Sport

Three-goal blitz eases Wexford's worries

Wexford 4-12 Carlow 0-14 WEXFORD STRUGGLED to overcome the determined challenge of Carlow in a Phase 1 All-Ireland SHC qualifier…

Mon Jul 02 2012 - 01:00

Wexford 4-12 Carlow 0-14WEXFORD STRUGGLED to overcome the determined challenge of Carlow in a Phase 1 All-Ireland SHC qualifier at Wexford Park on Saturday afternoon.

Carlow had Wexford under considerable pressure for more than 40 minutes but three goals in a five-minute second half spell ended their hopes.

Up to that point it looked as if Wexford’s dreadful finishing may come back to haunt them. They struck 17 wides to Carlow’s six over the course of the game.

“We had lots of possession but until that three-goal burst we were finding it difficult to create some daylight,” said Wexford manager Liam Dunne.

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Wexford were flattered to go in with a three-point interval lead.

Two early pointed frees from Marty Kavanagh settled Carlow and, despite their wind advantage, it took Wexford 11 minutes to register their opening score – a long-range David Redmond point from midfield.

A Harry Kehoe effort had the sides level 0-2 each after 13 minutes.

Kavanagh, two frees, and Rory Jacob exchanged two points apiece and, with the sides still deadlocked at 0-5 each, Jacob pounced for a goal to put Wexford ahead for the first time after 31 minutes and help ease them into a 1-7 to 0-7 interval lead.

Eoin Quigley put Jack Guiney in for the first of Wexford’s three quick goals after 42 minutes while four minutes later another sub Gary Moore found the net from an acute angle. Straight from the puck-out Rory Jacob cut through the defence to fire home to make it 4-8 to 0-10 and from then on there was no way back for Carlow.

WEXFORD: E Martin; E Moore, M O'Hanlon, K Rossiter; D Stamp, C Kenny, R Kehoe (0-1); D Redmond (0-1), D O'Keeffe; P J Nolan, G Sinnott (0-1), H Kehoe (0-1); P Morris, D Lyng (0-5, 0-4 frees), R Jacob (2-3). Subs: J Guiney (1-0) for Morris (28 mins); E Quigley for Nolan (ht); G Moore (1-0) for O'Keeffe (ht); S Banville for H Kehoe (65 mins); L Og McGovern for Redmond (67).

CARLOW: F Foley; K McCabe, S Kavanagh, H P O'Byrne; J Corcoran, J M Nolan, E Coady; D English (0-1), R Coady (0-1, free); J Kavanagh, A Gaule (0-2), M Brennan (0-1); D Roberts, C Doyle, M Kavanagh (0-8, 0-7 points). Subs: R Smithers for Gaule (50); A McDonald (0-1) for Doyle (57); J Kane for J Kavanagh (59); B Treacy for Foley (63).

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).