Offaly rocked back

It took a marvellous second-half display from Wexford to propel them to a shock victory over Offaly in Bunclody yesterday.

This game was abandoned the previous week owing to fog with the sides level, but in this refixture, it looked as if Offaly would race away to a convincing victory after they crashed in three first-half goals, two of them by newcomer Neville Coughlan and one from Barnie O'Brien to put Offaly 3-3 to 0-7 ahead at the break.

Wexford responded to the challenge in positive fashion and it was an all-brother affair which hauled them back into the game as Pat Forde set up his younger brother Mattie for an excellent goal within one minute of the restart. Points followed from Pat Forde and Leigh O'Brien to bring the sides level by the 41st minute.

Wexford managed to maintain their grip resulting in excellent points from Ian Wickham, Colin Sunderland and Enda Newport to see them leading by 1-14 to 3-5, with 17 minutes remaining. A Ciaran McManus goal for Offaly in injury time came too late.

Three players were sent off - Wexford's Donal Redmond and Ian Wickham and Offaly's Colm Quinn.

Derry and Donegal shared the honours in a hard fought challenge game at Celtic Park yesterday which ended 1-11 each.

Wexford: O Murphy; C Morris, F Wallace, D Redmond; L O'Brien (0-2), W Carley, M Carley; D Breen, I Wickham (0-2); E Doyle, M Mahon (0-3), E Newport (0-1); P Forde (0-1), C Sunderland (0-1), M Forde (1-6, 0-5 frees). Subs: P Wallace for P Forde; S Doran for Sunderland.

Offaly: D Kelly; C Daly, T Kehoe, K Slattery (0-2); B Hannigan, G Raftery, D Quinn; C McManus (1-0), K Claffey (0-1); N Coughlan (2-1), B O'Brien (1-0), M Daly; B Malone, M Keeneghan (0-1), B Monaghan. Subs: C Quinn for Malone, V Claffey (0-1 free) for Keeneghan; K Grennan for Monaghan.

Referee: B Duff (Kildare).