Wexford pay penalty
WEXFORD FOOTBALL LEAGUE were left to reflect on what might have been as they conceded a goal in each half from the penalty spot, leaving Clare to squeeze out a deserved victory in this disappointing Oscar Traynor Trophy semi-final at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday.
Having played so impressively in their quarter-final victory, the Wexford outfit failed miserably to deliver on this occasion, as their shot-shy front playerscouldn’t deliver even one direct shot on goal. The visitors’ ’keeper, Barry Ryan, didn’t have a single shot to deal with through the entire 90 minutes, which just about sums up the home side’s feeble effort on this occasion.
Given the importance of the midfield battle, Wexford were unable to command any worthwhile pressure, with the result that they were restricted to playing the long ball forward out of defence that was competently dealt with by an excellent visitors’ back four who mopped up every ball with confidence, which helped them launch attacks from deep inside their own half.
Wexford’s lack of composure was surprising given their excellent form up to this.
They were unable to hold the ball, losing out in possession far too easily, while their failure to string any worthwhile passages of play together saw them struggle for the most part.
It was not until the introduction of Adam Beary after 65 minutes that they began to show some semblance of attacking quality, but he lacked support up front, with the result that much of his good work failed to deliver the long-awaited score as the front players struggled close to goal.
Beary failed to start the game having been hospitalised the previous evening through illness, and his absence was sorely felt until his introduction.
Clare gave an early indication of their intentions, building some quality attacking play through the opening passages.
After just eight minutes a free-flowing move down the left lead to an opening for Ian Collins who forced a good save out of Walker, the ’keeper managing to keep the shot out with an outstretched leg.
John Peare gave the home fans a lift with a fine effort that went just wide, but it was the Munster side who were controlling the game. launching yet another attack on 33 minutes.
Referee Andy Byrne penalised the home side for pushing inside the area, leaving centre-forward Eoin Hayes to send Walker the wrong way with a well-struck penalty, making it 1-0.
Wexford managed to force successive corners but both kicks were capably dealt with by centre-back Stephen Kelly who proved an inspirational captain all through.
Neither side managed to push on and it was Clare who deservedly led 1-0 at the interval.
Wexford needed to show immense improvement on the resumption if they were to get something from this game.
While they managed to press forward for periods, their lack of creativity up front came back to haunt them with the result that there was an air of despondency around the ground as they continued to fail to create a worthwhile chance, with their high ball tactic into the danger zone being mopped up by the visitors.
Clare were content to protect their one-goal advantage, hitting the home side on the break, and they looked really dangerous from these quick counter-attacks.
It was from one of these that centre-forward Eoin Hayes ran on to a long ball, and cut inside both Declan Downes and Gareth McCurtain, leaving ’keeper Lee Walker to concede the penalty with his late dive in an effort to avert the danger, bringing Hayes down in the process. Walker was shown a yellow card for his actions.
The resulting penalty shot was straight down the centre as Walker dived the wrong way, making it 2-0 and leaving no way back for the home side with eleven minutes remaining.
With Beary trying to inject some urgency into his lack-lustre side, they continued to play the high ball into the area which was capably dealt with by the visitors’ back four who were so tight.
It was so surprising to see the Wexford side persist with this attacking option as despite being camped into the Clare half for the closing twelve minutes they failed to create a single chance or have a direct shot on goal, with visiting ’keeper Ryan being restricted just to goal kicks to keep warm over the 90 minutes. Just to compound a dreadful afternoon for the home side, they had substitute Leighton Gleeson straight red carded on 90 minutes.
It only added to what was a woeful afternoon for a side of which so much was expected on this occasion, leaving manager John Godkin no doubt bitterly disappointed on the final whistle. WEXFORD F.L.: Lee Walker, Warren Broaders, Declan Downes, Gareth McCurtain, Dale Flynn, John Peare, Lee Wadding-Byrne, Shane Dempsey, Paul Murphy, Kyle Dempsey, Eugene O’Brien. Subs: Adam Beary for Flynn (65), Ryan Mahon for John Peare (65), Leighton Gleson for Wadding-Byrne (75), James Peare for McCurtain (84), also Alan Tobin, Ian Sinott, Gary McCleane. CLARE F.L.: Barry Ryan, Colin Smyth, Conor Mullen, Stephen Kelly, Eoin O’Brien, Colin Ryan, Ian Collins, Niall Whelan, Eoin Hayes, David McCarthy, Paddy O’Malley. Subs: Darragh Corry for McCarthy (84), Stephen Carroll for Hayes (89), also Eoin Whelan, David Russell, Arek Mamala. REFEREE: Andy Byrne (AUL).