Minors miss big chance
Three costly goals conceded as Dubs triumph
THE HISTORY books will record a litany of near misses from Wexford Minor football teams through the years, and there was one such occurrence in Bellefield on May 16, 2015.
Certainly, a first victory over Dublin in the Leinster championship since 1992 looked an attainable target with just over 13 minutes left when wing-forward James Stafford kicked a point to edge the hosts ahead by 0-11 to 1-7.
Sadly, it proved a fleeting moment rather than an all-out call to arms as the old adage of goals winning games came to pass.
The boys in blue knew that they had a fight on their hands, and they ripped the heart out of a gallant Wexford side with two killer blows in the space of five minutes.
Victory was there for the taking after a tremendous recovery from a dreadful start, but the chance wasn’t seized and instead the Dubs advanced to a semi-final clash with Kildare.
They were captained from centre-back by current Senior star Brian Howard, and other notable names in action included Evan Comerford between the posts, and Paddy Small at right corner-forward.
And it looked like the game might be a formality for the wind-aided visitors when they eased into a 1-2 to nil lead after eight minutes, with Dillon Keating grabbing the goal.
The move of local lad Nick Doyle – in the news elsewhere on these pages this week for his rugby exploits – to midfield in a straight swap with Joe Gardiner saw Wexford gradually play themselves into the game.
They got into a smooth groove after the excellent Mikie Dwyer kicked the first of his four points from play, so much so that the sides were level at half-time (0-7 to 1-4).
Unfortunately, Darragh Lyons was forced to retire with an injury before the break, and his Good Counsel colleague, Joe Sutton, suffered a similar fate in the 37th minute.
Dwyer kicked Wexford ahead after a powerful Tadhg Cody run, and they led by a point on a further two occasions after scores from Mark Rossiter and James Stafford.
Alas, just 40 seconds after the latter’s tidy finish, Dublin availed of a stroke of good fortune to hammer the first nail into the coffin.
Brian Howard surged forward and, when his point attempt came back off the crossbar, it fell kindly for substitute John Kindlon who rattled the net from close range.
The third Dublin goal arrived in the 53rd minute, and there was no comeback from Wexford after that significant blow.
While netminder Eoin Cummins did well to keep out shots from Cormac Howley and Conor Kavanagh, a queue of Dubs had lined up to have a go, and it was a case of third time lucky when Dillon Keating blasted home his second to leave five points between the sides.
The visitors added a point to end up victors by 3-8 to 0-11, with Mark Rossiter denied goals from a couple of frees near the end.
Wexford: Eoin Cummins (St. Fintan’s); John Dunne (HWH-Bunclody), Ronan Devereux (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Mark O’Neill (Gusserane); Tadhg Cody (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, 0-1), Shane Doyle (Ballyhogue, capt.), Joe Sutton (Fethard); Darragh Lyons (St. James’), Joe Gardiner (Castletown); Ciarán Joyce (Glynn-Barntown), Mikie Dwyer (Fethard, 0-4), James Stafford (Glynn-Barntown, 0-1); Mark Rossiter (Gusserane, 0-3, 1 free), Nick Doyle (Starlights, 0-1), Fionn Cooney (Glynn-Barntown, 0-1). Subs. - Ciarán Kirwan (Sarsfields) for Lyons, inj. (29), Seán Barden (Adamstown) for Sutton, inj. (37), Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien) for Gardiner (52), Martin O’Connor (HWH-Bunclody) for O’Neill, inj. (54), Tim Bowler (Duffry Rovers) for Joyce (59).