Cork crush weak Minors
WEXFORD WERE unable to withstand this Cork surge as they were totally outclassed, eventually ending with a 21-point defeat in this Leinster Minor football league game at the Halo Tiles and Bathrooms Ferns Centre of Excellence on Saturday.
There was little for Wexford to take from this game as they allowed Cork to take the early initiative. Indeed, the visitors scored their opening goal within 30 seconds of the start, and from there on it was totally one-way traffic as the Wexford boys were unable to manage any semblance of a recovery through the entire 60 minutes.
Cork kept up their charge following that early Colm O’Mahoney goal after midfielder Mark Kearney had powered through the centre from the throw-in before laying the ball off. O’Mahoney drove the ball to the net from ten metres, giving an early indication of what was to follow.
Cork continued to pick off points into the breeze and led by 1-4 to nil before Wexford eventually opened their account after 19 minutes through a Dylan Lyne point.
Five minutes before the break Damian Gore lobbed home ‘keeper Jack Quinn to register his side’s second goal, leaving Cork with a 2-6 to 0-3 interval lead, with Wexford’s remaining two points coming courtesy of Dean Doyle and a Michael Molloy free.
Wexford seemed to be affected by the early Cork surge as they were unable to bring any real pattern to their game. Cork drove on through the second 30 minutes as they restricted the Wexford boys just to counter-attacks which failed to create any real scoring opportunities.
By the three-quarter stage Cork led by 2-14 to 0-3, with Wexford’s first second-half score, a Michael Molloy pointed free, arriving in the 50th minute.
The Wexford defence continued to be exposed to constant pressure, with Colm Bennett finishing for his side’s third goal five minutes from the end, while the home side’s two late points came through Jamie Thomas and a Michael Molloy free just on full-time.
On the evidence of this showing, coming on the back of a heavy Laois defeat, Wexford manager John Nolan has much soul searching in store before his opening championship game.
Wexford: Jack Quinn; David Roche, Adam Hogan, Enda Minogue; Aaron Byrne, Jamie Thomas (0-1), Aaron Breen; Cormac Rowe, Peadair Cowman; Cian Meyler, Cathal Kirwan, Dean Doyle (0-1); Diarmuid Kehoe, Michael Molloy (0-3 frees), Dylan Lyne (0-1). Subs. - Philip Rawson for Meyler, Pádhraig Loughlin for Kehoe, Killian Pierce for Byrne, Darragh Brooks for Quinn, Robert Cloney for Minogue, Andrew Harrington for Doyle.
Cork: Kevin McMahon; Lorcan Finn, Dylan O’Mahoney, Paul Ring; Jason Harrington (0-1), Peter O’Driscoll (0-1), Jack McCarthy (0-1); Colm O’Loughlin, Mark Kearney; Liam Graynor (0-1), Colm O’Mahoney (1-2, 0-2 frees), Jack Murphy (0-2); Colm Barrett (1-3), Rory Byrne, Damian Gore (1-7, 0-2 frees). Subs. - Eoin Mahon for Kearney, Dylan Ward for Ring, Mark Hodnett for O’Callaghan, O’Callaghan for O’Mahoney, Rory O’Driscoll for Graynor.
Referee: James King (Dublin).