Wexford 5-19
Antrim 0-21
JUST EIGHT OF the team who started last year’s All-Ireland Championship Phase 3 Qualifier defeat to Clare lined up for Wexford in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise today but one of them, Rory Jacob, bagged two early goals to ensure his side enjoyed the most comfortable of victories over Antrim.
Playing with the wind in the opening period, Jacob found the net twice inside four minutes to see Wexford into a 2-1 to 0-1 lead in this Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-final, Conor Johnson with the solitary point for Antrim.
The Saffrons, stunned by Wexford’s opening salvo, were soon further behind when Jack Guiney’s 20m free was blocked on the line only for teenager Conor McDonald to pounce for his side’s third goal.
While Antrim did regain some composure, Wexford were able to match them point-for-point throughout the first half and went into the break with an eight point lead, 3-9 to 0-10.
Things didn’t get much easier for Kevin Ryan’s charges after the break when McDonald scored his second, and Wexford’s fourth, of the game to stretch their lead to 12 points with 20 minutes remaining.
Liam Óg McGovern grabbed their fifth maximum with 10 minutes to play before Antrim were reduced to 14 men with the dismissal of Eoghan Campbell.
The reward for Liam Dunne and his players for their 13-point win is a semi-final against reigning provincial champions Dublin.
Scorers for Wexford: Rory Jacob and Conor McDonald 2-2 each, Paul Morris 0-6 (5f), Liam Óg McGovern 1-0, Podge Doran 0-3, Ian Byrne 0-2, Lee Chin 0-1 (1f), Jack Guiney, Liam Ryan and David Redmond 0-1 each.
Scorers for Antrim: Paul Shiels 0-6 (6f), Neil McManus 0-5, Darren Hamill and Conor McCann 0-4 each, PJ O’Connell and Conor Johnson 0-1 each.
WEXFORD
1. Mark Fanning – Glynn Barntown
2. Liam Ryan – Rapparees
3. Matthew O’Hanlon – St James
4. Keith Rossiter – Oulart The Ballagh
5. Lee Chin – Faythe Harriers
6. Andrew Shore – Parnells (Dublin)
7. Ciaran Kenny – Buffers Alley
8. Diarmuid O’Keeffe – St Annes
9. Harry Kehoe – Cloughbawn
10. Paul Morris – Ferns St Aidan’s
11. Podge Doran – Oylegate-Glenbrien
12. Jack Guiney – Rathnure
13. Rory Jacob – Oulart The Ballagh
14. Conor McDonald – Naomh Eanna
15. Liam Óg McGovern – St Annes
Subs: D Redmond for Kenny, R Kehoe for Chin, PJ Nolan for O’Keeffe, I Byrne for Guiney, G Sinnott for Doran.
ANTRIM
1. Chris O Connell – Loughgiel Shamrocks
2. Odhran McFadden - Loughgiel Shamrocks
3. Conor McKinley – Dunloy
4. Michael Bradley – St Johns
5. Aaron Graffin – Cushendall
6. Neal McAuley – Ballycastle
7. Neil McManus – Cushendall
8. Eoghan Campbell – Cushendall
9. Ciarain Johnson – St Johns
10. Conor McCann – Creggan
11. Conor Carson – Cushendall
12. Ciaran Clarke – Ballycastle
13. Conor Johnson – St Johns
14. Paul Shiels – Dunloy
15. PJ O Connell – Clooney Gaels
Subs: B McFall for Conor Johnson, M Donnelly for Clarke, D Hamill for McFadden, S McAfee for Carson.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).
