Divison One B/Down 3-14 Wexford 3-6: Wexford's visit to the north-east turned out to be a fruitless one yesterday as an irresistible third quarter from Down gave Paddy O'Rourke's team an impressive victory at Newcastle.
Behind 0-3 to 1-4 at half-time - the goal coming in the fifth minute from a penalty by Damien Rafferty - Wexford were left to rue their nine wasteful first-half wides when the home side opened up after the break.
Down's second period splurge was orchestrated by the brilliant Ambrose Rodgers and Dan Gordon from midfield. The players scored 0-5 between them - all from play - and inspired a spell of velvet football which pushed the score up to 3-13 to 0-4 by the 42nd minute.
Liam Doyle and Ronan Sexton had added to Down's half-time lead before Michael Walsh knocked in their second goal in the 42nd minute - a simple tap-in after Daniel Hughes' flashing cross-shot had come back off the Wexford crossbar.
The crossbar also had a part to play in Down's third goal seven minutes later. This time it was Ronan Sexton who was baulked by the woodwork, and Ronan Murtagh who tapped the ball over the line.
Twice more the crossbar came to the rescue of hapless Wexford, frustrating Daniel Hughes and Eoin McCartan, but the string of delightful points from Gordon, Rodgers, McCartan and substitute Aidan Carr left Down cruising with an 18-point lead and just 15 minutes left to play.
The contest was over by now, but Wexford still had pride to salvage and they went about the task bravely. As Down's work-rate dropped, Wexford began to show the sort of football they're capable of. Kevin Kennedy crashed through for a marvellous solo goal in the 57th minute, Mattie Forde selflessly set up PJ Banville for another a minute later and Banville got through for a third in the 70th minute.
Not enough to make a contest of the game, but enough, perhaps, to remind Wexford that they still have the skills which brought them to the league final 12 months ago.
DOWN: M McVeigh; M Cole, B Grant, D McCartan; A Molloy, J Clarke (0-1), D Rafferty (1-0, penalty); D Gordon (0-2), A Rodgers (0-3); R Sexton (0-1), M Walsh (1-0), D Hughes (0-1); L Doyle (0-1, free), J Brown, E McCartan (0-3). Subs: R Murtagh (1-1, 0-1 from free) for L Doyle; A Scullion for A Molloy; A Carr (0-1) for M Walsh; C Gribben for E McCartan; P Murphy for A Rodgers.
WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, P Curtis (0-1); E Bradley, R Stafford; C Deeley (0-1), L O'Brien, K Kennedy (1-0); J Hegarty, P Colfer, M Forde (0-4, three frees). Subs: PJ Banville (2-0) for D Breen; D Shannon for R Stafford; G O'Grady for J Hegarty.
Referee: P McEneaney (Monaghan).
