Wexford's second wind sees them home

Wexford 3-16 Antrim 1-11:THE OUTCOME of the this provincial quarter-final was determined in an eight-minute spell immediately after half-time, if not materially then psychologically.

Antrim trailed by two points but, assisted by the strong breeze, they would have embraced the second half with justifiable optimism.

It appeared to be vindicated when they dominated immediately after half-time but, unfortunately for the visitors, their leading marksman, Neil McManus, failed to convert a 65 and then a long range free. It had the dual effect of stifling Antrim’s momentum and allowing Wexford to regroup.

The home side rediscovered a fluency and touch that had characterised their play for most of the opening 35 minutes: in the space of six minutes, from the 43rd to the 49th, they regained an impetus they would never lose.

During that short period, the game’s outstanding performer, Wexford’s Rory Jacob scored 1-1, either side of a point from team-mate Stephen Banville. The goal contained an element of good fortune in that Jacob’s marker, Kevin Molloy, slipped, allowing the Wexford forward a clear run on goal; his finish was clinical.

At that point Wexford had stretched their lead to 2-12 to 1-9 and as Antrim’s challenge foundered, the home side indulged themselves on the scoreboard, culminating in David Redmond’s goal four minutes from time. It was a marked contrast to the first half, which provided an entertaining, if at times scrappy contest.

Antrim took a while to settle, despite scoring the game’s first goal on six minutes, when Conor MacCanna profited from dithering in the Wexford defence, snaffling the breaking ball and finishing powerfully from close range.

Wexford responded in kind within a minute. Goalkeeper Seán Hawes was caught in possession as he sallied forth towards the halfback line, gave away a free and was penalised for dissent. Jim Berry exacted the maximum revenge when he struck the resultant free to the net from the 21 metre line.

Rory Jacob treated the home supporters to some fine point taking, including one beautifully struck effort from close to the sideline. The home side were dominant in midfield and the half-back line but Antrim manager Dinny Cahill’s decision to switch Neil McManus out to midfield changed the nature of the contest as his side hustled the home team.

He grabbed three points, two from frees, while Darren Hammil and Karl Stewart added one apiece. Antrim held their hosts scoreless for 13 minutes and even though Wexford rallied – largely thanks to the repositioning of Banville to full forward – the visitors would have been reasonably content in trailing 1-10 to 1-8 at half-time, having played into the wind. The extent of their collapse was difficult to fathom.

Wexford will derive satisfaction from the manner in which they took a grip on proceedings in the second half. Keith Rossiter and Matthew O’Hanlon were excellent in the full-back line, Redmond worked hard in midfield, while every starting forward managed at least a point; Jacob and Banville not just the pick in terms of scoring but the manner in which the took the opportunities.

WEXFORD: 1 N Breen; 6 C Kenny, 3 M O’Hanlon, 4 K Rossiter; 5 L Prendergast (0-1), 19 D Stamp (capt), 7 M Jacob; 8 W Doran, 9 D Redmond (1-2); 10 PJ Nolan (0-1),11 H Kehoe (0-1), 12 S Banville (0-4); 13 R Jacob (1-5), 14 E Martin (0-1), 15 J Berry (1-1, both frees). Subs: N Kirwan for Martin (53 mins), C Farrell for Doran (64 mins), M Travers for Stamp (66 mins), B Doyle for R Jacob (68 mins).

ANTRIM: 16 S Hawes; 2 C McGuinness, 3 C Donnelly, 4 K Molloy; 5 A Graffin, 6 M Herron, 7 C Herron; 8 P Shiels (0-2), 9 B McFall; 10 S McCrory, 11 K Stewart (0-3), 12 N McManus (0-5, four frees); 13 C MacCanna (1-0), 14 D Hammil (0-1), 15 E McCloskey (capt). Subs: M Armstrong for C Herron (55 mins), K McKeague for B McFall (60 mins), T McCann for McCloskey (64 mins), M Donnelly for McCrory (68 mins).

Referee: C McAllister (Cork)

WEXFORD get a tilt at Kilkenny on Saturday week at Wexford Park. Galway and Westmeath clash next Saturday in Mullingar with the winner playing Dublin in Tullamore on June 18th. Antrim and Offaly go into qualifiers.