Gaelic Games

Pat Horgan leads the way as Cork complete comeback to oust Wexford

Rebels overturn a six-point interval deficit as Model County challenge runs out of steam

Cork’s Séamus Harnedy eludes Wexford’s Daithí Waters and Eoin Conroy at Páirc Uí Rinn. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Cork’s Séamus Harnedy eludes Wexford’s Daithí Waters and Eoin Conroy at Páirc Uí Rinn. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Sun Mar 29 2015 - 19:14

Cork 0-18 Wexford 0-14

Inspired by Patrick Horgan, Cork overturned a six-point interval deficit to see off Wexford and book a place in the semi-final against Dublin.

The Rebels trailed 0-13 to 0-7 at halt-time but increased their intensity thereafter and reduced a poor Wexford to just one second-half point.

A tight opening eight minutes was ended when the lively Anthony Spillane drifted unmarked inside the Wexford defence but couldn’t latch on to Séamus Hardedy’s hand-pass.

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The scare shook Wexford into life and, playing with the breeze, they reeled off six unanswered points, including a second of the day for an in-form Conor McDonald, to move 0-8 to 0-2 ahead.

Different scorers

While the visitors continued to control the game, Cork created one-on-ones that almost paid dividends. Spillane got around Eoin Moore but just as he was about to shoot the Wexford defender got back to hook well.

Wexford moved 0-13 to 0-5 ahead with eight different scorers, despite spraying nine first -half wides. However, the Leesiders grabbed the last two points of the half to leave just six between them at the interval.

Playing with the elements at their back, Cork were a different team after the change-around. The neat little triangles Wexford were able to play in the first half disappeared as Cork swarmed all over them.

Jimmy Barry Murphy's side pulled two back right away through Conor Lehane and Horgan before Wexford scored their only point of the half through Jack Guiney in the 42nd minute.

The Rathnure clubman took over free-taking duties when Ian Byrne was substituted at half-time but he lost the job himself after three poor misses left his Wexford side reeling.

Liam Dunne’s men went on to add eight wides to their nine in the first half as a string of raised white flags from Horgan (3), Lehane and Rob O’Shea eased Cork level by the 52nd minute at 0-14 apiece.

It took seven more minutes for the hosts to go ahead for just the second time in the match, when Daniel Kearney pointed, and a further ten until Horgan put his side 0-16 to 0-14 up.

Wexford did have one last chance to pull off a shock victory but substitute Conor Devitt pulled his shot wide in added time and Cork tapped over a late double to win by four.

CORK: A Nash, S O'Neill, D Cahalane, W Kearney , L McLoughlin, K Burke, C Murphy, D Kearney (0-1), A Walsh, C Lehane (0-3), S Harnedy (0-2), R O'Shea (0-1), A Spillane , L O'Farrell, P Horgan (0-10 6f one '65). Subs: P O'Sullivan (0-1) for Spillane (48 mins), J Coughlan for O'Farrell (53), B Lawton fro Lehane (70), B Cooper for Walsh (70), C O'Sullivan for Kearney (68).

WEXFORD: M Fanning, L Ryan, M O'Hanlon, E Moore, D Redmond (0-1), A Shore, L Chin, D O'Keeffe (0-1), D Waters (0-1), I Byrne (0-4f), G Sinnott (0-1), C McDonald (0-3), K Foley, J Guiney (0-2 1f), L Og McGovern (0-1). Subs: H Kehoe for Byrne (36), S Tomkins for Sinnott (59) , C Devitt for McGovern (65), P Doran for Foley (70).

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)