Gifted Gleeson on fire
Wexford make history with first-ever Oscar win
WINNING THE prestigious Oscar Traynor Trophy for the first time is a notable achievement in itself – but to do so on a resounding 6-0 scoreline, at an away venue, makes it all the more impressive.
And that’s exactly what unfolded in Ennis on May 16, 2010, when the Wexford Football League produced an outstanding collective display to thrash home side Clare, with the exceptional Leighton Gleeson leading the way.
Indeed, reporter Brendan Furlong was so taken with his display that he awarded him a ten out of ten in his playing ratings, and it was no surprise really given that the midfield schemer and captain capped a remarkable performance with a superb hat-trick.
With Paul Murphy also buzzing up front, the Munster men were under immense pressure from the off, and the deadlock was finally broken on the half-hour mark.
Michael Grangel was brought down, and Murphy lofted his freekick into the area where Gleeson rose highest to power home a superb header.
Grangel was unfortunate not to double that advantage before the break, but there was no stopping a rampant Wexford on the re-start.
Having said that, the game may have ventured in a different direction were it not for a superb tackle by Tomás ‘Ducker’ Hawkins that cut out the likelihood of a Clare equaliser.
It proved an inspiring moment, because Wexford went on to kill off the game in a devastating two-minute spell.
Kyle Dempsey applied a superb finish from a Eugene O’Brien cross, and then Leighton Gleeson got on the end of a Seán Culleton delivery to make it 3-0.
It was exhibition stuff from the visitors thereafter, with Gleeson turning provider when Paul Murphy added the fourth in the 61st minute.
The Courtown Hibs stalwart completed his hat-trick from an assist by current county hurler Lee Chin – in those days a teenage all-rounder – and substitute Ricky Fox topped off the complete team performance when he lobbed the Clare ’keeper for goal number six.
Manager John Godkin was lifted shoulder-high off the pitch by his jubilant players, and it was no more than he deserved after assembling a strong backroom team that also included John Flood, Colm Murphy, Ronan Robinson and John White.
Wexford: Lee Walker (North End United), Lee Chin (Wexford Bohemians), Garrett Larkin (Ajax Athletic),
Tomás Hawkins (Ferns United), Graham ‘Dax’ Howlin (Campile United), Seán Culleton (New Ross Celtic), Leighton Gleeson (Courtown Hibs, capt.), Eugene O’Brien (Courtown Hibs), Kyle Dempsey (North End United), Michael Grangel (New Ross Celtic), Paul Murphy (Wexford Bohemians). Subs. - Ricky Fox (Shamrock Rovers) for Dempsey (75), Tom Elmes (Duncannon) for Grangel (75), David Purcell (New Ross Town) for O’Brien (80), also Anthony Hayes (Forth Celtic), Darren Jordan (Forth Celtic), Alan Freeman (Shamrock Rovers), Martin O’Connor (Ferns United), Dylan Mernagh (Campile United), Glen Fortune (Enniscorthy United), Philip Drohan (New Ross Celtic).