February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Check it again, because it’s not a misprint, and just for good measure, this extraordinary National Football League Div. 1B match on Sunday took place in Tuam, the heartland of the game in Galway.
A Wexford win over Galway wouldn’t shift the world off its axis, especially given that that the Connacht county were missing several components through injury, but the margin of victory left manager John O’Mahony in a state of shock. “It’s the worst performance under our management,” was his numbed analysis. “It was the manner of the loss. It was really painful.”
Wexford, now in second place in the division behind leaders Limerick and with an opportunity to qualify for the semifinals, know there’s much more serious business to attend to later in the season. But this was a still a red-letter day for a county more attuned to celebrating hurling success.
And while Galway were a massive disappointment, it took a superb scoring display by the winners’ captain, Mattie Forde, to create the 17-point gap between the teams. Forde finished with a brilliant 4-5, a stunning tally that included a first-half hat trick between the 26th and the 29th minutes.
Ahead by 3-7 to 0-3 at the interval, Wexford were no doubt anticipating a Galway backlash, but there was little or no response from a muted home side and further goals from David Fogarty and Forde again extended the advantage.
“I mean Galway aren’t as bad as they looked, and we’re not as good as we looked,” said a remarkably modest Wexford manager, Pat Roe.
Privately, you got the feeling he was a little more pleased than he was letting on.
LIMERICK 0-10, SLIGO 1-7
Limerick remain on course for the knockout stages following their draw with Sligo at Markievicz Park. A point clear of Wexford, they missed the chance to open up a wider gap when Kieran Quinn saved the day for Sligo with an injury-time goal.
ARMAGH 2-7, LIMERICK 2-7
Armagh are by no means out of contention and with just one game remaining they face a final game on Sunday against leaders Limerick with the winners hoping to secure a place in the last four. The Ulster county’s draw with Meath in Navan was a fair result with both teams serving up a contest of championship like intensity.
Surprisingly, Armagh scored their two goals through Martin O’Rourke and Diarmaid Marsden when playing into the strong wind, and Meath then emulated their opponents in the second half with goals from Charles McCarthy and Joe Sheridan.
LAOIS 1-11, CAVAN 1-8
Laois won the battle of the bottom two teams when they got the better of Cavan by 1-11 to 1-8 at Breffni Park. Ross Munnelly emerged as the star performer with an impressive 1-8 for the winners, but Cavan let their opportunity slip by squandering several chances after the break.
DIV. 1A
KERRY 1-13, MAYO 0-8
Kerry made sure of a place in the semifinals with a convincing victory over Mayo at Tralee. Kerry adapted better to the atrocious conditions, with William Kirby and Eoin Brosnan forming an effective midfield partnership and they lead by five points at the break. As Seamus Moynihan began to exert his usual influence on the proceedings, substitute Colm Cooper sealed the result with the only goal of the game four minutes from the end.
DUBLIN 0-9, CORK 0-9
Even though the respective managers, Tommy Lyons and Billy Morgan, appeared happy enough with last Sunday’s draw at Parnell Park, the result means that both Dublin and Cork are now almost surely out of the running for a semi-final place.
With both teams on six points, and with Tyrone looking good to accompany Kerry into the last four, a win was paramount. However, Lyons praised his players’ battling effort after Jason Sherlock was sent off just before halftime for a second yellow-card offense. Dublin still had to rely on a last-minute point from Senan Connell to share the spoils with Cork who were short 11 players.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
OTHER GAMES
In Div. 2A, Donegal made sure of promotion with a hard fought 0-12 to 2-4 triumph over Clare at Ballybofey, while Offaly, who comfortably defeated Roscommon by 1-13 to 1-6 at Tullamore, now only need a point from their final game against Monaghan to join Donegal in the top flight.
Kildare are also promoted from Div. 2B, and go into the semifinals with Donegal following their easy 3-22 to 0-6 win over Waterford at Walsh Park. Wicklow, who beat Derry by 1-6 to 0-7 at Aughrim, and Down, 3-15 to 1-12 winners over Louth in Drogheda, are battling for the other semifinal place.