Galway 3-21
Wexford 3-11
Declan Rooney reports from Pearse Stadium
JOE CANNING SHOT 0-15 as Galway advanced to the semi-finals of the Allianz League after an emphatic victory at Pearse Stadium.
Galway produced the goods against the wind in the second-half when they outscored Wexford by 3-8 to 0-6 even though Davy Fitzgerald’s men had the strong wind behind them.
The Tribesmen struggled in the opening half when they had the wind and went in trailing by 3-5 to 0-13 at the interval, with only Canning making an impression up front for an understrength Galway side who started with only six of their All-Ireland team.
Canning accounted for all but a point of Galway’s total with Cathal Mannion the only other player to find the target when he landed a point after 28 minutes.
All but a point of Canning’s haul came from placed balls as Wexford coughed up a lot of frees, although manager Davy Fitzgerald was clearly unhappy with many of the decisions of Cork referee Cathal McAllister.
Wexford’s ability to strike for goals was crucial, although their opening effort from Conor McDonald should have been saved by Fergal Flannery but the Galway goalkeeper saw the ground short dribble past him into the bottom left corner after eight minutes.
Canning’s accuracy saw Galway lead by 0-8 to 1-3 after 16 minutes but then a Lee Chin point was followed by a second goal from McDonald when he outfielded Pail Killeen and blasted to the net.
Canning again responded with a couple of points to level 2-4 to 0-10 after 28 minutes before Mannion edged them in front.
But once more sloppy defending was punished when Chin fired to the net after Galway failed to clear their lines after Flannery had done well to save from Cathal Dunbar.
Canning hit back with another brace of frees but Wexford went in leading by a point when Paul Morris converted a free from close range.
Galway made a blistering start to the second-half against the wind, with Canning levelling inside a minute with another free.
Then Cathal Mannion found the net after being set up by Davy Glennon, with Niall Burke and Brian Concannon quickly adding free.
Morris pulled back a point from a free for Wexford but Niall Burke got Galway’s second goal after Glennon’s effort was saved by Mark Fanning.
Galway pushed on with points from Concannon and Mannion to lead by 2-18 to 3-06 at the end of the third quarter.
Wexford never looked like staging a revival and Galway sealed the win when Tadhg Haran finished to the net after Canning’s effort was superbly saved by Fanning.
Wexford never looked like staging a revival and Galway sealed the win when Tadhg Haran finished to the net after Canning’s effort was superbly saved by Fanning.
Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-15 (0-13f, 0-1’65), Cathal Mannion 1-02, Niall Burke 1-01, Tadhg Haran 1-00, Brian Concannon 0-02, Conor Whelan 0-01.
Scorers for Wexford: Conor McDonald 2-02 (0-01f), Lee Chin 1-02, Paul Morris 0-04 (0-03, 0-01’65), Diarmuid O’Keefe 0-01, Matthew O’Hanlon 0-01, Aidan Nolan 0-01.
Galway:
1. Fergal Flannery (Padraig Pearses)
2. Jack Grealish (Gort)
3. Paul Killeen (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
5. Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields)
4. Aidan Harte (Gort)
6. Padraic Mannion (c) (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
7. Géaróid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)
8. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
9. Seán Loftus (Turloughmore)
10. Niall Burke (Oranmore-Maree)
11. Joe Canning (Portumna)
13. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
12. Seán Bleahene (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
14. Brian Concannon (Kilimordaly)
15. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell)
Substitutes:
19. Kevin Hussey (Turloughmore) for P Mannion (22)
22. Johnny Coen (Loughrea) for Morrisey (h-t)
23. Davy Glennon (Mullagh) for Monaghan (34)
21. Seán Kilduff (Clarinbridge) for Killeen (61-62), for Harte (64)
26. Tadhg Haran (Liam Mellows) for Bleahene (69)
Wexford:
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
2. Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
5. Paudie Foley (Crossabeg-Ballymun)
6. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James)
7. Shaun Murphy (Oulart-The Ballagh)
8. Jack O’Connor (St Martins)
9. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
10. Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody)
14. Lee Chin (St Anne’s)
19. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Martin’s)
22. Cathal Dunbar (Ferns St Aidan’s)
13. Paul Morris (Faythe Harriers)
15. Conor McDonald (Naomh Éanna)
Substitutes:
18. Darren Byrne (Blackwater) for Ryan (39)
17. Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien) for D Byrne (52)
11. Liam Óg McGovern (St Anne’s) for J O’Connor (47)
23. Ian Byrne (Fern St Aidan’s) for Chin (59)
20. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) for Morris (69)
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)
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