E way to promotion

first time.

London were restricted to rare breakaways against the wind, and one such move nearly yielded big rewards two minutes later when Mark Gottsche delivered a perfectly-weighted handpass into the path of wing-back Marc Jordan who had open ground in front of him.

However, his first touch on the run knocked the ball away from his grasp, and he had to stretch to first-time a kick which went high and came back into play off the post.

James Gartlan and Killian Butler came on to provide fresh legs up front for London, but a costly pick off the ground by Martin Carroll under no pressure was punished by Wexford in the 48th minute. Brosnan’s free from 45 metres struck the post and was gathered by Ciarán Lyng who swung it over the bar for a 9-7 lead.

Lyng missed a free 60 seconds later though, and London remained full of self-belief after Mark Gottsche picked out Liam Gavaghan who swung over a fine point despite being under heavy pressure from Kevin O’Grady.

Five tense scoreless minutes followed, with John Leacy and London’s Ryan Jones booked in separate incidents, Daithí Waters claiming a mark, and Kevin O’Grady slipping at the vital moment when Colm Kehoe sought to put him through with a goal on the cards.

Killian Butler also kicked a London wide in that spell, and O’Grady did get to unleash a shot from a John Tubritt pass in the 55th minute but once again Gavin McEvoy brought off a magnificent save.

The ’45 which arose was stroked over by Ben Brosnan, and that marked the beginning of his scoring surge which finally ensured London would be crossing the sea with a fine performance, but no points, to show for their efforts.

Centre-back Joey Wadding entered the notebook before Wexford’s best point of the game in the 59th minute, with Michael O’Regan cleverly cushioning a P.J. Banville delivery into the path of Brosnan who made no mistake (0-11 to 0-8).

Banville was fouled under the kick-out which followed and Brosnan duly added to his tally, and he then made it 13-8 from another free taken off the ground after James Gartlan was booked for a foul on Daithí Waters.

Rory Mason registered what proved to be the last London point from a free earned by Mark Gottsche in the 66th minute, with Daithí Waters responsible for another mark before Kevin O’Grady and Ciarán Lyng kicked the last two Wexford wides.

Michael O’Regan slipped in the process of trying to release the ball to Donal Shanley whose return after long-term injury, along with the earlier arrival of Adrian Flynn, will increase the options considerably for the games to come.

Mark Gottsche was booked as we moved into the five added minutes announced, and it was only in that spell that Wexford got the couple of insurance points to copper-fasten a win that was as hard-earned as any of the four secured earlier in the campaign.

It was no surprise that Brosnan should add another, with Michael O’Regan supplying the final pass after a run by Ronan Devereux who started for the first time at this level and did well at full-back.

Substitute Niall Hughes was left with all the time in the world to kick the last point from a Kevin O’Grady pass, and there was warm applause for sharpshooter Ben Brosnan as he made the short walk to the sideline under the stand after collecting a second yellow card in the 74th minute for a foul on Rory Mason.