Three wins from three as O’Grady goal vital
Wexford make it three wins from three
WEXFORD WENT into Sunday’s third Allianz League Division 4 game just behind fellow unbeaten side Waterford on scoring difference, but by mid-afternoon they were outright leaders after fashioning a hardearned victory over our south-east neighbours for the second season running.
Early last March the visitors just got over the line under the Dungarvan floodlights, winning by a point, and while the margin was doubled this time around it was every bit as difficult.
The earlier throw-in time of 1 p.m. facilitated the hurling clash of the same counties in Kilmore, but unfortunately the weather wasn’t in a very benevolent mood when the action began and Wexford had to contend with the worst of it.
They found themselves facing the strong wind blowing towards the town end as the rain teemed down, although thankfully it gradually eased off. The sun even emerged for the first time at the interval, and conditions were much improved for the second period as Wexford hit three of the last five points scored from the 55th minute onwards to make sure of a third success on the trot.
There was bad and good news beforehand, with experienced attacker P.J. Banville ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up in training on Tuesday. His place went to Paul Curtis, and on the plus side James Stafford was successful in the appeal against his dismissal on a straight red card away to Leitrim a fortnight earlier.
It meant that a settled looking Wexford side went into battle, with Joey Wadding manning the centre of the defence again in the ongoing absence of John Leacy through injury.
An early chance was fashioned against the wind, but Kevin O’Grady fumbled the ball after good work in the build-up by Stafford, Wadding and John Tubritt.
A Ciarán Lyng pass found Tubritt for the opening point in the fourth minute, only for Donie Breathnach to equalise with a good solo score.
That marked the start of Waterford’s best sustained spell, as they moved 0-4 to 0-1 clear with further points from captain Paul Whyte, Michael O’Halloran and Patrick Hurney (free).
For the most part though they struggled to get past the wall of bodies Wexford planted around the 45-metre line, and it was a credit to the collective defensive work that Shane Roche didn’t have a save of note to make.
Ciarán Lyng pulled back a point from a free in the 15th minute, with no advantage arising after he was fouled since Paul Curtis first-timed a low shot to the left of the posts.
John Tubritt posted the first of five Wexford wides (eight for Waterford) after the strength of the wind was underlined when an earlier kick from Curtis hung in the air without making much forward progress.
Kevin O’Grady then saw a fisted point attempt foiled by the elements too before he struck for the goal that made all the difference to the outcome in the 25th minute.
Ben Brosnan played a short free to John Tubritt, and he in turn popped a pass to the St. James’ speed merchant who still had a lot of work to do. However, he scorched away from his would-be tacklers, making ground in the right corner-forward berth before driving an unstoppable shot past Stephen Enright for a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.
This was absolutely priceless given the strength of the wind, and it got better as Ciarán Lyng expertly judged a left-footed free off the ground from 30 metres after clubmate and captain Daithí Waters was fouled.
Two Patrick Hurney frees did bring Waterford back to level terms by halftime, with John Tubritt firing low to the left and wide after good work by overlapping defenders Brian Malone and Eoghan Nolan in between.
Lyng kicked the third wide from a free in added time, shortly after Nolan was caught in possession near his own goal but Shane Roche dealt capably and comfortably with the subsequent palmed effort following a Joey Veale cross.
The wind never wins anything on its own of course, particularly given the way football is played nowadays with such a strong emphasis on ball retention, carrying and short passing.
Wexford knew they had a lot of work to do with the elements in their favour, and the conclusion of the rain was another bonus.
What they didn’t bargain for though was the officiating of Fergal Smyth from Offaly whose hand only seemed to point in one direction after the break. Quite incredibly, 24 of the 27 frees awarded in the second period went to Waterford, many of a very questionable variety.
It’s not unusual for the team carrying the ball into the wind to gain more frees; in actual fact it’s quite common as they’re constantly driving forward into contact. Having said that, I can never recall such a huge difference in the free count in all my years keeping the statistics at inter-county games.
It was an extra obstacle for Wexford to overcome, but they kept their composure and crucially never allowed Waterford to regain the lead at any stage even though just one point divided the teams for long spells.
Kevin O’Grady had a chance for a second goal less than two minutes after the re-start when John Tubritt caught a Daithí Waters delivery and picked him out, but he shot high and over to establish a 1-4 to 0-6 lead.
Waters was responsible for the game’s only mark which led to a Ben Brosnan wide before Michael O’Regan replaced hard-working clubmate James Stafford who has another big Under-21 game coming up tomorrow (Wednesday) night.
Brosnan enjoyed better luck with his next shot in the 43rd minute, after Tubritt blocked a James McGrath handpass, and Michael Furlong dived full-length at the other end shortly afterwards to deny Donie Breathnach with a fine piece of brave defensive work.
The second Wexford wide of the half, and last of the game, followed from Tubritt before Patrick Hurney pulled a point back from a free.
Kevin O’Grady then kicked a peach of a point in the 51st minute, taking a short pass from Brosnan, dummying with his left, and firing over via his less-favoured right peg (1-6 to 0-7).
The third quarter free count was 12-1 in Waterford’s favour, and the game continued in that vein despite the growing disquiet of the crowd.
Daithí Waters joined Joey Wadding on a yellow card in the 55th minute, and a solo point from Conor Murray ensured that the visitors still entertained high hopes of winning a third game in a row.
It took Wexford less than a minute to respond though, with Ciarán Lyng - who had a great battle with Munster regular Thomas O’Gorman - almost seeing his pass to Michael O’Regan intercepted but kicking a fine point after getting the return (1-7 to 0-8).
It was Lyng who drew only the second Wexford free of the half from O’Gorman after a long Shane Roche kick-out broke into the left corner. Ben Brosnan had a tough task from 13 metres quite close to the sideline, but he worked the angles to perfection and left Wexford three points ahead.
John Tubritt was the next man to enter the notebook before Donie Breathnach played a short free and got the ball back prior to splitting the posts.
Two substitutes then combined for what proved to be the last Wexford point in the 65th minute, with Michael O’Regan linking up with Jake Firman before restoring that one-goal gap (1-9 to 0-9).
At that point Dublin linesman Gary McCormack intervened and after discussions that seemed to last an age, Waterford’s Michael O’Halloran was red-carded on his word while Colm Kehoe collected a yellow.
Substitute Conor Carty was also booked before Lyng again earned the third and last Wexford free of the half which led to a yellow for Thomas O’Gorman. Ben Brosnan’s floated kick was fisted by Michael O’Regan and ended up with Lyng whose point attempt came back off the post.
We were into the four added minutes at this stage, with Brian Malone taking one for the team and being booked before Patrick Hurney pulled back a point to leave Wexford with a precarious lead.
Joey Wadding broke forward but kicked short, leaving Waterford netminder Stephen Enright to launch one last attack.
Daithí Waters halted that move and collected a black card in the process, followed by a red as he had earlier sampled that yellow in a second-half where the referee was too noticeable by far.
The full-time whistle blew as soon as that Waterford free was taken though, leaving Wexford in a similar position to their hurling counterparts - with their destiny very much in their own hands - which is the perfect position to be in at this stage of the campaign.
A trip to Aughrim to face Wicklow comes next on Sunday, and then it’s London at home, Westmeath at home, and Carlow away in that order. Realistically Wexford could probably afford to lose one of those games and still gain promotion, but that thought won’t even be entertained as Seamus McEnaney, David Murphy and Martin McElkennon are intent on making this welcome winning run last for as long as possible.
Incidentally, one notable feature of added time was the introduction of Under-21 player Ronan Devereux to make his Senior debut. To the best of my knowledge, he is the first Crossabeg-Ballymurn man to line out at this level since Niall McDonald featured briefly with the footballers in 1985, another important milestone for a fast-developing club.
Wexford: Shane Roche; Michael Furlong, Brian Malone, Jim Rossiter; Eoghan Nolan, Joey Wadding, Tiarnan Rossiter; Daithí Waters (capt.), Colm Kehoe; Kevin O’Grady (1-2), Ben Brosnan (0-2, 1 free), Paul Curtis; Ciarán Lyng (0-3, 2 frees), John Tubritt (0-1), James Stafford. Subs. - Michael O’Regan (0-1) for Stafford (42), Conor Carty for Curtis (53), Jake Firman for Tubritt (63), Ronan Devereux for O’Grady (70+2).
Waterford: Stephen Enright; Stephen Dalton, James McGrath, Thomas O’Gorman; Tadhg O hUallacháin, Stephen Prendergast, Ray O Ceallaigh; Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry; Conor Murray (0-1), Donie Breathnach (0-2), Michael O’Halloran (0-1); Paul Whyte (capt., 0-1), Patrick Hurney (0-5, 4 frees), Joey Veale. Subs. - Liam Lawlor for Veale (58), Fearghal O Cuirrín for Dalton (60). Referee: Fergal Smyth (Offaly). ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 4 TABLE P W D L F A Pt 3 3 0 0 42 35 6 3 2 1 0 61 40 5 3 2 0 1 52 35 4 3 1 1 1 45 47 3 3 1 0 2 46 50 2 3 1 0 2 39 50 2 3 1 0 2 42 55 2 3 0 0 3 33 48 0 Wexford Westmeath Waterford Carlow Leitrim Wicklow London Limerick