. And for a county that regularly falls short due to inaccuracy in all grades, the fact that just one more wide was posted to leave an overall tally of four was also worthy of considerable note, especially as Galway missed seven chances after being so accurate earlier.
Still, the start to the new half was worrying from a Wexford point of view. Shane Maloney (free), Pádraic Brehony and Maloney again from a Brehony pass all shot points inside the first six minutes to widen the gap to four before the first Wexford change was made. Jim White came into the back line for Garrett Foley who had been battling against injury prior to the game, with Andrew Kenny reverting to the full-back sector where the coolness and consistency of Eoin Conroy had to be admired. He has to be the most under-rated member of this team but also one of the most consistent, and it was no surprise that Pádraic Brehony’s influence was at its least significant when he was in his slipstream.
Full-back Liam Ryan also burst out on some of those swashbuckling runs he is earning a reputation for, while a few spectacular catches also roused the crowd. If he can fully master his first touch he seems set for a long and fruitful intercounty career. The character shown by Wexford from that point on had to be admired as free-scoring Galway were restricted to a mere two more points in the last 23 minutes.
A clever Pádraig Foley flick set up Gary Moore for his second point before the real turning point in the game. It occurred in the 39th minute when Oliver O’Leary made an excellent save from a Jason Flynn shot, and the ball was quickly moved downfield where Conor McDonald - back at full-forward - was fouled and Jack Guiney pointed (1-17 to 1-16).
It was a four-point swing in a matter of seconds, and the concession of another goal at that juncture may well have proven fatal. Peter Sutton was introduced for Rhys Clarke and his first function was to handpass to Kevin Foley who equalised as the large Wexford crowd really started to get behind the team.
Jack Guiney missed a scoreable free but it was the sole wide of the half, whereas Galway lost their composure completely in front of the posts in the last quarter when five efforts drifted off target.
A foul on Eoin Conroy was punished by Guiney to restore the lead in the 47th minute, but Galway briefly responded when Cathal Mannion levelled before Adrian Tuohy split the posts from long range (1-19 to 1-18).
James Cash came on at midfield for Conor Devitt shortly before Aidan Nolan appeared to have been fouled as he cut in from the left corner, but referee Diarmuid Kirwan was having none of it and the play continued. A foul on Cash after a couple of Galway wides led to the equaliser from Guiney, and Gary Moore hit the lead score after Conor McDonald dispossessed Barry Keane in the left corner.
Eanna Burke posted another costly Galway wide before Peter Sutton had a goal chance saved, but play broke to the left corner and McDonald’s cross was batted over by Guiney.
That score left Wexford holding the worst kind of lead - two points - entering the last minute, but Brian Molloy struck the eighth Galway wide in all before Liam Ryan made a rousing catch and clearance. Many hearts skipped a beat one minute into added time when Adrian Tuohy’s centre found substitute Jack Carr, but he was too far from goal to really threaten Oliver O’Leary with his shot. And while the sliothar broke off the Buffers Alley man’s stick, defenders swarmed around it and the quickfire siege was lifted as the sweet-sounding long whistle led to a pitch invasion.
These are very exciting and promising times for Wexford hurling, and it will be fascinating to see these talented young men testing themselves against the best, because to be honest Clare have looked formidable all through this campaign. It’s a great position for the county to be in though, and hopefully supporters will out in force for the final on the second Saturday in September.
WEXFORD
Oliver O’Leary; Garrett Foley, Liam Ryan, Eoin Conroy; Andrew Kenny, Shane O’Gorman (capt.), Jack O’Connor; Aidan Nolan (01), Conor Devitt (0-1); Jack Guiney (1-8, 0-7 frees), Gary Moore (03), Pádraig Foley (0-2); Rhys Clarke, Conor McDonald (0-3), Kevin Foley (0-3). SUBS: Jim White for G. Foley (36), Peter Sutton for Clarke (43), James Cash for Devitt (51), Conor O’Leary for P. Foley (53).
GALWAY
Shane Mannion; Darragh O’Donoghue, John Hanbury, Paul Killeen; Barry Keane, Dean Higgins, Adrian Tuohy (0-1); Cormac Diviney, Eanna Burke (0-1); Pádraic Brehony (1-6), Shane Maloney (0-6, 3 frees), Cathal Mannion (0-3); Darragh Dolan, Jonathan Glynn (capt., 0-1), Jason Flynn. SUBS: Brian Molloy (0-1) for Dolan (23), Eamon Brannigan for Diviney (47), Jack Carr for Flynn (57). VENUE: Semple Stadium, Thurles.
REFEREE: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).