Bank holiday rout
Footballers given a lesson by Offaly
OFFALY 3-18 WEXFORD 0-6
AN INCREDIBLY demoralising weekend for the Wexford Minor teams was completed in Bellefield yesterday (Monday) when the footballers were handed a humiliating 21-point defeat by Offaly in the first round of the Electric Ireland Leinster championship.
If Saturday’s hurling loss to Kilkenny was bad, this was even worse as the outclassed home side never rose a gallop.
They only managed two points from play, with the first not arriving until the 52nd minute, and the second following in added time.
The writing was on the wall for Wexford at half-time when they trailed by 0-9 to 0-3, with all of their tally coming from frees, and Offaly wrapped up the victory and a clash with Westmeath next Saturday by adding 1-5 without reply in the first nine minutes on the re-start.
Wexford fielded three of the St. Peter’s College side which started the recent All-Ireland final, along with another four players who were part of the school’s squad.
They renewed rivalries with several members of the Moate Community School side from their clash in the Leinster decider, but there was sweet revenge for the midlanders on this occasion.
Three of the team had played with the hurlers two days earlier - the Good Counsel trio of Gavin Sheehan, Jamie Myler and Seán Nolan, with the latter replacing Myler in the 24th minute.
Just like their hurling counterparts, it’s back to the drawing board now for team mentors John Nolan (St. James’, manager), Matty Forde (Kilanerin), Luke O’Hanlon (St. James’), Chris Murphy (St. Peter’s College) and Mark Doyle (Réalt na Mara).
Wexford struggled from an early stage and never got to grips with the quick, accurate deliveries to a rampant Offaly full-forward line where Cian Johnston, another schools star with Gallen College of Ferbane, was the stand-out performer. He scored 2-5 from play as the visitors controlled the game throughout and never looked in any danger.
Goalkeeper Jack Quinn couldn’t be faulted, while Eoin Porter’s accurate passing was one of the few highlights on an afternoon when Peadair Cowman also had his moments. Otherwise though, it was a game that raised more questions than answers for those charged with the preparation and upkeep of our flagship under-age county teams.
Offaly led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, with both Wexford points coming from Jamie Myler frees. It was 9-3 by the break, and eight of their scores were from play whereas the third for the home side was kicked via a Mick Molloy free.
Jack Quinn had made a good save to deny Nathan Poland a goal in the eleventh minute, but there was nothing he could do for the three second-half goals given the complete lack of cover in front of him.
Offaly’s first goal was finished by captain Cian Farrell in the 36th minute after a brilliant ball over the top by Poland (1-12 to 0-3).
Poland and Conor Lynam then created the second for Cian Johnston early in the last quarter (2-15 to 0-4), and the same player added the third with four minutes left when he beat Ben Maddock on the right sideline and cut in before planting the ball past Quinn.
David Gouldson had finally kicked Wexford’s first point from play midway through the last quarter, and the second arrived in added time when a Porter drive was deflected over the bar by Eoin Dunne.
Wexford: Jack Quinn (St. Patrick’s); Adam Hogan (HWH-Bunclody), Ben Maddock (St. Martin’s), David Roche (Glynn-Barntown); Gavin Sheehan (Gusserane), Eoin Porter (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, 0-1), Peadair Cowman (HWH-Bunclody); Cormac Rowe (Glynn-Barntown), Brian Deeny (Volunteers); Aaron Breen (Glynn-Barntown), Jamie Myler (St. James’, 0-2 frees), Jimmy Sutton (Fethard); David Gouldson (Sarsfields, 0-1), Mick Molloy (Naomh Eanna, capt., 0-2 frees), Dylan Lyne (Glynn-Barntown). Subs. - Seán Nolan (Horeswood) for Myler (24), Dean Doyle (Ballyhogue) for Breen (30), Enda Minogue (Ballyhogue) for Roche (48), Cathal Doyle (HWH-Bunclody) for Sutton (58), also Darragh Brooks (Castletown), Jamie Thomas (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown), Byron Byrne (HWH-Bunclody), Pádraig Loughlin (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy), Cathal Kirwan (Sarsfields).
Offaly: Jack McEvoy; Eoin Dunne, Luke Gavin Mangan, Jack O’Brien; Ciarán Donnelly, Edward Bennett, Adam Owens (0-1); Seán Ibbotston (0-1), Mark Newman (0-2); Seán Farrell (0-1), Conor Lynam (0-4, 1 free), Billy Fogarty; Cian Johnston (2-5), Nathan Poland (0-1), Cian Farrell (capt., 1-3, 0-3 frees). Subs. - David Nally for Fogarty (48), Conor McCarthy for Owens (48), Conor Egan for Farrell (53), Kieran Hartnett for Donnelly (54), Seán Hanamy for O’Brien (56), Jamie Quinn for Newman (58).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).