Wexford 1-21
Galway 1-19
A 15 MINUTE period in the second half in which Wexford scored five unanswered points proved Galway’s undoing in this evening’s Bord Gais All-Ireland U21 Hurling semi-final in Thurles.
Jack Guiney top-scored for the Slaneysiders and his two late scores were crucial in Wexford’s win but, in truth, Galway only have themselves to blame for this defeat.
The first half was a closely fought affair, both sides taking the lead at various points but neither establishing a commanding position until Conor McDonald’s 11th minute point gave Wexford a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
However, Galway fought back and were level five minutes later through points from Padraic Brehony and Cathal Mannion. The sides were still level when Brehony, so instrumental in everything Galway were doing, found the back of the net to give his side a 1-9 to 0-9 lead.
Not wishing to be outdone by his opposite number, Guiney scored a goal of his own in the 26th minute but that wasn’t enough to stop Galway going into half-time with a single point lead; 1-14 to 1-13.
That lead was four by the 35th minute but that’s when things started to go wrong for Galway. After hitting just one wide in the first half, the Galway forwards started to lose their range and a 15 minute period without a score was captialised on by Wexford who scored five points without reply to take a 1-18 to 1-17 lead in the 50th minute.
Once more though, Galway fought back and retook the lead in the 51st minute through scores from Mannion and Adrian Tuohy. It would prove, however, to be the last time Galway troubled the scoreboard operators.
First Guiney held his nerve to level things up with a long range free before Garry Moore gave Wexford a late lead. In the final minute of normal time Guiney brought his personal tally to 1-8 with his first point from play of the day.
Galway pressed for a match-winning goal but, instead, added to a wides’ column that had read just one at the break but eight by full-time and the Leinster Champions held on for the win.
After the humiliation of losing to Antrim at this stage last year, the relief was clear at the final whistle but Wexford must now regroup as they get set to try stop Clare from winning three All-Ireland titles in a row at this level.
Scorers for Wexford: Jack Guiney 1-8 (0-7f), Conor McDonald, Garry Moore and Kevin Foley 0-3 each, Padraig Foley 0-2, Aidan Nolan,and Conor Devitt 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Padraic Brehony 1-5, Shane Maloney 0-6 (0-3f), Cathal Mannion 0-3, Brian Molloy, Jonathan Glynn, Adrian Tuohy and Eanna Burke 0-1 each.
WEXFORD
1. Oliver O’Leary (Buffers Alley)
2. Garret Foley (Fethard)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Eoin Conroy (Naomh Eanna)
5. Andrew Kenny (Buffers Alley)
6. Shane O’Gorman (c) (Adamstown)
7. Jack O’Connor (St. Martins)
8. Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody)
9. Conor Devitt (Ballyfad)
10. Jack Guiney (Rathnure)
11. Garry Moore Glynn (Barntown)
12. Padraig Foley (Crossabeg)
13. Rhys Clarke Fay (The Harriers)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
15. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
Subs: James White for G Foley (36), Peter Sutton for R Clarke (43), Séamus Cash for Devitt (51), Conor O’Leary for P Foley (54).
GALWAY
1. Shane Mannion (Clarinbridge)
2. Dara Donohue (Kilnadeema Leitrim)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle)
4. Paul Killeen (Tynagh Abbey-Duniry)
5. Barry Keane (Clarinbridge)
6. Dean Higgins (Castlegar)
7. Adrian Tuohy (Beagh)
8. Cormac Diviney (Ardrahan)
9. Eanna Burke (St. Thomas)
10. Padraic Brehony (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
11. Shane Moloney (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
12. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)
13. Darragh Dolan (Cappataggle)
14. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommie Larkins)
Subs: Brian Molloy for D Dolan (23), Eamon Brannigan for C Diviney (47), Jack Carr for Flynn (56)
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Offaly).
