Nolan on song as Wexford's attacking flair shines against Longford
TAILTEANN CUP: Wexford 2-24 Longford 1-18
Wexford showed the greater attacking flair and got off to a winning start with a comfortable nine-point victory over Longford in their opening round Tailteann Cup game played at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
It may not have been the perfect performance but manager John Hegarty will still be pleased with the players' response following their disappointing championship exit to Laois. For Longford's Mike Solan, his side showed enough to suggest they are capable of taking something from their remaining two group games.
Wexford had a whirlwind start with two Sean Nolan goals helping them into a 2-4 to 0-4 lead inside the opening 18 minutes. But a brace of two pointers from Daire Duggan and Matthew Carey, along with a Dessie Reynolds point, hauled Longford right back into contention, 2-4 to 0-9, after 23 minutes.
Longford now began to grow in confidence with a 26th-minute Dylan Farrell goal turning their game their way as they now led 1-9 to 2-5, a remarkable transformation in such a short space of time.
With the sides going on to trade scores it was the visitors who brought a single point lead, 1-12 to 2-8, into the half-time break.
Despite this slippage in the second quarter, Wexford brought a renewed urgency to their play on the resumption with a Mark Rossiter point bringing the sides level within two minutes of the restart.
Hegarty's charges now began to assert themselves adding unanswered points through Sean Nolan (free), Mark Rossiter and a Darragh Brooks free to edge into a 2-12 to 1-12 lead leaving Longford with a real challenge on their hands.
It was not until the 48th minute that Longford had their first second-half score, a Dylan Farrell two-pointer free. With Oisin O'Toole kicking over an excellent point, they had reduced the deficit to a single point, 2-14 to 1-16, after 52 minutes.
Despite Longford's best efforts they were unable to withstand Wexford's late charge, with Niall Hughes, Paraic Hughes, Sean Nolan, Eoin Porter and Rossiter all kicking over excellent points. The visitors were reliant on scores from Dylan Farrell and Matthew Carey, but in the end it was the home side who deservedly emerged with two points before they take on Carlow next weekend.
Wexford: D Brooke (0-1 free); M Furlong, G Sheehan, L O'Connor; E Porter (0-2), E Nolan, M O'Connor (0-1); L Coleman, N Hughes ((0-3, 1tp); P Hughes (0-3, 1 2pt), S Pettitt (0-2), M Rossiter (0-2); K O'Grady (0-2), T Byrne (0-1), S Nolan (2-7, 0-5 frees, 1tp). Subs: R Brooks for Byrne (44), J Higgins for O'Grady (55), D furlong for M O'Connor (57), B Brosnan for S Nolan (66), S Bardon for Porter (69).
Longford: M Hughes; P Fox, O O'Toole (0-1), B Masterson; J Moran, R Moffett, C Brady; D Reynolds (0-3, 1 2pt); J Matthews (0-1), M Carey (0-5, 1, 2ptf), D Farrell (1-5, 2ptf); A Farrell (0-1), C McCabe (0-2), O Kenny.
Subs: C Lynch for Brady (45), S Morgan for Kenny (5D Fibnless for Moffett (64).
Referee: B Griffin (Kerry).
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