For magnificent win
ROUND 2, IN PEARSE STADIUM, SALTHILL after first-ever success in Pearse Stadium
equalising from a free before a good spell saw Conor McDonald and David Redmond put Wexford 0-5 to 0-3 in front.
Chin had a goal chance when he caught a Jack O’Connor line ball in space, but he drove his shot to the left of the posts for one of his side’s ten wides (nine for Galway).
Jason Flynn narrowed the gap to the minimum before the first Galway goal arrived in the 16th minute, with Conor Whelan delivering a lovely ball over the top into space and Joseph Cooney winning the race as Mark Fanning advanced swiftly to flick it to the net (1-4 to 0-5).
David Burke and Paul Morris swapped points but Galway moved up a gear with the addition of 1-2 in three and a half minutes. Brian Molloy and Conor Cooney picked off the points, with Conor McDonald missing a scoreable free before Joseph Cooney floated a beautiful ball into space on the left for midfielder Johnny Coen who made ground before firing low across goal into the far corner of the net (2-7 to 0-6).
It was at this juncture that we caught a clear glimpse of the new Wexford. It would have been easy to fold with such a large deficit while favoured by the wind, but instead they reeled in their rivals with five points on the trot before half-time. It was a huge statement of intent as Chin (free), Simon Donohoe, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Aidan Nolan and McDonald (free) left the gap at a more manageable 2-7 to 0-11.
It got even better when Chin pointed a difficult free on the right just over four minutes into the second-half, although Galway steadied when Jason Flynn knocked over a placed ball (2-8 to 0-12).
By the 50-minute mark it was 2-12 to 0-15, with Conor Cooney, Joseph Cooney, Jason Flynn (play and ’65) registering for the leaders while Paul Morris (two) and Aidan Nolan replied, the latter after a pass from Morris who had a huge influence on proceedings, along with Diarmuid O’Keeffe who repeatedly ghosted into dangerous positions.
That Flynn point from play was another key moment as it had goal written all over it but Mark Fanning made a superb save after Aidan Nolan threw his hurl at the attacker in desperation.
Competitive and all as Wexford were up to that point and beyond, it was another huge test of character after Canning netted but they responded in spades.
Just to put the achievement in perspective, it was the first away win over Galway in a group game in the league since the victory in Ballinasloe in October of 1983, and the first-ever success in Pearse Stadium which witnessed a 1-24 to 0-6 loss on the last visit in 2011.
That will do nicely for the moment as the focus now turns to the visit of Kerry on March 5, with the challenge game against Waterford coming first in Kilmore next Sunday.
Wexford: Mark Fanning (1-0 pen.); James Breen, Liam Ryan, Eoin Moore; Shaun Murphy; Diarmuid O’Keeffe (01), Matthew O’Hanlon (joint capt., 0-1), Simon Donohoe (0-1); Barry Carton (0-1), Aidan Nolan (0-2); Jack O’Connor, David Redmond (0-1), Lee Chin (0-3, 2 frees); Paul Morris (0-3), Conor McDonald (0-7, 5 frees). Subs. - Harry Kehoe for O’Connor (42), Podge Doran (0-1) for Redmond (50), Aaron Maddock for Carton (54), Richie Kehoe for Moore (60), David Dunne for Nolan, inj. (62).
Galway: Colm Callanan (0-1 free); John Hanbury, Matt Donoghue; Aidan Harte; Gearóid McInerney, Adrian Tuohy, Daithí Burke; Johnny Coen (1-0), David Burke (capt., 0-1); Jason Flynn (0-5, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Davy Glennon, Conor Whelan (0-1); Brian Molloy (0-1), Joseph Cooney (1-1), Conor Cooney (0-3). Subs. - Joe Canning (1-0 pen.) for Molloy (50), Ronan Burke for McInerney (54), Niall Burke for Glennon (70+1).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).