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You are > Home > Sub-plot yields ‘extra’ delight
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26 January 2012
Sub-plot yields ‘extra’ delight
Wexford 1-15 Wicklow 0-17 (after extra-time)
LAST SUNDAY’S derby ultimately came down to a couple of touches by two Wexford subs, as Ciarán Lyng’s angled delivery from the right was bundled to the town-end net by Paudie Kelly six minutes from the end of extra-time.
The locals still had to hold out in a lively scrap with Wicklow at St. Patrick’s Park to make the Shield final of the O’Byrne tournament for the second time within the space of three seasons.
Laois are their opponents next weekend.
Wexford salvaged extra time when Paddy Byrne made it 0-11 apiece after the locals had trailed by 04 to 0-8 early in the secondhalf.
Wexford went 20 minutes of the first-half without scoring, and that particular score wasn’t actually added to for a further 12 minutes, when Shane Roche put over a free on 40 minutes which sparked a purple-and-gold surge that saw them tie on 0-9 apiece after 49 minutes, with Ben Brosnan (free), the workaholic James Holmes and then Roche twice again (one free) reeling-in the neighbours.
In fairness though, during Wexford’s lengthy scoring droughts earlier in play, they had been extremely proactive.
The only issue was that their moves tended to breakdown in the business-end of the field.
This was mainly through them cheaply coughing up possession, like in the early stages of their unfortunate opening round loss to Meath.
Contested in ideal conditions, with the exception of a strong wind, Sunday’s game was a typically fervent duel between these sides. Early-season rustiness was still in evidence.
But it was blow-for-blow early on, with Wexford, despite facing the wind, taking the lead on three occasions, courtesy of James Holmes, Kevin O’Grady and midfielder Rory Quinlivan only for each of those scores to be immediately negated, with the sides tied on 0-3 after 11 minutes.
Wexford kept raiding forward, the midfield duo of Quinlivan and Daithí Waters helping lead the charge.
But wides were a problem, whereas Wicklow kept prospering, with the Garden County forging ahead by 0-6 to 0-3 after 26 minutes. Wexford finally got back on target on 28 minutes, when James Holmes sent over.
Moments later they could have had a goal, with the hard toiling Paddy Byrne crossing from the right to Shane Roche, who got in one-on-one with the ‘keeper, only for the netminder to get a vital touch at the expense of a fruitless ‘45.
Wicklow, meanwhile, managed a late point a third personal one from Seánie Furlong (free) – to lead 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.
Wexford again went close to netting shortly after the restart, when Kevin O’Grady leapt at the far post to palm goalwards.
But big Wicklow no.8 James Stafford was in the way. Frank Clune, with a fourth point, doubled Wicklow’s lead after 38 minutes.
However, the momentum began to be grasped by Wexford when they finally began to translate their attacking potential into superb scores as they out-shot Wicklow by 0-5 to 0-1 between the 40th and 49th-minutes, to tie on 0-9 apiece.
‘Red’ Barry and gold-nugget newcomer Lee Chin then entered the fray, and while Wicklow edged ahead by 0-10 to 0-9, ‘Red’ restored parity for a fifth time with a tidy finish from the left.
That followed another couple of Wexford wides in a game which they really could have won in normaltime.
Their rustiness though is wholly forgivable at this early stage of things.
When the game seemed to be slipping from Wicklow they called on their genius, as Leighton Glynn was sprung from the ‘bench, and he helped make it a very tight finish.
Wexford hero Paudie Kelly was also introduced at this stage, and to positive effect.
The excitement was really bubbling in the good sized attendance now. Wicklow midfielder James Stafford nudged his men back in front on 65 minutes, and Wexford had a let off when another Wicklow point attempt came back off an upright.
The locals themselves added another wide.
But they almost stole victory with two minutes to go, when a cross from the left by ‘Red’ Barry found Lee Chin racing in towards an inviting goal.
He was crowded out, but worked the ball to Paddy Byrne, who popped over for the equaliser.
However, Wexford were tested in the dying moments, with Bannow’s Niall Murphy effecting a brilliant challenge on Nicky Mernagh as the winning point seemed on, while Lee Chin, Graeme Molloy, and Chin again made vital interceptions to extend the play into an extra 20 minutes.
It was nip-and-tuck for the first period. Paddy Byrne played a one-two with the tireless Rory Quinlivan to fire Wexford ahead after 55 seconds.
But Wicklow had the next two points, before Shane Roche levelled from a free after ‘Red’ Barry was the victim of an off-the-ball challenge.
Wicklow got back in front, by 0-14 to 013, before ‘Red’ tied matters at the change-around after brilliant work by Ben Brosnan and James Holmes. Wicklow were down to 14 players now, as attacker Nicky Mernagh had picked up a second yellow-card.
Regardless, Wicklow had their sixth taste of the lead on the resumption when Leighton Glynn’s shot went over off a post.
However, determined Wexford responded with a telling burst between the 83rd and 84th minutes, as defender Brian Malone equalised, with Paddy Byrne again prominent in the move, before two of the subs came up with that decisive goal.
Wicklow fought hard, and they pegged back two points.
Wexford did enough though, notching their first competitive victory since last June’s Leinster championship semi final against Carlow.
Sadly Niall Murphy, who is really coming back to form after lengthy injury issues, was harshly red-carded in the dying moments on Sunday, and is now set to miss the Shield decider.
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