HL1B: depleted Model stave off Saffron surge

February 15, 2015

Antrim's Ciaran Johnson and Jack Guiney of Wexford when the two teams met in the 2014 Leinster SHC quarter-final.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Fourteen-man Wexford held on in the face of a determined second-half Antrim onslaught to win by a single point at Wexford Park, 1-24 to 2-20.

Substitute Harry Kehoe registered the winning point in the 68th minute when he possibly went for goal from a free but his shot rocketed over the bar.

Liam Dunne's charges, who had captain Tomas Waters sent off with a straight red card in the 29th minute, led by three points at the short whistle, 1-12 to 1-9, with their goal coming from Liam Og McGovern seven minutes from the break, while Paul Shiels hit the net for the northerners in the 14th minute.

Upon the restart, the hosts kicked on to roar into an eight-point lead, 1-21 to 1-13. McGovern, Dee O'Keeffe, Daithi Waters, Paul Morris, Jack Guiney and Lee Chin between them provided all of those Wexford scores.

Amazingly, Kevin Ryan's men in turn hit a brilliant purple patch which saw them assume the lead with a run of 1-6 without reply, including a goal from Ciaran Clarke in the 63rd minute, which made it 2-19 to 1-21.

Wexford bounced back and Kehoe's first point had them back in front as we headed into a frenetic closing period; the visitors were left deflated when a late point attempt ricocheted back off an upright as the Slaneysiders held on for the narrowest of victories.

Wexford - M Fanning; E Moore, T Waters, C Kenny; P Foley, L Chin (0-2), D Redmond (0-1); P Morris (0-1), G Sinnott; I Byrne (0-2), D Waters (0-3), D O'Keeffe (0-2); K Foley, J Guiney (0-9, 5f), L Og McGovern (1-3). Subs: H Kehoe (0-1) for P Morris, S Tomkins for G Sinnott, J Kelly for K Foley, R Kehoe for I Byrne.

Antrim - C O'Connell; R McCambridge, N McAuley, A Graffin (0-1); T McCann, C McKinley (0-1), M Bradley (0-1); N McManus (0-2), C Johnson; P Shiels (1-6, 0-6f), D McKernan (0-2), C McCann (0-1); C Clarke (1-4), PJ O'Connell (0-1), E McCloskey. Subs: E Campbell for C McCann, M Donnelly for E McCloskey, S McCrory for T McCann, C Carson (0-1) for D McKernan, S McAfee for P Shiels.

Referee - C McAllister.


Most Read Stories