Wexford 1-16 Offaly 1-11:Any Wexford team that includes the southeast folklore hurling names of Quigley, Jacob and Doran commands instant respect from all opposition.
The status quo was rigidly maintained to Offaly's cost in this wind and rainswept tie at Wexford Park yesterday - the contributions delivered by bearers of these iconic hurling names easily defined.
Willie Doran marshalled the Wexford defence from right wing back; Eoin Quigley led the attack with flair and imagination; Rory Jacob was incisive in the left corner of attack.
A bout of handbag stuff between overly keyed up players before Tipperary referee Séamus Roche set the legitimate action into motion followed a remarkable decision by the Wexford camp to play into the teeth of a driving wind having won the toss.
Wexford were hugely pleased with that opening spell against the elements, for they went into their half-time dressingroom only three points in arrears - 0-6 to 1-6. It could easily have been worse for the slow-starting Offaly men had Barry Teehan and Brian Carroll not have produced two rapid points in first half injury-time.
Wexford's Paul Carley had a justifiable claim for man of the match status. Carley's 1-4, three pointed frees, excused him of any criticism for an untypical second-half blunder when he failed to lift for a penalty strike.
The atrocious weather conditions no doubt played some part in Carley's failed penalty attempt. And Eoin Quigley and the Jacobs - Rory and Michael - of all people, were largely responsible for missing out on some other golden opportunities. Quigley was a shade unlucky, however, not to hit the net when his piledriver was parried over the bar by Shane O'Connor.
Michael Jacob atoned by setting up Paul Carley for his side's goal 10 minutes into the second half.
"We have no excuses," said Offaly manager John McIntyre. "We left ourselves too much to do at half time. The harsh reality is we lost a match we were hoping to win.
"We have a dressingroom in there with a lot of walking wounded and we started without too many key players."
WEXFORD:D Flynn; M Travers, D O'Connor, P Roche; W Doran, K Rossiter, C Kenny; S Nolan, D Lyng (0-1, sideline cut); M Jacob, E Quigley (0-5), S Banville (0-2); P Carley (1-4, 0-3 from frees),R Keogh, R Jacob (0-4). Subs:R Codd for Keogh; D Stamp for Nolan; R McCarthy for Banville.
OFFALY:S O'Connor; T Corcoran, P Cleary (0-1 free), M Berney; D Franks (0-1),K Brady, D Hoctor; B Murphy, B Teehan (0-1); R Hanniffy (0-1), J Bergin (1-1, 0-1 from free), S Hanniffy (0-3); B Carroll (0-1), D Molloy (0-1),E Bevins. Subs:G Oakley for Hoctor; C Parlin for Bergin; A Egan (0-1)for Bevins.
Referee: S Roche(Tipperary).
