Wexford 5-23 Antrim 2-21
Tailteann Cup
First half goals from Sean Nolan and Ben Brosnin put Wexford in a strong position at half time in this preliminary Tailteann Cup quarter final at Wexford Chiswicks Park on Sunday and left Antrim with a mountain to climb in the second half.
The Saffrons started well in Wexford and took an early lead through a Conor Hand point and might have had a second but a long distance free from Mick Byrne came back of a post.
It was as good as it was to get for the Saffron in the opening half as Wexford, aided by the stiff breeze replied directly from a Darragh Brooks ‘45’, one of three the big keeper would kick during the opening half.
Martin O’Connor took advantage of a quickly taken short free to move the Chadwicks Park side ahead though Dominic McEnhill restored parity for the Saffrons with a good finish with 8 minutes gone.
Eoin Porter had obviously been handed the task of containing Antrim’s perceived danger man, Ryan McQuillan and the two players were shown yellow following an altercation as slowly Wexford assumed control.
Aided by the strong breeze they would go on to kick a number of 2 pointers with keeper, Darragh Brooks striking one from 55 meters and Ben Brosnan adding another to put the home side 0-8 to 0-6 ahead by the 21st minute.
Wexford were winning the majority of prime possession from the kick-outs and Sean Nolan put them in a strong position when he fired to the net in the 23d minutes, McQuillan and McEnhill having poster points for the visitors.
Nolan, Jack Higgins, Robbie Brooks added to the Wexford total with Mick Byrne striking a good 2 pointer into the wind to keep the visitors hanging on but still very much in the game.
McQuillan added a point but a strong run from Martin O’Connor just before half time saw him set up Ben Brosnin who palmed to the net for Wexford’s second goal to put his side 2-12 to 0-7 ahead at the break.
Given the strength of the breeze that lead certainly didn’t look unsurmountable but it was Wexford who made the better start to the second half as they kept possession before extending their lead through Pauric Hughes and Jack Higgins.
The game was then halted for six minutes following what looked like a serious injury to Martin O’Connor and after being assessed on the field he was replaced by Kevin O’Grady.
When play resumed, Dominic McEnhill, who with Ryan McQuillan were Antrim’s best forwards, kicked a 2 pointer and Glen Malone and McQuillan exchanged further points before Jack Higgins and Glen Malone combined to place Sean Nolan for his side’s third goal.
The scores continued to flow for the homeside as Sean Nolan added his sides fourth major of the evening while Mark Rossiter added another on fifty-seven minutes that had them leading 4-10 to 0-11.
As Wexford relaxed their grip on the game, Antrim replied through a Patrick Finnegan goal ten minutes from the end and Dominic McEnhill added another to reduce the deficit to 4-23 to 2-14.
The Saffrons enjoyed their best spell in the game at this point with Mick Byrne 2pts, Conor Hand, Ryan McQuillan, Byrne with another 2 pointer and Euan Quinn from deep in his own half added unanswered scores but just to show their control, Wexford finished with a Robbie Brooks goal giving them a real boost for the tougher test that lies ahead.
For Wexford it was a welcome victory over the Saffron county who on their previous two visits to the model county had come away with victories, but there was never going to be a repeat as the home side took control in the second quarter to go on to a comfortable victory.
Scorers for Wexford: S Nolan (2-3, 0-1 f); D Brooks (0-6, 2tpf); B Brosnan (1-2, 1tp); M Rossiter (1-1); R Brooks (1-0); M O’Connor (1tp), P Hughes, J Higgins (0-3 apiece); G Malone (0-2).
Scorers for Antrim: D McEnhill (1-4, 1tp, 1 ’45); M Byrne (0-7, 3 tpf); R McQuillan (0-5, 2f); P Finnegan (1-0); C Hand and E Quinn (1tp) (0-2 apiece); E McCabe (0-1)
WEXFORD: D Brooks; M. Furlong, G Sheehan, E Porter; M O’Connor, G Malone, D furlong; L Coleman, N Hughes; M Kinsella, P Hughes, M Rossiter, J Higgins, S Nolan, B Brosnan.
Subs: K O’Grady for O’Connor (inj.43); R Brooks for Brosnan (54), C Walsh for Nolan (59), R Martin for Rossiter (66), C Carty for Kinsella (72).
ANTRIM: M Byrne; E McCabe, K Keenan, E Walsh; R Boyle, J Finnegan, D McAleese; C Hand, C Stewart; P McBride, A Loughran, M Jordan; R McQuillan, R McCann, D McEnhill.
Subs: N Burns for Jordan (53), P Finnegan for McBride (53), E Quinn for Stewart (56), J McAuley for McCabe (62).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).