Wexford continue good progress

Wexford continued their progress in Allianz NHL Division 1A as they held off Offaly for their second successive league win, running out 1-16 to 1-11 in today’s lively encounter at Wexford Park.

With fit-again midfielder Diarmuid Lyng back in the side, the Model men rose to the challenge. The influential Paul Carley was in sparkling form, notching 1-04.

Carley, Eoin Quigley and Stephen Banville were to the fore as Wexford led 0-06 to 0-03 before a Joe Bergin goal helped the Faithfuls take a 1-06 to 0-06 interval lead.

Carley goaled with a ground shot to nose Wexford ahead, the same player missed a penalty but three late points from Quigley copper-fastened the win for John Meyler's side.

In bitterly cold conditions, Lyng was the man to open the scoring as he scored with a line ball from 50 metres.

Wind-assisted Offaly had three wides in the opening 13 minutes before Bergin lofted a free between the posts. Rory Hanniffy doubled Offaly's tally before the hosts hit three points in as many minutes through a trimmed-down Banville, Quigley, who might have opted to go for goal, and man of the match Carley.

David Franks replied at the other before another purple patch saw Meyler's men race 0-06 to 0-03 ahead with Quigley (22 minutes) and Banville (25) hitting their second points.

Bergin netted after a well-placed ball in from Derek Molloy in the 27th-minute to tie up the game. Offaly's goalscorer and best player up to that point was forced off with an injury soon after, but the visitors raised their game with Paul Cleary, Brian Carroll and Barry Teehan all raising white flags to see Offaly take a three-point lead into the second period.

Wexford immediately erased that advantage when Rory Jacob, Carley and Michael Jacob pointed just after the restart and the home side went on to dominate.

Offaly could only muster five points over the remaining half-hour with Rory and Gary Hanniffy, Brendan Murphy and Derek Molloy shooting over.

Carley's goal gave Wexford the confidence to see out the win, and they did so in style, despite Carley fluffing his lines with a 58th-minute penalty.

Carley, Rory Jacob and Quigley, who has noticeably bulked up over the winter months, tagged on further points as Wexford grabbed an encouraging victory ahead of their trip to Cork next weekend.