Sport

Hegarty goal secures dramatic Wexford win

WEXFORD -2-10 LONGFORD 2-9: A John Hegarty goal three minutes from time secured a dramatic one-point victory for Wexford over…

Mon Feb 11 2002 - 00:00

WEXFORD -2-10 LONGFORD 2-9:A John Hegarty goal three minutes from time secured a dramatic one-point victory for Wexford over Longford at Enniscorthy yesterday.

The drama was not limited to the close nature of the contest, Kerry referee Pat Ryan dismissing three players just before the finish - Liam Keenan and Paul Barden from Longford along with the home side's centre forward Pat Forde - following individual incidents.

This was Wexford's second win of the campaign, following their two-point victory over Waterford last week.

But it was Longford, playing their first league game of the season, who set the trend for most of the game, with Trevor Smullin's 15th-minute goal pushing them into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead.

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However, the Wexford response was swift and when wing forward Diarmuid Kinsella crashed home a fine goal, just a point separated the sides at the break, with the visitors leading 1-7 to 1-6.

Wexford, despite the aid of the breeze on the resumption, found it difficult to penetrate the Longford defence. Longford's second goal was fortunate; Trevor Smullen's shot took a deflection off a defender, leaving Dave Barden with a simple tap-in 13 minutes from the end.

That left Longford with a three-point advantage - 2-9 to 1-9 - and they spent the remainder of the game in defensive mode.

However, all Wexford had to show for their effort was a point from substitute Scott Doran before the dramatic winning strike from Hegarty.

The scheduled Division One A match between Roscommon and Westmeath at Hyde Park was called off yesterday because of a warerlogged pitch.

WEXFORD: O Murphy, C Morris, P.Wallace, M Carley, D Murphy (0-1), D Breen, L O'Brien (0-2), T Howlin (0-1), W Carley, R Barry (0-1), P Forde, D Kinsella (1-1), P Berry, J Hegarty (1-3), P Carley. Subs: B Byrne for Berry; S Doran (0-1) for P Carley; J Lawlor for B Byrne.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan, S Carroll, D Ledwith, F Coyle, C Keogh, D Blessington, D Brady, L Keenan, E Barden (0-2), T Smullen (1-0), P Barden (0-1), R Cyne (0-1), M Kenny (0-1), N Sheridan (0-2), P Davis (0-2). Subs: B Burke for Brady; D Barden (1-0) for Kenny; P Ross for Smullen; G Brady for Ledwith; D Smyth for Clyne.

Referee: P Ryan (Kerry).

Wexford ... 2-10

Longford ... 2-9