Tailteann Cup R3: Wexford defeat Leitrim

Tailteann Cup Round Three

Wexford 0-20 Leitrim 1-12

By Kevin Egan at Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada

Wexford happily took advantage of Leitrim’s first-half torpor in Carrick-on-Shannon, effectively securing their slot in the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals before the half-time hooter sounded.

The contest came to life in the second half and there was a real championship feel to the closing minutes, particularly after Jack Kelly caught everyone in the stadium unawares as he rifled a 20 metre free to the next with a little under five minutes to play, but Leitrim had just left themselves far too much to do after giving Wexford such a comfortable run in the opening 35 minutes.

The Model County’s control of the game in that time was matched by tepid lethargy from the home side, leading to an 0-14 to 0-0 half-time score that was a very fair reflection of the events that unfolded.

Just six frees were awarded by Barry Cassidy in the opening half, two of them for technical fouls, and Wexford were able to move the ball around the pitch freely and create high percentage scoring chances, getting seven different players on the scoreboard from open play in that period.

Leitrim’s play in that time was riddled with unforced errors in most phases, as they shot four first half wides and dropped three efforts short while struggling to match the aerial ability of Liam Coleman and Patrick Breen in the Wexford midfield.

Points from Niall Hughes and Páiric Hughes and a superb two-pointer from Eoghan Nolan were among the highlights for the Leinster county, while Keith Keegan miscuing a left-footed attempt at the end of a hard run, just as he tried to beat the hooter, summed up a dismal 35 minutes for Leitrim.

Jack Kelly and Ruairí O’Rourke were brought in to liven up the Leitrim attack after half-time and in the first minute, O’Rourke split the posts to take the zero of the scoreboard and alleviate a significant chunk of mental pressure on his team in the process.

The slight breeze wasn’t a factor, but even without any help from the elements, any single-digit lead cannot be considered safe in the modern game, and once Oisín McLoughlin fired over a pair of scores from just outside the arc, suddenly the contest was competitive once again.

Wexford settled themselves with points from Niall Hughes, Michael Kinsella and Mark Rossiter, only to be reeled right back in by McLoughlin’s third orange flag of the game.

As the rain descended, the contest boiled over briefly as Conor Quinn and Liam Coleman grappled in midfield, leading to a straight red card for Quinn and a black for Coleman to go with his earlier yellow.

Leitrim hung in there and some excellent points from Kelly, not to mention his superb goal late on, gave the faintest hope of a miraculous comeback.

It wasn’t to be, however, as Wexford did just about enough in a scrappy finish, rounding off the scoring through a 20 metre free from Mark Rossiter at the end.

Scorers for Wexford: Ben Brosnan 0-4 (2fs), Niall Hughes 0-3, Mark Rossiter 0-3 (0-1f), Glen Malone 0-2, Páiric Hughes 0-2, Eoghan Nolan 0-2 (tp), Darragh Brooks 0-2 (tpf), Robbie Brooks 0-1, Michael Kinsella 0-1.

Scorers for Leitrim: Oisín McLoughlin 0-7 (3tp, 1f), Jack Kelly 1-3, Ruairí O’Rourke 0-1, Mark Diffley 0-1.

Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Eoin Porter, Liam O’Connor, Gavin Sheehan; Glen Malone, Eoghan Nolan, Dylan Furlong; Liam Coleman, Patrick Breen; Niall Hughes, Páuric Hughes, Mark Rossiter; Michael Kinsella, Robbie Brooks, Ben Brosnan.

Subs: Martin O’Connor for Nolan (34), Seán Ryan for Brosnan (51), Cathal Kehoe for Furlong (51), Tom Byrne for R Brooks (63), Colum Feeney for Kinsella (68).

Leitrim: Killian Gaffey; Seán Harkin, Kieran Clancy, Arek Oberwan; Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds; Keith Keegan, Ryan O’Rourke; Riordan O’Rourke, Conor Quinn, Fergal McLoughlin; Oisín McLoughlin, Tom Plunkett, Paul Honeyman.

Subs: Jack Kelly for Plunkett (half-time), Ruairí O’Rourke for F McLoughlin (half-time), Éanna McNamara for Clancy (60), James Rooney for E McLoughlin (60), Paul Keaney for Riordan O’Rourke (63).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).