2004 All-Star Matty Forde came to Wexford’s rescue in Newbridge as he hit an injury-time free to secure an 0-08 to 0-08 draw with hosts Kildare in NFL Division 1B.
Forde slammed over his fifth free in the dying seconds to grab what could prove to be a crucial point in the Model men’s relegation battle.
Wexford still sit bottom in the table, but a home win over Armagh – in what is ironically, a repeat of last year’s league final – on April 9, with other results going their way, could yet see Paul Bealin’s men stay up.
They will be kicking themselves after this result however. Leading 0-06 to 0-01 at half time, Wexford looked well in tune for just their second win in six league outings, but despite missing the honeymooning John Doyle, Kildare roared back to lead by the 68th-minute.
As it was, Tadhg Fennin’s point from an acute angle after 11 minutes was the Lilywhites’ only score of a disappointing first half.
Forde opened the scoring with a free, Fennin replied, but a run of five Wexford overs from David Murphy, the impressive Ciaran Deely, Forde (2 frees) and Liam Murphy, with a neat left-footed point on 34 minutes, pushed Bealin’s men clear.
Wexford maintained their lead, leading 0-07 to 0-02 by the 43rd-minute, but then came the Kildare comeback. Inspired by a hat trick of points from Ronan Sweeney, the hosts hit six unanswered points to square things up.
Karl Ennis even pointed Kildare into the lead, two minutes from the end of normal time, but Forde’s fifth free of the afternoon set up the draw.
