Gavin Lee of Galway in action against Rory O'Connor of Wexford during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Galway and Wexford at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Galway 1-29 Wexford 2-16
By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium
A 17-point haul in a virtuoso performance from Cathal Mannion proved the inspiration for Galway to defeat Wexford in this afternoon's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round Three clash at Pearse Stadium.
The Ahascragh-Fohenagh clubman struck six from play, three in each half, and left very little behind as the Tribesmen made it two wins on the bounce since their opening day loss to Kilkenny. In contrast, the Model County's chances of a top three finish are in a precarious position.
Galway captain Conor Whelan opted to face the breeze in the first half but Keith Rossiter's side were 0-4 to 0-2 to the good in the early minutes. With Mannion in majestic form, Galway fought back with six scores in-a-row to lead 0-8 to 0-4 after the first quarter.
Seven of the next ten points also belonged to Micheál Donoghue's side who found their groove and pushed out their half-time advantage to 0-15 to 0-11 after shooting into the Árus Bóthar na Trá end. Gavin Lee picked off two classy points while Brian Concannon, Cianan Fahy, Colm Molloy and John Fleming also chipped in.
Wexford leaned heavily on chief marksman Lee Chin, scorer of a dozen points. The captain's influence at its most pronounced before the break with his eight points added to by Jack O'Connor, Conor Hearne and Kevin Foley efforts.
Galway's Tom Monaghan and Rory O'Connor from Wexford traded points after the restart before the visitors grabbed the first of their two second half goals when O'Connor released Cathal Dunbar to rattle the net in the 42nd minute and cut the deficit to 0-16 to 1-12.
The irrepressible Mannion was responsible for six of the next eight points that followed - two Chin frees coming by way of reply for Wexford - as Galway made their move and pushed 0-22 to 1-14 clear on 56 minutes.
Galway defender Darren Morrissey had earlier blocked an O'Connor goal attempt out for a 65 but Wexford's second goal was soon on its way when sub Cian Byrne finished on 58 minutes and put the Model County in striking distance once again, trailing 0-22 to 2-14.
The Tribesmen's response to both goals was telling on the day. With Fleming, Fahy and Seán Linnane finding the range and Mannion steadily accumulating his mammoth total, they would outscore their opponents by 1-7 to two points in what time remained.
Galway's goal arrived in the 70th minute when Kevin Cooney's initial attempt was saved before fellow replacement Conor Cooney swept home the rebound.
They move on to a second successive home fixture when Antrim visit Salthill next Saturday afternoon. Wexford, who have one win on the board from three outings, host Offaly.
Scorers for Galway: Cathal Mannion 0-17 (11f); Conor Cooney 1-0, Gavin Lee, Brian Concannon, John Fleming, Cianan Fahy and Ton Monaghan 0-2 each; Colm Molloy and Seán Linnane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-12 (9f, 1 65), Cathal Dunbar and Cian Byrne 1-0 each; Jack O'Connor, Kevin Foley, Conor Hearne and Rory O'Connor 0-1 each.
GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Darren Morrissey, Fintan Burke, Padraic Mannion; Cianan Fahy, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan; David Burke, Tom Monaghan; John Fleming, Tiernan Killeen, Conor Whelan (captain); Colm Molloy, Brian Concannon, Cathal Mannion. Subs: Kevin Cooney for Killeen (55), Anthony Burns for Molloy (55), Seán Linnane for Fleming (60), Conor Cooney for Concannon (66), Ronan Glennon for David Burke (69).
WEXFORD: Mark Fanning; Conor Foley, Liam Ryan, Eoin Ryan; Richie Lawlor, Damien Reck, Charlie McGuckin; Conor Hearne, Simon Donohoe; Jack O'Connor, Kevin Foley, Cathal Dunbar; Seamus Casey, Lee Chin (captain), Rory O'Connor. Subs: Conor McDonald for Casey (50), Cian Byrne for Jack O'Connor (54), Jack Redmond for Lawlor (58), Cian Molloy for McGuckin (66).
REFEREE: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
