National Hurling League Division One B/Cork 1-13 Wexford 0-15: A barnstorming display by an uninhibited and hungry but inexperienced Wexford pushed All-Ireland champions Cork to the brink only to lose out unluckily in a vigorous National Hurling League tie at Wexford Park yesterday.
Cork manager John Allen regarded it as a lucky escape for his side and emphasised a point: "Wexford dictated the game."
A charged home crowd of over 5,000 was given every reason to feel optimistic for the future such was the courage, conviction and skills displayed by their side.
"We put it up to them," enthused Wexford manager Seámus Murphy. "We had only seven of the team that played in last year's Leinster final."
Murphy insisted that the Cork goal, and his own team's inexperience at this level, were the deciding factors in an unlucky outcome for his team.
Brian Corcoran, the oldest player on the pitch who was introduced at half-time, created the goal chance with a defence-splitting overhead pass for Timmy McCarthy to finish to the net.
The crucial goal came 21 minutes into the second half at a time when Cork, struggling a little, were fortunate to be trailing by only two points.
Anxiety was etched on their faces, not least on Joe Deane, who deserted his corner position in a desperate effort to get more involved outfield.
Paul Carley, the most accurate player on the pitch by a distance, got Wexford back on terms, 1-10 to 0-13, with yet another pointed free. He had nine points in all; six of them with a placed ball.
But it was not surprising to see the cagey Corcoran pop up again, this time for the lead point, 1-11 to 0-13.
It was pure rollercoaster fare and the drizzle helped to abate the strong wind which Cork had to face in the second half.
Wexford centre back Darren Stamp unleashed a huge point to level the scores once more in the hectic finish. Eventually it was Cork's energetic midfielder Tom Kenny who hit the injury-time-winning point.
Given that Cork hit 16 wides, 10 of them with wind advantage in the first half against six for Wexford, John Allen's post match comment was easily understood.
Allen said: "I am not overly happy with our display. We got the league points and that's about it."
Wexford's brave defensive work was typified by Keith Rossiter's display in the left corner. It was largely an uninhibited performance by the home side who trailed by 0-7 to 0-8 at half-time, with wind advantage to follow.
Immediately after the interval, Redmond Barry stormed in from the right leaving the Cork cover for dead, only to see his bullet-like shot flash over the crossbar. Barry, along with Michael Jordan and Des Mythen in the Wexford full-forward line, clearly had the Cork full-back line in imminent danger every time the ball was delivered early.
The Wexford trio took up good scoring positions and frequently gave Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Pat Mulcahy the slip.
The pressure told heavily on right-full back John Browne, a late substitute for flu victim Brian Murphy.
Browne was replaced before the first half had run its course by Peter Kelly.
Gavan McCarthy justified his late call-up in place of the injured Jonathan O'Callaghan who broke a finger in training. The Sarsfields man was highly convincing when finding the mark for three vital points from play.
Afterwards Deane, who was restricted to two points from frees, said that Wexford showed great spirit but "I felt the goal we got late in the second half was a big factor".
CORK: D Óg Cusack; J Browne, D O'Sullivan, P Mulcahy; G Callinan (0-1), R Curran, S Óg Ó hAlpin (0-1); T Kenny (0-2), J O'Connor; G McCarthy (0-3), N McCarthy (0-1), T McCarthy (1-2); K Murphy, N Ronan, J Deane (0-2, two frees). Subs: P Kelly for J Browne (28 mins), B Corcoran (0-1) for K Murphy (half-time), C O'Connor for P Mulcahy (50 mins), K Hartnett for N McCarthy (57 mins).
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D O'Connor, K Rossiter; J O'Connor, D Stamp (0-1), D Lyng; E Quigley, M Jacob (0-1); P Carley (0-9, six frees), W Doran, N Higgins; R Barry (0-2), M Jordan (0-1), D Mythen (0-1). Subs: B Lambert for W Doran (40 mins), K Kavanagh for C Kehoe (65 mins).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).
