NFL DIVISION THREE Wexford 1-14 offaly 2-10

WEXFORD HELD off a late Offaly surge to emerge with victory at Wexford Park yesterday.

Wexford looked to be coasting to victory, leading 1-14 to 1-7, with five minutes remaining but an Alan Lyons 66th-minute goal sparked Offaly to life as they controlled the closing minutes, tagging on three further unanswered points through Karol Slattery and two Niall McNamee frees, to leave the minimum separating the sides.

It looked as if it had opened the door for Offaly to mount one final effort in search of the equaliser but the final whistle saved Wexford’s blushes.

Wexford had started the game brightly leading 1-3 to 0-1 after 17 minutes, the goal a neat finish from Adrian Flynn.

A 26th-minute David Egan goal, followed by a Niall McNamee pointed free, had the sides level at 1-3 each. Wexford finished the half with points from Paddy Byrne and Brian Malone to lead 1-6 to 1-4 at the interval.

The match swung in Wexford’s direction on the resumption with some superb points from Ben Brosnan and Ciarán Lyng helping them to a 1-14 to 1-7 lead, before Offaly late rally.

WEXFORD: A Masterson; J wadding, D Walsh, B Malone (0-1); N Murphy, D Murphy, C Morris; D Waters, C Byrne; P Naughter (0-1), R Barry, A Flynn (1-2); B Brosnan (0-5, one free, one 45), C Lyng (0-4, one free), P Byrne (0-1). Subs: K Kennedy for Walsh (52 mins), B Doyle for Byrne (55 mins), E Bradley for Waters (55 mins), D Kehoe for Morris (63 mins), S Roche for Naughter (65 mins).

OFFALY: A Mulhall; M Conlon, C Kiely, S Pender; C Carroll, S Sullivan, K Slattery (0-1); R Dalton, B Connor; P McConway, D Egan (1-0), C McManus; A Lyons (1-0), J Reynolds (0-3), N McNamee (0-6, five frees). Subs: S Ryan for Carroll (35 mins), A Sullivan for Egan (42 mins), N Smyth for Connor (55 mins); S Brady for McManus (55 mins).

Referee: M Condon (Waterford).