17 hours ago
Wexford ease into Tailteann Cup quarter-final with an 11 point win over Antrim
Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final: Wexford 5-23 (5-4-15) Antrim 2-21 (2-5-11)
AN eleven point victory did not flatter Wexford as they cruised into the quarter-finals at the expense of a disappointing Antrim outfit in this Tailteann Cup senior football game played at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
For Wexford it was a welcome victory over the Saffron county who on their previous two visits to the model county had come away with victories, but there was never going to be a repeat as the homeside took control in the second quarter to go on to a comfortable victory.
While Antrim playing into the breeze took the lead in the opening minute through a Conor Hand point, this was the only time in the game that they led, with home keeper Darragh Brooks pointing his side level almost immediately from a 45, while on six minutes Martin O'Connor moved through the defence to point the homeside in front.
Antrim got back level through a Dominic McEnhill point, but with Sean Nolan storming into the game with a two pointed free followed by a further free, Wexford led 0-5 to 0-2.
Wexford continued to stretch their lead as Sean Nolan found the net, a score which helped them into a 1-12 to 0-4 lead after twenty-seven minutes.
As the homeside continued to widen the gap with Martin O'Connor setting up Ben Brosnan goal leaving them with a 2-14 to 0-7 interval lead.
When Wexford stretched the led immediately on the resumption through points from Pairic Hughes and Jack Higgins, Antrim came under more intense pressure, despite the homeside losing Martin O'Connor with a leg injury.
The scores continued to flow for the homeside as Sean Nolan added his second goal, while a Mark Rossiter further goal on fifty-seven minutes had them leading 4-10 to 0-11.
As Wexford relaxed their grip on the game, Antrim managed a Patrick Finnegan goal ten minutes from the end, followed by a Dominic McEnhill goal reducing the deficit to 4-23 to 2-14, but just to show their control, Wexford finished with a Robbie Brooks goal giving them a real boost for a tougher test that lies ahead.
Scorers for Wexford: S Nolan (2-3, 0-1 f); D Brooks (0-6, 2tpf); B Brosnan (1-2, 1tp); M Rossiter (1-1); R Brooks (1-0); M O'Connor (1tp), P Hughes, J Higgins (0-3 apiece); G Malone (0-2).
Scorers for Antrim: D McEnhill (1-4, 1tp, 1 '45); M Byrne (0-7, 3 tpf); R McQuillan (0-5, 2f); P Finnegan (1-0); C Hand and E Quinn (1tp) (0-2 apiece); E McCabe (0-1)
WEXFORD: D Brooks; M. Furlong, G Sheehan, E Porter; M O'Connor, G Malone, D furlong; L Coleman, N Hughes; M Kinsella, P Hughes, M Rossiter, J Higgins, S Nolan, B Brosnan.
Subs: K O'Grady for O'Connor (inj.43); R Brooks for Brosnan (54), C Walsh for Nolan (59), R Martin for Rossiter (66), C Carty for Kinsella (72).
ANTRIM: M Byrne; E McCabe, K Keenan, E Walsh; R Boyle, J Finnegan, D McAleese; C Hand, C Stewart; P McBride, A Loughran, M Jordan; R McQuillan, R McCann, D McEnhill.
Subs: N Burns for Jordan (53), P Finnegan for McBride (53), E Quinn for Stewart (56), J McAuley for McCabe (62).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).
