Late surge sees Wexford pull clear
Fiachra Fitzpatrick scores a first half goal for Carlow during the defeat to Wexford Photo: Pat Ahern
An ability to find another gear in the final minutes served Wexford well as they pulled away from Carlow to take both National Hurling League Division 1B points in Chadwick’s Wexford Park on Saturday.
In the opening seconds, a long range Carlow point from Kevin McDonald was quickly cancelled by a Simon Roche free. The full-forward would go on to score eight points in the half from play and placed balls.
Wexford’s goal came as Ross Banville ran unopposed into the away defence and with time and space he found the bottom right hand corner of the net. Marty Kavanagh converted a free and when the same player worked hard to prevent Wexford making a clearance, Fiachra Fitzpatrick scored a goal from a narrow angle on the right.
The home side finished the half strongly Darren Codd, Roche and Jack Redmond all raising white flags to one from Kavanagh for Carlow. At the interval, Wexford led 1-14 to 1-11.
It remained tight in the second half. Kavanagh converted a succession of frees while Roche did likewise for the home side. With six minutes to go, Wexford looked the most likely to clinch the win but their job was made easier when they were awarded a penalty and Mark Fanning converted with Tracey getting a touch. Kevin McDonald was also the unlucky recipient of a black card for the concession of the penalty.
The ten point margin at the end flattered the home side but with three wins out of three they looked like realistic contenders for league honours.
M Roche 0-14 (12fs), T Kinsella 0-6, R Banville 1-0, M Fanning 1-0 (pen), J Redmond 0-3, D Codd 0-2, Lee Chin 0-2, C Hearne 0-1.
M Kavanagh 0-14 (13fs), F Fitzpatrick 1-0, C Nolan 0-3 D Murphy, J Nolan, K McDonald 0-1 each
Mark Fanning; Damien Reck, Conor Foley, Darragh Carley; Philip Dempsey, Richie Lawlor, Eamon Wickham; Conor Hearne, Ross Banville; Jack Redmond, Kevin Foley, David Codd; Tomás Kinsella, Simon Roche, Darren Codd. Subs: Lee Chin for Codd (47), James Byrne for Banville (53), Simon Donohoe for Dempsey (62), Cian Byrne for Redmond (64), Diarmuid O’Leary for Wickham (70).
Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Evan Kealy; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Jon Nolan; Conor Kehoe, Donagh Murphy, Chris Nolan; Jack Treacy, John Michael Nolan, Marty Kavanagh. Subs: Paddy Boland for JM Nolan (h/t), Ted Joyce for Kehoe (42), Kevin Kavanagh for Murphy (59), Paidi O’Shea for Kealy (61), John Doyle for Treacy (72).
Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).
