Kerry 0-18
Wexford 3-30
Paul Brennan reports at Austin Stack Park
THREE SECOND-HALF goals ensured Wexford safe passage to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals proper, where they will play Clare next weekend, as they overcame a gutsy but tired Kerry at Austin Stack Park this afternoon.
The Slaneysiders were already on their way to being one of the last six left in the Liam MacCarthy Cup when they led 0-24 to 0-13 at the three-quarter mark, but goals from Conor McDonald, Rory O’Connor and Conor Hearne put a Wexford gloss on the scoreline that was possibly a little unfair on Kerry.
After shipping five goals to Antrim in last week’s Joe McDonagh Cup final – three in the first half alone – it says much for the tenacity of the Kerry defence on this occasion that McDonald’s fizzing goal in the 54th minute was their first meaningful strike at Louis Dee’s goal.
That score put the visitors 1-24 to 0-13 ahead, and it was in that third quarter that they put this game well beyond the Kingdom, who clearly and understandably tired after their Croke Park exertions last week.
The first half started ominously for Kerry with Wexford putting up the first five scores of the game – all inside the first 10 minutes – with four from Lee Chin, playing inside at full forward.
The best Kerry could muster in that period was a wide from Podge Boyle, and the early sense was that Kerry could take a real beating here before the last of the 3,000-strong crowd had settled into their seats.
This Kerry team is nothing if not gutsy, though, and they settled into to enjoy their best period of the game over the next 10 minutes. The Kingdom’s first score came from a Podge Boyle free after 13 minutes, and though Chin hit back immediately with his second score from play, there was a composure and intent to Kerry’s play now, with their defence particularly tigerish against the Leinster men.
Excellent scores from Sean Weir and nominal full back Eoin Ross – either side of a Rory O’Connor score – made it 0-7 to 0-3 by the 16th minute, before Boyle arrowed over three frees in as many minutes to make it 0-7 to 0-6 to Wexford after 20 minutes.
It was heroic stuff from Kerry, but it was also as close as they would get to the Leinster men, who won the next 20 minutes by nine points to two.
Chin punished a defensive over-carry with a tap over free, full back Liam Ryan came forward for an impressive score, and Wexford began to open their shoulders with more confidence and faster hurling.
Though he hadn’t been particularly impressive, Kerry were dealt a big setback when Shane Conway had to leave injured on the half-hour mark, and even though Fionán Mackessy arrested the scoring rot for Kerry with a stand-out score, Wexford took an ever so slightly flattering 0-16 to 0-8 lead to the interval.
The third quarter started with points from Rory O’Connor and Chin (2). Kerry hit back with four points in the next 10 minutes – the pick of them a sideline cut from Eoin Ross – but Wexford were winding up for a big finish.
The first goal arrived via McDonald before O’Connor’s 64th minute major made it 2-27 to 0-15 and Hearne then tapped in Mikie Dwyer’s assist minutes later, against the 14 men of Kerry who had Micheal Leane sent off late for what seemed a late strike.
Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle 0-7 (7f), J Conway 0-5 (3f, 1 ’65’), E Ross 0-3 (1 s/l), S Weir 0-1, F Mackessy 0-1, P O’Connor 0-1
Scorers for Wexford: L Chin 0-14 (10f, 1 ‘65’), R O’Connor 1-4, C McDonald 1-3, C Hearne 1-0, L Og McGovern 0-2, O Foley 0-2, L Ryan 0-1, C Devitt 0-1, M O’Hanlon 0-1, D Reck 0-1, M Dwyer 0-1
Kerry
1. Louis Dee
2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Eoin Ross, 4. Eric Leen
5. Sean Weir, 6. Fionán Mackessy, 7. Mikey Boyle
8. Michael Leane, 9. Podge Boyle
10. Colin Walsh, 11. Colum Harty, 12. Paudie O’Connor
13. Gavin Dooley, 14. Jordan Conway, 15. Shane Conway
Subs: Niall Mulcahy for S Conway (inj, 32), Maurice O’Connor for C Walsh (44), Brian Lonergan for P Boyle (59), Morgan Madden for E Leen (63), Fionan O’Sullivan for C Harty (64)
Wexford
1. Mark Fannin
2. Simon Donohue, 3. Liam Ryan, 4. Conor Devitt
5. Matthew O’Hanlon, 6. Damien Reck, 7. Paudie Foley
18. Cathal Dunbar, 9. Lee Chin
10. Jack O’Connor, 11. Kevin Foley, 12. Lian Óg McGovern
13. Oisín Foley, 14. Conor McDonald, 15. Rory O’Connor
Subs: Mikie Dwyer for C Dunbar (inj, 29), Charlie McGuckin for J O’Connor (58), Conor Hearne for K Foley (59), Shane Reck for C Devitt (62), Connal Flood for L Chin (69).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
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Methinks, not treated the best by Potter.
From an Irish perspective first team football is crucial for Duffy. With Ben White being kept at Brighton, seen as they has turned down a 30 million bid you’d think he’ll be above Duffy in the pecking order.
I think the best move for Duffy now to get regular games might be a loan move to Celtic. I wouldnt like to see him in the Scottish league for more than one season though which is why i think a loan move is best.
Next summer then there might be better options for a permanent move.
@Gareth Ward: He’s too good to be playing in the Scottish league in my opinion. Definitely good enough to be playing for some premier league side
@Miguel Sanchez: Agreed but there doesn’t seem to be many decent interested teams in the premier league though
@Gareth Ward: doesn’t have to be a top prem team, even playing every week for one of the new boys would be better prep for Ireland games than playing for Celtic (particularly now they won’t be in champions league).
I’d say/hope he is holding out for an approach from prem knowing Celtic will snap the hand off him if he does go back to them.
(Not trying to have a pop at Celtic here, looking purely at what’s best for Ireland)
@Gareth Ward: West brom would suit
@Gareth Ward: either West Brom or an improving West Ham team would be a good move for him. I agree with the previous poster and he is far too good to play for Celtic. Personally I think he is a better defender than either Dunk or Webster and offers a threat from set pieces. He’s just coming into his prime now. He should definitely be able to stay in the premiership
@Ger: West ham look fairly solid at center back with ogbonna and diop. So its hard to see him breaking in there
@Ger: Well does Graham what ever his name is value your opinion?
Obviously not as he wants to off load Shane Duffy.
So realistically a loan season with Celtic could be good for all parties.
Duffy is a Celtic supporter and reports suggest he wants this loan move.
Shore up a porous Celtic defence by doing the business and who knows like Virgil Van Dijk before him becomes more than a sought after defender again
Meanwhile Brighton will be happy to sell if they get relegated – which is a distinct possibility.
QED.
I hope he join Celtic on loan so that he has a chance to win silverware especially aiming for the 10 in a row SPL titles!
@Mícheál Moran: Would the equivalent of a League One title satisfy a man with almost 100 premier league appearances? He has to be looking at staying in the top league or at the very least a decent championship team. He may as well move back to the Brandywell as traipse up to Glasgow.
@M:
Ah I know but if a Premiership club don’t snap him soon before the transfer window close then he should go to the SPL.
Crystal Palace should snap him up, mad he can’t get a game
Sometimes in football, you’re face does not fit with the manager, then it’s time to go. Duffy is too good not to be playing regularly
He’s a premier league centre half, to good for the championship ,one of the best in the air in the league , only 28 ,good age for a CB very surprised a top 6 club have not came in
Celtic really do need a few signings