The one that got away
Wexford couldn’t finish the job against Dubs
IT WAS the big one that got away, and memories of the game are still painful ten years later.
In Croke Park on June 13, 2010, the Wexford Senior footballers came closer than ever before or since to defeating Dublin in the Leinster championship for the first time since 1956.
At half-time they led by 0-8 to 0-2, and that margin was extended slightly to 0-10 to 0-3 by the 50th minute.
One year before their first All-Ireland win of the modern era, the boys in blue were in serious trouble and the Hill was growing restless with every passing moment.
The Dubs were vulnerable and hadn’t fully developed in 2010, a point borne out in the subsequent semi-final when Meath put five goals past them and inflicted a defeat that hasn’t been repeated in their own province since.
Wexford had been heroic for three-quarters of this contest, displaying admirable confidence and tactical awareness after Ciarán Lyng put them in front after three minutes.
Half of their first-half tally of eight points arrived from Matty Forde frees, with some of the disgruntled Dubs fans resorting to boos as their struggling team left the field at the interval.
Conal Keaney kicked over a free on the re-start, only for Shane Roche to hit back before Forde left that gap of seven points after punishing a foul on Lyng.
What happened next? ‘We just didn’t have that killer instinct,’ a bitterly disappointed manager, Jason Ryan, said afterwards.
‘To have had so many chances, to dominate the first-half and not go in winning by as much as we feel we should have, and then to be given the lifeline towards the end of normal time of being two players up and not grasping it.
‘And then in extra-time, psychologically it was such a boost for Dublin, getting the two men back. And as much as it was a psychological boost for them, it was a kick in the stones for us,’ he reflected ruefully.
Dublin built up a head of steam as the second period progressed, picking off four points before drawing level in the 58th minute with a Bernard Brogan goal (1-7 to 0-10).
A Shane Roche point restored Wexford’s lead, with Conal Keaney equalising before Dublin took the lead for the first time with seven minutes left when he landed a booming effort.
A late Forde free, after a foul on Eric Bradley, ensured extra-time (0-12 to 1-9), and that was a godsend for the favourites as they had lost Denis Bastic and Ger Brennan to red cards in the 58th and 71st minutes respectively.
They were able to resume with 15 players, as Bryan Cullen and Tomás Quinn were introduced, and the writing was sadly on the wall once Bernard Brogan blasted home his second goal two minutes after the action resumed.
It was 2-11 to 0-12 at the end of the first additional period, with a rapidly-tiring Wexford unable to add to their tally.
The gap was never going to be reduced at that stage, and it ended 2-16 to 0-15. The fact that Ryan’s men earned a handy qualifier draw away to London did nothing to ease the pain.
Wexford: Anthony Masterson; Joey Wadding, Graeme Molloy, Brian Malone; Adrian Flynn (0-1), David Murphy, Aindreas Doyle; Daithí Waters, Eric Bradley (0-1); Shane Roche (0-2), Matty Forde (0-7 frees), Colm Morris; Ciarán Lyng (0-1), Redmond Barry (0-2, 1 ’45, 1 free), P.J. Banville (0-1). Subs. - David Fogarty for Waters (49), Collie Byrne for Morris, temp. (51), Adrian Morrissey for Doyle (56), Brendan Doyle for Bradley (70), Collie Byrne for Morrissey (70), Ben Brosnan for Morris (80).
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O’Carroll, Philly McMahon; Denis Bastic, Cian O’Sullivan, Barry Cahill; Eamonn Fennell, Ross McConnell; Paul Flynn (0-1), David Henry, Niall Corkery; Conal Keaney (0-3, 1 free), Bernard Brogan (2-4, 0-1 free), Kevin McManamon. Subs. - Ger Brennan for O’Sullivan, inj. (5), Alan Brogan (0-2) for Fennell (21), Eoghan O’Gara for McManamon (35), Michael Darragh Macauley for Henry (44), Bryan Cullen (0-1) and Tomás Quinn (0-4, 1 free) on to make 15 for extra-time, Fennell for Corkery (76), Kevin Nolan (0-1) for Flynn (80), Paddy Andrews for B. Brogan (90).
Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh).