Chadwicks Wexford Park erupted in deafening celebration when substitute Seán Ryan crashed home a last-gasp rebound goal to snatch promotion from Westmeath's grasp in Sunday’s closing Division 3 football league duel.
Westmeath, seeking an immediate return to Division 2, looked set to prevail in the winner-takes-all showdown having burst clear with a second quarter burst and soaring eight points clear after 57 minutes with a Jonathan Lynam goal (1-16 to 0-11).
But Seán Ryan, introduced at half-time, immediately fired back with a Wexford goal, and after a couple of two-pointer frees from orange-flag machine Darragh Brooks, the Purple and Gold launched one last raid which culminated in Ryan’s goal after Cian Hughes had forced an initial save.
That stunning transformation in fortunes sends Wexford through to the Division 3 decider against Down while maintaining ambitions of possibly ensuring Sam Maguire championship action this summer.
Wexford manager John Hegarty’s daughter, Tara, led the 3,232 attendance in an immaculate rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann before the sides became locked in a tentative opening quarter.
Indeed, the high-stakes nature of the tie was evident in some rather cagey play as the protagonists shared eight points across the first sixteen minutes.
Niall Hughes drew first-blood for Wexford in the third minute before Westmeath turned the tables after five minutes through Brian Cooney and Luke Loughlin (0-2 to 0-1).
The sides traded points before Wexford reclaimed a slight 0-4 to 0-3 edge after eleven minutes as Seán Nolan and Eoin Porter obliged, before Westmeath centre-back Shane Allan balanced the books for a fourth-time.
Cathal Kehoe had a close-range effort on the Westmeath goal deflected clear in a let off for the Lake County.
And, following another exchange of points, the Midlanders twice profited from Wexford squandering scoring chances as Westmeath strung together five unanswered points between the 22nd minute and half-time to break with a double-scores lead (0-10 to 0-5).
Wing-back Matthew Whittaker was to the fore during this spell, catching the eye with three scores, while Sam McCartan and Robbie Forde also obliged as Wexford struggled to make an impact in the final-third.
One of the few times that Wexford did threaten it led to Forde getting on the scoresheet for the visitors’ ninth score after Shane Allan had blocked a goal-bound drive from Liam Coleman.
An early second-half Sam McCartan two-pointer boosted Westmeath, and it safeguarded their lead as Wexford struck back with singles from Seán Nolan (two), Páraic Hughes and Jack Higgins to narrow the gap to 0-12 to 0-9 after 43 minutes.
But Westmeath quickly strengthened their grip, wing-backs Whittaker and Ronan Wallace (two) together with Luke Loughlin forging a clear-cut 0-16 to 0-10 50th minute lead.
And the Midlanders threatened to cut Wexford adrift when midfielder Jonathan Lynam struck for a 57th minute goal – feeding off a Whittaker assist – to blast open a 1-16 to 0-11 margin.
But Wexford instantly replied in kind, Seán Ryan ramming home from Liam Coleman, before the locals were twice denied further majors.
But a Mark Rossiter free and a pair two-pointer placed-balls from 'keeper Darragh Brooks – his twelfth orange flags of the campaign – had Wexford in with a slim chance after Matthew Whittaker’s fifth personal single had maintained Westmeath’s edge 67 minutes in (1-18 to 1-16).
Westmeath followed with a ninth wide, and it led to the key re-start from the Wexford ‘keeper seeing the ball eventually worked to Páraic Hughes whose pass to younger brother Cian saw the sub force a save before fellow replacement ‘Mini’ Ryan produced a huge rebound finish to the net seconds before the hooter confirmed Wexford’s stunning escape to promotion.
Wexford: Darragh Brooks (0-4, 2 tpf); Eoin Porter (0-1), Gavin Sheehan, Liam O’Connor; Shane Doyle, Eoghan Nolan, Dylan Furlong; Liam Coleman, Cathal Kehoe; Mark Rossiter (0-1 free), Páraic Hughes (0-1), Jack Higgins (0-2); Seán Nolan (0-5, 2f), Niall Hughes (0-2), Tom Byrne.
Subs: Seán Ryan (2-0) for Byrne (HT), Glen Malone for Doyle (47), Michael Kinsella for Kehoe (57), Cian Hughes for Nolan (61).
Westmeath: Jason Daly; Danny Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Boidu Sayeh; Matthew Whittaker (0-5), Shane Allen (0-1), Sam McCartan (0-5, 1 tp); Jonathan Lynam (1-0), Brian Cooney (0-1); Kevin O’Sullivan, Ronan Wallace (0-2), Conor Dillon; Tom Molloy (0-1), Luke Loughlin (0-2), Danny McCartan.
Subs: Tadhg Baker for Sayeh (26), Robbie Forde (0-1) for D. McCartan (29), Ray Connellan for Dillon (42), T.J. Cox for Molloy (52), Brandon Kelly for O’Sullivan (64).
Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).
