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You are > Home > Development Squad undone by fluke goal
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26 January 2012
Development Squad undone by fluke goal
NUI Galway 1-11 Wexford 0-13
BUT FOR a fluke goal, Wexford’s hurling Development Squad would almost certainly have prevailed in last Saturday afternoon’s Walsh Cup tournament opener at wind-swept Bellefield against the students of NUI Galway – and that would have been despite the locals striking a hefty 18 wides!
This was typically scrappy early-season fare, although Wexford, while backed by the gale, outstripped their rivals for the first 25 minutes, with Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Lee Chin ruling the roost around midfield with able assistance from centre-back John Leacy, who was influential throughout in what overall was an impressive home defence.
Indeed, but for the concession of some soft frees, Wexford might have leaked no more than maybe 1-6 or 0-6, with there having been a definite element of good fortune about NUI’s goal which earned them passage to a quarter-final against Kilkenny.
Wexford’s encouraging start saw them ease clear by 0-8 to 0-2 on 24 minutes.
Yet, even that margin doesn’t accurately record how much Wexford controlled that phase of the game, as some untidy finishing had robbed them of a more significant lead. For the record, they had struck nine wides by that stage, and nine wides was actually NUI’s entire tally for the game – half as much as Wexford!
However, such errors are forgivable at a time of year when Wexford’s stick-work has hardly started, whereas the NUI Galway lads are deep into their season – which started last October – in readiness for next month’s Fitzgibbon Cup tournament.
Wexford had 11 senior competitive debutantes among the starting-15 on Saturday, with Liam Dunne’s senior management giving way to the Development Squad selectors with an aim of trying to establish a stronger base of talent to try to push the county’s stick-wielders in the right direction after some serious slippage over recent seasons.
Many of the Wexford newcomers have demonstrated their ability in the minor and under-21 ranks, where misfortune quite often courted them.
But ‘you make your own luck’, and they displayed a commitment in against NUI which demonstrates a willingness to keep driving hard for big rewards.
The NUI lads had Wexford on alert from as early as the sixth-second, when the westerners’ main talisman, their bulky no.11 Niall Burke flashed over a point at the country-end.
A series of wides by both sides meant it wasn’t until the eighth-minute that another score was witnessed by the reasonably good attendance – as Ferns’ Ian Byrne equalised from a free.
Wexford had their fourth wide before Byrne edged them ahead from play on nine minutes, and Wexford pushed out to a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 18 minutes thanks to John Leacy (a ‘65), Tomás O’Leary and Jim Berry, who was the only senior team member from last year in action.
Leacy flashed over another couple of deadballs from midfield to stretch the gap to 0-7 to 0-1 before Galway got some joy again on 23 minutes – but only from a free, by Niall Burke; they were making little headway in general play.
Things were still going well for Wexford, albeit while wind-assisted, as Ian Byrne’s third personal point (a free) restored a six point gap after 24 minutes. Daithí Burke pegged one back for Galway which Jim Berry negated.
But then Wexford lost their way a little, and Galway capitalised upon a lucky break for what turned out to be the decisive score on 30 minutes.
A free from the left by Niall Burke broke inside, where Dean Higgins got his only moment of joy against the tigerish Wexford full-back line when prodding to the net.
Points from Niall Burke (free) and the falling Patrick Kelly meant Wexford’s cushion wasn’t so comfortable at the change-around (0-9 to 15).
So the purple-and gold ‘cubs’ were going to be tested for remainder.
However, they almost forged tidily clear again on the restart, as following a superb point from the right by Cushinstown’s Daniel Martin Carroll, Wexford went close to goaling moments later.
County dual player Lee Chin and Carroll combined to feed Ian Byrne, who let fly on goal from some 20 yards out. But the ‘keeper stood firm.
Galway then began to lift their effort, and they hit five points without reply between the 41st and 56th-minutes to turn the tables by 1-10 to 010.
The locals were finding it hard now.
Hope again sprang eternal though when Lee Chin and a free from Gary Moore (a county minor of the last three years) reduced the margin to 110 to 0-12 with nine minutes left.
With scores being scarce, extra-time seemed to be looming.
But a couple more Wexford wides either side of an exchange of points between Niall Burke (free) and Horeswood’s Michael O’Hanlon meant Wexford only just missed out in the end.
So, instead of Kilkenny it is the Walsh Shield, and a home date next weekend with Offaly, who lost to Westmeath last Sunday.
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