U21 loss in shield semi
WEXFORD ENDED their Peter McNulty Under-21 football tournament campaign with their fourth consecutive defeat to hosts Tipperary in Dr. Morris Park, Thurles, on Thursday.
The Slaneysiders have competed pretty well throughout the early season tournament, despite the string of losses, and have been able to give their extended squad a chance to stake a claim for a place in the championship squad.
Some have taken their chance, no doubt. Others are a little younger and this campaign might come a year too early for them. Their hosts, Tipperary, were also in trial mode, like Wexford, as some of this team will expect to start the championship, others not.
There was a distinct clash of styles. Wexford attacked more methodically, which is fine. What will worry the management team is the woeful shot choices their players made, as time after time attempts from poor positions flew miles wide.
With less than a month to go until Wexford visit Carlow in the opening round, that poor decision-making should be at a minimum. Tipperary, on the other hand, were happy to either go long quickly, or run at the visitors, sometimes losing possession but often winning vital frees.
There was only one score in a blustery first 17 minutes. Michael O’Connor was the creator for the hosts, bursting into Wexford territory before feeding Jack Kennedy for a clinically-taken opening goal.
A spell of four points in six minutes broke the deadlock for Wexford. Bob Whitty (two) and Tom Byrne nabbed frees while John Roche popped over a nice score from 35 metres out after good build-up play by Martin O’Connor and Jack Pettit.
The purple patch could have been a little better had Byrne not bizarrely went for goal with a closerange free in the 25th minute. The hosts finished with a flourish and went in 1-3 to 0-4 ahead after a trio from Joe Ryan.
After a pair of Byrne minors, there was still two points in it in the 45th minute when Niall Hughes’ long punt forward rode the wind and found Daire Bolger alone inside. Just on for his second spell of the evening, the Rathgarogue-Cushinstown man made no mistake with a clinical finish.
Leading by 1-6 to 1-5, Wexford didn’t score again and rarely threatened to do so. Tipperary began to win countless frees as the visitors tired and four deadballs in a row were enough to give them a place opposite Kildare in the shield final.
Wexford will visit Carlow in the Leinster Under-21 championship first round on February 22. Like their neighbours, the Barrowsiders lost all four games in the Peter McNulty tournament.
Tipperary: Charlie Manton; Daire Brennan, Liam Ryan, Morgan Irwin (capt.); Willie Connors, Liam Fahey, Michael O’Connor; Jack Butler (0-1 free), Jack Skehan; Aidan Buckley, Daire Egan, Ross Peters; Joe Ryan (0-7, 5 frees), Tommy Nolan, Jack Kennedy (1-0). Subs. (rolling) - Gavin Whelan, Robbie Long, Faolan Linnane, Paul Moloney, Stephen Kelly, Micheál Barron (0-1 free).
Wexford: Matt Doyle; Stephen Lyne, Ronan Devereux, Aaron Murphy; Martin O’Connor, Naomhan Rossiter (capt.), Daire Barden; John Roche (0-1), Niall Hughes; Daire Bolger (10), Jake Firman, Jack Pettit; Stephen O’Gorman, Tom Byrne (0-3, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Bob Whitty (0-2 frees). Subs. (rolling) - Nick Doyle, Joe Sutton, Dillon Redmond, Kevin Mahoney, Ben Turner.
Referee: Brian Tyrrell (Tipperary).