Declan McLoughlin, Galway, and Eoin Ryan, Wexford, in Allianz Hurling League Division 1A action. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Galway 2-19 Wexford 1-20
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Galway withstood a late Wexford fight-back to make it three Allianz Hurling League Division 1A wins on the spin after Saturday’s topsy-turvy duel at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
The Tribesmen hit a decisive surge between the 42nd and 56th minutes when transforming a 1-11 to 1-10 deficit into a 2-16 to 1-13 lead when substitute Conor Cooney struck a penalty earned by fellow substitute Kevin Cooney.
But Wexford, with a game to come away to Limerick, battled for their Division 1A lives only to be thwarted as Galway continue their stunning response to the opening day setback against Tipperary.
Galway zipped 0-3 to 0-0 ahead within eight minutes with David Burke quick off the mark on his seasonal debut as Michael Garvey (free) and Cianan Fahy also obliged.
Wexford quickly sorted themselves out, and after Seamus Casey cut the gap to 0-3 to 0-1 from a free, Rory O’Connor was denied a goal by a Jack Grealish intervention after Simon Donohoe’s booming clearance.
Nevertheless, Wexford’s growing momentum saw them assert by 0-5 to 0-3 after 20 minutes courtesy of Casey (three placed-balls) and Jack O’Connor, the latter from a Lee Chin set up.
But this closely contested event was tied for a second time after 27 minutes (0-7 each) with corner-back Darren Morrissey producing a tidy score along with Tiernan Killeen (free), Garvey (free) and Burke.
Wexford appeared set to hold a slight edge at the interval as Cathal Dunbar, defender Conor Foley and Rory O’Connor nudged them ahead by 0-10 to 0-9.
However, they were rocked three minutes into added-time when Anthony Burns made the most of a Wexford defensive mix-up from a Garvey free to bundle to the net and grab a 1-9 to 0-10 lead at the break.
While substitute Kevin Cooney instantly made it a three point gap on the restart, Rory O’Connor had Wexford right back in the mix when turning over a poor Galway puck-out to net, before Richie Lawlor had the locals amongst the 4,658 attendance cheering loudly as Wexford nudged back in front (1-11 to 1-10).
Wexford hopes turned to dread as Galway responded to assert by 2-16 to 1-13 when Cooney blasted home the 56th minute penalty.
Wexford, with the rousing victory over Clare fresh in their minds, refused to go down without a fight, and five frees from Lee Chin saw them close to within 2-19 to 1-20 in the 70th minute.
And the home-side were denied from a last-gasp effort to snatch victory from a free by ‘keeper Mark Fanning in the fifth minute of injury-time as they look destined for relegation, with Galway improving.
Scorers for Galway: Michael Garvey 0-5 (3fs), Conor Cooney 1-2 (1-0 penalty, 2fs), Anthony Burns 1-1, David Burke, Tiernan Killeen (frees), Kevin Cooney 0-2 each, Cianan Fahy, Darren Morrissey, Tom Monaghan, Colm Molloy, Seán Linnane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Seamus Casey 0-7 (5fs, 2 65s), Rory O’Connor 1-2, Lee Chin 0-5 (5 frees), Jack O’Connor, Cathal Dunbar, Conor Foley, Richie Lawlor, Conor Hearne, Shane Reck 0-1 each.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, Fintan Burke, Darren Morrissey; Pádraic Mannion, Gavin Lee, Michael Garvey; Cianan Fahy, David Burke; Brian Concannon, Tom Monaghan, Tiernan Killeen; Declan McLoughlin, Conor Whelan, Anthony Burns.
Subs: Kevin Cooney for McLoughlin (HT), Conor Cooney for Concannon (47), Colm Molloy (0-1) for Burns (59), Seán Linnane for D. Burke (60).
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Damien Reck, Simon Donohoe; Conor Foley, Richie Lawlor, Charlie McGuckin; Conor Hearne, Cathal Dunbar; Jack Redmond, Lee Chin, Jack O’Connor; Kevin Foley, Rory O’Connor, Seamus Casey.
Subs: Shane Reck for D Reck, inj (35+3), Simon Roche for Redmond (HT), Niall Murphy for Ryan (HT), Tomás Kinsella for Casey (60), Mikie Dwyer for Dunbar (66).
Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin).
