Lee Chin celebrates after scoring a vital for Wexford against Offaly. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Leinster SHC Round Four
Wexford 2-17 Offaly 1-17
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Wexford were spared a massive scare at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday as Lee Chin pounced for an injury-time goal to avoid a shock setback against Offaly in the Leinster Senior hurling championship.
The reigning Joe McDonagh Cup champions, were chasing their first victory of the campaign, and remarkably they were never headed until Wexford substitute Conor McDonald bisected the uprights for a 1-17 to 1-16 transformation two minutes into added-time.
And a minute later a long clearance from Conor Hearne broke inside for Lee Chin to work a sublime goal to ultimately safeguard Wexford from defeat.
The result removes any threat of relegation from Wexford minds while keeping alive their slim hopes of squeezing through to the knockout stages with a home game against Kilkenny next Sunday remaining.
For Offaly, after such an herculean effort, they are left with a decisive showdown against Antrim in Tullamore on Sunday to determine who drops out of the top-tier.
Offaly certainly made their presence felt as, with the strong wind in their sails, Johnny Kelly’s charges zipped into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead within the first seven minutes.
Frees from Dan Ravenhill and Brian Duignan offered encouragement before a masterful intervention from ‘keeper Mark Tory as Wexford sharpshooter Rory O’Connor threatened to net was quickly followed by Offaly netting at the other end.
Indeed, Wexford’s second wide – Conor Hearne’s shot striking the top of an upright – led to netminder Troy’s resultant puck-out being fielded by Duignan to deposit a major seventh minute blow.
The sides traded points before unconvincing Wexford achieved an eleventh minute breakthrough when Seamus Casey paved the way for Kevin Foley to find the net and cut the margin to 1-3 to 1-1.
But Wexford couldn’t gain an uplift as they struggled to construct anything meaningful, while Killian Sampson struck a rapid brace of points to further strengthen Offaly’s position after 25 minutes (1-7 to 1-2).
The home-side were certainly feeling the absence of Liam Ryan through injury as they struggled to quell various Offaly forays.
Yet, having closed to within 1-9 to 1-5, Wexford generated another significant goal threat in added-time when Cathal Dunbar somehow jinked clear of a bunch of Offaly bodies to burst through on goal only to be hooked by a superb Ben Conneely intervention.
Lee Chin sent over the resultant ’65 after an off-colour first-half from placed-balls for the Wexford captain, with Offaly defender Ross Ravenhill responding to send Offaly to the dressing-rooms with a 1-10 to 1-6 interval lead.
Wexford were still searching for something cohesive, but nevertheless they eventually levelled matters for the first-time after 52 minutes as Cian Byrne (two), Conor Hearne, Chin (free), Cian Molloy and Jack O’Connor reeled-in their determined rivals (1-12 apiece).
Daniel Bourke and defender Donal Shirley had resumed with Offaly scores, and three Duignan frees saw the visitors edge back in front 1-15 to 1-13 after 61 minutes.
Wexford then introduced Conor McDonald into the forward equation, and Cathal Dunbar and Rory O’Connor – the latter from distance – restored parity for a third time after 64 minutes (1-15 apiece).
And after another exchange of points, McDonald turned over an attempted Offaly clearance to shoot over from the left wing for Wexford’s first taste of the lead just before Lee Chin bulged the net to haul them to a particularly hard-earned second win of the campaign to the immense relief and delight of locals amongst the 3,722 attendance.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 1-8 (6fs, 1 65), Kevin Foley 1-1, Cian Byrne 0-2, Conor Hearne, Cian Molloy, Jack O’Connor, Cathal Dunbar, Rory O’Connor, Conor McDonald 0-1 each
Scorers for Offaly: Brian Duignan 1-9 (9fs), Dan Ravenhill 0-3 (2fs), Killian Sampson 0-2, Ross Ravenhill, Daniel Bourke, Donal Shirley 0-1 each
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Simon Donohoe, Conor Foley; Cian Molloy, Damien Reck, Darragh Carley; Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar; Jack O’Connor, Kevin Foley, Rory O’Connor; Cian Byrne, Lee Chin, Seamus Casey.
Subs: Conor McDonald for Casey (60), Mikey Dwyer for Byrne (66), Simon Roche for J. O’Connor (70+4).
Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciarán Burke, Cathal King; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Sam Bourke; Colin Spain, Killian Sampson; Oisín Kelly, Brian Duignan, Daniel Bourke; Jason Sampson, Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell.
Subs: David King for C King (35+3), Jack Clancy for Sampson (56), Eoghan Cahill for Mitchell (65), Eoin Burke for D. Ravenhill (70+1).
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).
