Offaly U21 1-12 Wexford U21 2-16
A tightly contested first half proved to be a false dawn in tonight’s Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship semi-final at O’Connor Park as Wexford easily pulled clear after the interval, inspired by a 0-07 point haul from play by centre-forward Kevin Foley.
Goals from Conor McDonald and Cathal Dunbar made Wexford’s victory safe long before Matthew Moloney netted a late consolation goal for the home side, and in truth the margin could have been far greater as the visitors shot 12 second-half wides, despite the absence of any strong pressure from a poor Offaly side.
The contest never really caught fire in the opening half as Cillian Kiely appeared to get to grips with Conor McDonald at the edge of the square in front of the Offaly goal, blunting what appeared on paper to be Wexford’s main attacking threat.
Meanwhile at the other end of the field, Emmet Nolan was a real livewire as he moved across the half-forward line to great effect, helping Offaly into an early three-point lead with three well taken points.
He also succeeded in drawing several fouls from the Wexford back line, meaning that all bar one of Offaly’s first-half points were either scored or assisted by the Birr player.
He didn’t receive the help he needed, however, either from his misfiring attacking colleagues or from those playing in deeper positions, who committed a string of errors that allowed Wexford to stay in contention.
The visitors trailed by just a point at the interval, 0-08 to 0-07, despite being awarded just two frees in the entire opening half.
The mild breeze should have been of little consequence yet Offaly looked as if they were hurling into the teeth of a hurricane after the interval, with their forwards completely and utterly bottled up by their far more imposing counterparts from the Model County.
Puckout after puckout rained down on the heads of the Offaly half-forwards and on almost every occasion it was a Wexford back who seemed to come out with possession, Padraig Foley leading the charge with a series of excellent high catches.
Not unlike the Faithful County, Wexford’s attacking play on the night was all about one man – centre-forward Kevin Foley, who ended the evening with seven points from play to his credit.
Foley struck two out of the first three points of the second half to give Wexford their first lead since the fourth minute and regardless of where the sliothar broke, the Rapparees man was on hand to snap up possession and strike on goal, invariably with time and space to pick his spot.
His contribution was badly needed too, as McDonald didn’t register a point from play until the last minute of normal time, while no other starting Wexford forward raised a flag of any colour.
Foley’s accuracy contrasted sharply with the profligacy of his forward colleagues as Wexford accumulated 12 second-half wides, yet they never looked to be under any pressure once McDonald blasted the ball past Kevin O’Connor for the game’s opening goal after 39 minutes.
Any lingering hopes that Offaly might have entertained were crushed with nine minutes to play as a goal chance at each end resulted in two happy endings for Wexford supporters.
Offaly were first to glean an opening when Matthew Moloney cut in from the right wing and bore down on goal. His low strike was easily blocked, however, and just three touches later, McDonald was able to deftly flick the ball into the path of substitute Cathal Dunbar for a second Wexford goal that put eight points between the sides.
The match petered out from that point as Wexford continued to rack up the wides while Offaly’s physical deficit ensured that they couldn’t even secure clean possession.
The result was utterly assured before the match moved into injury time, a phase in which Matthew Moloney nabbed a late consolation goal and Kiely was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.
Offaly: K O’Connor; D Corbett, C Kiely, P Rigney; G Crowe, C Doughan (0-01, free), D Doughan; C Mahon (0-01), P Guinan; M Maloney (1-00), J O’Toole Greene, E Nolan (0-04); A Cleary, J Maher, D Murray (0-05, 0-04 frees, 0-01 ’65).
Subs: S Guinan (0-01) for Maher (HT), C Molloy for Mahon (45), A Connolly for O’Toole Greene (45), P Kinsella for Cleary (52),
Wexford: O O’Leary; S Donohoe, L Ryan, E Conroy; J White, P Foley, J O’Connor (0-01); C Devitt, G Bailey (0-01); A Kenny, K Foley (0-07), J Cash; S Murphy, C McDonald (1-05, 0-02 frees, 0-02 ‘65s), P Sutton.
Subs: C Dunbar (1-01) for Donohoe (25), S Kelly for Murphy (37), T French (0-01) for Sutton (46), S Kenny for Cash (53)
Referee: Peter Burke (Kilkenny)
