Wexford 1-21
Offaly 1-13
Jackie Cahill reports from Wexford Park
DESPITE HAVING A penalty goal wrongly waved off in the first half, Wexford booked their place in the next round of All-Ireland SHC qualifiers this afternoon, defeating Offaly by eight points.
The hosts produced a superb second half performance at Innovate Wexford Park to end Offaly’s season.
Goalkeeper Mark Fanning banged in a 24th minute penalty, but it was disallowed despite TV replays showing that his effort struck the stanchion before rebounding out.
Referee Johnny Ryan and his umpires behind the goal obviously thought that the sliotar had cannoned off the angle of crossbar and post and play continued. But with Conor McDonald registering 11 points for Wexford, they bounced back from their Leinster SHC quarter-final loss to Dublin, keeping their season alive in the process.
3,100 spectators watched them do it and now, Wexford are just 70 minutes away from a potential All-Ireland quarter-final appearance, with the pressure on boss Liam Dunne easing for now at least.
A narrow defeat for Wexford could have resulted in more boardroom wranglings, a scenario Croke Park chiefs are desperate to avoid following the recent Christy Ring Cup final saga.
Paul Morris scored a crucial goal early in the second half and that set Wexford on the way to a comfortable win, as the hosts recovered from falling five points down in the first half to advance.
Offaly, who managed a consolation goal from sub Oisín Kelly in stoppage time, had David King was dismissed in the final minute for a second bookable offence.
McDonald was leading scorer, with eight of those 11 points from placed balls, as Lee Chin produced an excellent display on his return from injury.
Podge Doran also chipped in with four points from play for the winners, with Diarmuid O’Keeffe landing a couple from wing-back.
Offaly were flat, desperately flat, as they limped tamely out of the championship.
They won well on their previous victory to Innovate Wexford Park, in the Allianz League, but the hosts were up for this one, and performed well once they settled into the game.
Wexford were 0-2 to 0-7 down by the 18th minute, however, before working their way back into contention.
Crucially, and having played against the breeze, they were just two points down at the break – 0-7 to 0-9 – before roaring out of the blocks after the restart.
Liam Óg McGovern rammed over a point after just ten seconds and Morris netted in the 37th minute.
Jack O’Connor’s long ball towards the Offaly goalmouth caused havoc and when the ball spilled loose to Morris, he whipped it home from close range. From there until the finish, it was a virtual procession for Wexford, who had seven different scorers on the day.
Thankfully, that Fanning penalty ‘goal’, and memories of the disappointing Leinster SHC defeat to Dublin, can be quickly consigned to the memory bank from a Wexford perspective.
Rather than preparing for a possible trip to the boardroom, they’ll dust themselves down before going again next Saturday.
Scorers
Wexford: Conor McDonald 0-11 (8f), Podge Doran 0-4, Paul Morris 1-0, Diarmuid O’Keeffe & Lee Chin (1f) 0-2 each, Liam Óg McGovern & David Dunne 0-1 each.
Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-7 (6f), Oisín Kelly 1-0, Shane Kinsella 0-2, Paddy Murphy, Seán Ryan, Joe Bergin & Paudge Guinan 0-1 each.
WEXFORD:
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)
3. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James)
4. James Breen (Adamstown)
2. Eoin Moore (Oulart-the-Ballagh)
5. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Anne’s)
6. Paudie Foley (Crossabeg/Ballymurn)
7. Éanna Martin (Sarsfields, Cork)
8. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s)
9. Eoin Conroy (Naomh Éanna)
10. Liam Óg McGovern (St Anne’s)
11. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
12. Podge Doran (Oylgate-Glenbrien)
13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Éanna)
15. David Dunne (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy)
Subs:
18. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) for Conroy (55)
17. Andrew Kenny (Buffers Alley) for Foley (67)
21. Cathal Dunbar (Ballygarrett) for Dunne (68)
OFFALY
1. James Dempsey (Kinnitty)
2. Niall Wynne (St Rynagh’s)
3. Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)
4. Paddy Rigney (Kinnitty)
6. Seán Gardiner (Lusmagh)
7. David King (Coolderry)
5. Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran)
8. Paddy Murphy (Ballinamere)
9. Seán Ryan (Birr)
10. James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)
11. Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)|
12. Shane Kinsella (Kinnitty)
13. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
14. Sean Cleary (Shinrone)
15. Kevin Connolly (Coolderry)
Subs:
19. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s) for Mooney (26)
18. Emmett Nolan (Birr) for Cleary (29)
24. Oisín Kelly (Belmont) for Connolly (30)
20. David O’Toole-Greene (Shamrocks) for McDonald (53)
17. Paudge Guinan (Drumcullen) for Dooley (60)
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)
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