Sunday July 3 - Senior Hurling: Wexford v Galway

Wexford 4-12 Galway 1-14


Wexford put on a fine display of hurling to take both points in convincing fashion against a Galway side that hurled well in patches, but never could find any consistency. Four goals, two in each half gave Galway a mountain to climb, one too high for the tribesmen.

Galway center back Conor Woods comes out with the ball.

Galway were their own worst enemies in the first half, conceding two goals where Wexford corner forwards John Heatherington and Tony Murphy were alert to the breaking ball, while the Galway backs concentration was slightly less than it should have been. The first came from an Andrew Shore free that dropped into the box and Heatherington was first to the break to stroke the ball home from the edge of the box. The second came from a free that hit high off the post and this time it was Tony Murphy alert to the deflected ball to pull on it and send it into the back of the net. Galway had clocked an early four points to one lead, but Wexford picked off the scores as the Galway forward line floundered for most of the game. Murray, Heatherington, Brian Dowling, and Cathal Kenny got on the scoreboard for Wexford. Galway finally managed to pick it up. Michael Malone and Andrew Brennan made some great defensive plays and Galway capitalized with points from John Moylan, Paul Guinan, and Eoin Guinan. John Heathington almost netted a third goal for Wexford, but his shot on the run clipped the top of the crossbar. At the half Wexford led by five points, 2-8 to 0-9.

Challenge for the puckout.

Another two goals in the second half gave Wexford a cushion with which to work with. Again, Galway lacked penetration in the forward line and Wexford defenders mopped up anything that was thrown at them. Heatherington put the first goal of the second half away after a pointed sideline cut. Brian Dowling the second which was a spectacular finish into the top corner from a distance. Galway had managed two points from Eoin Guinan frees but could not mount a significant challenge in the second half. The tribesmen made a late run in the final 10 minutes, but by that stage a miracle was required to turn the tables. Eoin Guinan netted from an impossible angle and Moylan and Guinan pointed to make the scoreboard look respectable. Galway still have a bit of work to do to make a serious challenge for the senior championship, Wexford on the other hand, looked strong in all areas of the field.


Galway: K. Finnegan, K. Murphy, M. Malone, S. Og Lennane, C. Woods, A. Brennan, N. McCree, M. Devlin, P. Guinan, G. Burke, S. Brown, J. Moylan, E. Guinan. Wexford: G. Griffey, G. Dunphy, D. Redmond, B. Dalton, A. Shore, S. White, P. Dowling, M. Molloy, B. Dowling, S. Murphy, C. Kenny, T. Murphy, J. Heatherington.


By Rory O'Donnell