Sport

Monaghan take point

Having led 1-3 to 0-4 at the interval Monaghan had to rely on a last-minute point to force a draw with Wexford at Gorey yesterday…

Mon Feb 19 2001 - 00:00

Having led 1-3 to 0-4 at the interval Monaghan had to rely on a last-minute point to force a draw with Wexford at Gorey yesterday.

Wexford had an enormous share of possession in the opening half but shot an inordinate amount of wides, 10 in all, and it was Damian Freeman's 21stminute goal which sent the visitors in with a two-point interval lead.

Both sides showed immense improvement on the resumption, with Mattie Forde storming into the game for Wexford, shooting goals in the 19th and 21st minutes to put the home side into a 26 to 1-6 lead.

However, Monaghan showed real battling qualities and it was substitute Thomas Freeman who found the net following good approach play to bring the sides level with 12 minutes remaining.

READ MORE

After points from Michael Mahon and Mattie Forde had restored the home side's two-point advantage, Monaghan looked like slipping to defeat until a Kieran Tavey point left the minimum between the sides.

As the game approached injury time, it was Ciaran McCaul who brought the sides level, with Gary Meehan having an opportunity of stealing a late winner, but he saw his free strike an upright and rebound into play.

London's improved form was sustained with a 1-11 to 0-13 win over Roscommon in yesterday's Hurling League tie at Oxhey Park, Watford.

The visitors, who remain pointless after three games, carried the game to their opponents for long periods but were repeatedly denied by the excellent form of home goalkeeper, John Ryan.

The turning point came with five minutes of the first half remaining when London were awarded a penalty after full-forward, Shane Linnane, was grounded with the goal at his mercy. Although the resultant penalty was saved by David Casey, Darren Howlin forced the rebound over the line.

WEXFORD: O Murphy; C Morris, P Wallace D Redmond; D Murphy, D Breen, M Carley; J Berry (0-1), I Wickham; R Barry, M Mahon (0-1), T Howlin; P Forde, J Hegarty, M Forde (2-5). Subs: L O'Brien (0-1) for Redmond; D Kinsella for Barry; M Gahan for Carley.

MONAGHAN: G Murphy; M McBride, D McDermott, N Marron; S McGeough, JP Mone, C Flanagan; J Hughes (0-1), C McCaul (0-1); D Farmer (0-1), D Smith (0-1), D Clerkin; D Swift, G Meehan (0-2), D Freeman (1-1). Subs: T Freeman (1-0) for Clerkin; Dermot McArdle (0-1) for McBride; K Tavey (0-1) for Smyth; P Coyle for Hughes.

Referee: M Walsh (Limerick).