NFL Division One B/ Galway 0-18 Wexford 1-9: A superb display by their full forward line, which produced 16 points, powered Galway to victory over Wexford at Pearse Stadium yesterday.
Micheál Meehan, with eight points, and Pádraic Joyce with six, were the primary source of Galway's flourish. The productivity of Galway's full forward line covered up shortcomings out the field, not least around midfield.
Wexford led by 1-7 to 0-8 at the end of the first half, but they shot five wides and faded for periods.
An early burst yielded points for Ciarán Deely and Matty Forde, but Galway shot four points without reply as Derek Savage, Joyce and Meehan found the range in addition to Paul Clancy, who set up a lot of Galway's best moves. Rory Stafford mopped up possession around the middle of the field and with Redmond Barry adopting his usual roving role, Wexford created the space to land three points in a row before Meehan levelled at 0-5 after 18 minutes.
The game's only goal came two minutes later when Forde floated in an effort from the right wing and PJ Banville rose above Alan Burke to fist the ball to the net.
But just when it seemed Wexford would build a substantial interval lead, Galway responded with Savage pointing before Meehan added a brace, the first from another good Clancy delivery and the second from a 45 into the wind.
Wexford, who edged in front with points from Forde and Pádraig Curtis before the break, needed to get a good start to the second half but it was the Connacht champions who hit the ground running, with Joyce kicking three points and Meehan adding another to put them 0-12 to 1-7 in front. Wexford responded with points from Forde and Diarmuid Kinsella after 48 minutes, but they failed to score for the rest of the game.
Galway upped the tempo and with a more ball going into the full forward line, they pulled away. Meehan added a point from play, a 45 and a free from 55 yards, while Joyce made no mistake with a free to push Galway four points clear. Wexford's John Hudson was sent off for a second bookable offence late on.
GALWAY: K Kilroy; D Meehan, K Fitzgerald, A Burke; M Comer, D Burke, T Giblin; N Coleman, P Geraghty; M Clancy, P Clancy (0-1), C Bane; M Meehan (0-8, two 45s, one free), P Joyce (0-6, three frees), D Savage (0-2), Subs: T Costelloe (0-1) for Bane (48 mins), R Gibbons for Giblin (53 mins), B Cullinane for Geraghty (53 mins).
WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris (0-1), P Wallace, N Murphy; K Kennedy, D Murphy, P Curtis (0-1); P Colfer, R Stafford (0-1); C Deely (0-1), R Barry (0-1), D Kinsella (0-1); PJ Banville (1-0), J Hudson, M Forde (0-3, two frees, one 45). Subs: A Flynn for Colfer (28 mins), B Doyle for Stafford (68 mins).
Referee: A Mangan (Kerry).
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