Wexford and Longford drawn together again

Wexford 0-15 Longford 2-9:THERE APPEARED to be some confusion at the finish here, the Longford and Wexford players glancing around at it each other as if waiting further instruction. They weren't the only ones.

It’s possible the prospect of extra-time briefly entered their minds (it did ours): more likely they just weren’t sure whether to be relieved or aggrieved about the prospect of a replay (indeed neither were we).

Either way, it’s off to Tullamore next Sunday, for a double-bill with Meath-Carlow, and the eventual right to play Dublin in the Leinster semi-final – and that’s good enough for now.

Truth is if either team had lost here they would have needed dragging away, demanding a rematch, like a prize fighter caught with a knock-out punch. It’s not that it was desperately close to call, but that both teams took their turns on the swings and roundabouts of possession, and in the end just couldn’t stay on either one for long enough.

Both managers admitted as much afterwards, Wexford’s Jason Ryan probably looking the more excited about the replay, and Longford’s Glenn Ryan possibly realising it should never have got that far. Longford definitely had the greater opportunity for outright victory, holding a scoring advantage practically throughout, and forcing a couple of big-time saves from Wexford goalkeeper Anthony Masterson.

The replay at least affords Wexford supporters the chance to come along and raise some cheer, because there were neither seen nor heard here. Pity, because wing back Adrian Flynn was dropping over points of unbelievable quality – five in all, each one as good as the other, left or right footed.

Ben Brosnan and Redmond Barry eventually got their scoring boots on as well, although it was another defender, Rob Tierney, who fired over what briefly looked like a winner for Wexford, with just over two minutes remaining.

Instead of controlling the next possession Wexford fluffed it, and with that David Barden drew the free – routinely converted by Seán McCormack in what was the last meaningful kick of the game. With that the pockets of Longford supporters that had made the trip applauded in approval, and given the unseasonably dull and chilly day, were no doubt happy too when realising there wasn’t going to be extra-time.

On deeper reflection Longford might feel like they left this one behind. They had the shackles on Wexford’s attack for most of the game, albeit by regularly placing 12 men behind the ball – and forcing an almost dizzying sequence of hand passes from Wexford (someone counted 145 in the first half alone).

Jason Ryan was adamant that was the only way to “recycle” possession, and perhaps it was, but with Wexford’s forwards effectively limited to five points from play then perhaps the longer ball or longer kicks might have proven a more productive tactic.

Longford’s most effective tactic was to run the ball at speed into the Wexford defence, preferably in the hands of Paul Barden. Jason Ryan described him as a “nightmare”, in the complimentary sense, and Barden will probably have a few of the Wexford defenders turning in their sleep this week head of Sunday’s replay.

Barden scored two goals – one from the penalty spot and one that already ranks highly for goal of the season. The penalty came on 28 minutes when Niall Mulligan’s sweet run was prematurely ended by Daithí Waters, when Mulligan may well have scored a goal anyway.

Barden made no mistake and with that Longford were in front, 1-4 to 0-5, and held that range of advantage through to half time.

Flynn had already kicked three of his wonder points by then, and added two more early in the second half that briefly put Wexford back in front.

At that stage it looked as if they’d found a way through the Longford defence, except then, without much warning, Seán McCormack started a brilliant move that edged around the Wexford defence, through Colm Smyth, and into the hands of Paul Barden, who brilliantly finished into the top right corner of the Wexford net.

Moments later David Barden forced another good save out of Masterson, and it seemed the momentum was firmly back in Longford’s favour.

But wind-aided, and in fairness showing some fighting spirit, Wexford raised their game again, outscoring Longford five points to one over the next 20 minutes, the pick of which came from Lyng, plus a beautiful long-range from Brosnan.

All that was left after that was the final exchange of points that sends both teams down to Tullamore on Sunday – and this time with the definite prospect of extra-time.

WEXFORD: 1 A Masterson; 2 N Murphy, 3 G Molloy, 4 R Tierney (0-1); 23 L Chin, 7 B Malone, 5 A Flynn (0-5); 8 D Waters, 9 R Quinlivan; 20 C Carty, 14 E Bradley (0-1), 12 B Brosnan (0-3, all frees); 11 S Roche, 15 R Barry (0-2), 13 C Lyng (0-3, one free). Subs: 24 PJ Banville for Carty (40 mins), 27 P Byrne for Roche (56 mins), 10 C Morris for Quinlivan (64 mins), 26 J Wadding for Flynn (71 mins). Yellow cards: B Brosnan (22 mins), D Waters (29 mins), N Murphy (37 mins), E Bradley (44 mins), C Lyng (64 mins).

LONGFORD: 1 D Sheridan; 2 D Brady, 3 B Gilleran, 4 D Reilly; 5 C Smyth, 6 M Quinn, 7 S Mulligan; 8 B McElvaney, 9 J Keegan; 10 D Barden, 11 P Barden (2-0, one penalty), 12 N Mulligan (0-1); 13 D McElligott, 14 B Kavanagh (0-4), 15 S McCormack (0-4, three frees). Subs: 20 P Kelly for McElligott (56 mins). Yellow cards: N Mulligan (27 mins), M Quinn (48 mins), S McCormack (56 mins).

Referee: M Collins (Cork).

RYANS LEFT WITH SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO

A tale of two Ryans here – one of them telling us he’s relieved more than anything else, and the other saying he’s not deflated, not by any stretch.

Guess which one is Jason and which one is Glenn? It’s actually hard to tell which is the more relieved or the more deflated, although Jason Ryan, the Wexford manager, is definitely the more upbeat about it all.

“We seemed to play ourselves into a winning position, on a number of occasions, and each time Longford came back,” he says. “Tactically, Longford made it very, very difficult for us. Maybe from our point of view we’ve more room to improve, because we did look nervous in the first half, got cleaned out at midfield in the second half at times, coughing up far too much possession.

“So we’re not happy with how we played, and we didn’t lose the game, so we’re glad of the extra game, and the week of training ahead. We can’t really say the momentum was with us at the end, or with them. It was still swinging both ways. So it shows Longford never, ever give up. When Rob Tierney scored that point I did think we’d had it, but then we needed to keep possession at the very end, and we didn’t.”

Glenn Ryan starts out by saying says, he’s relieved too, “especially when you’ve been in front for most of the game. It’s hard to see you coming back again.

“I just thought in the second half we were the last pass short of creating something, never far off chances. I think we left a few scores behind us, a few goal chances anyway . . . but I wouldn’t say we’re deflated, not by any stretch. We were in front for 90 per cent of the game. We’ll get another game in the championship too, and it’s been a long time since Longford got three games in the Leinster championship, so we’ll be thankful about that anyway.

“Wexford are capable of kicking scores from all directions, but I don’t think we were as economical in the second half. Adrian Flynn kicked some fantastic points in the second half, but sure you have to give them some credit for that. That’s the way they play. All out attack. It shows there’s still not much between the teams.”

One last note: Jason Ryan sent his best wishes to centre back and captain David Murphy, who was unable to start and is currently being treated in hospital for blood poisoning.