Galway win is tainted by cards

Wexford 1-7 Galway 0-15

Unfortunately this game will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. In a highly competitive contest, Cork referee Michael Collins issued eight yellow cards four to each side and Galway finished the game with 13 players having used up their quota of substitutes.

Understandably Wexford coach Pat Roe wasn't a happy man at the final whistle, having lost the services of two midfielders Diarmuid Kinsella and Nicky Lambert and ace forward Mattie Forde.

"There wasn't a dirty stroke in the game which makes the sendings off all the more baffling," he said.

"I asked the referee at half time for a reason why he sent Diarmuid Kinsella off, and he completely ignored me."

Roe said diplomatically that he was unhappy with the referee's performance.

"The loss of the two midfielders along with Forde didn't help our cause one bit, but when we had them, we didn't play as well as we can. Overall it was a very poor performance and one we'll have to put behind us for next week's crunch game against Laois.

The home side won the toss and elected to play with the elements and almost had a goal after 20 seconds, when John Hudson just failed to get a touch to Mattie Forde's superb long pass.

From that early scare Galway thundered into the game particularly at midfield where the towering Joe Bergin gave them a firm grip, and Padraig Joyce showing the way with two points.

Wexford grabbed a goal in the 11th minute following a careless free by Galway full back Kieran Fitzgerald. Redmond Barry put John Hudson through and the big full-forward made no mistake. Paul Clancy tied the game for the first time seconds later with a point before the home side won a penalty.

Unfortunately their usual penalty taker John Hudson was injured and Mattie Forde blazed the shot over.

For the next five minutes Forde tormented the Galway defence, scoring three points, before Wexford lost midfielder Diarmuid Kinsella for a yellow card.

Galway, 15 minutes without a score, finally got a point back through Padraig Joyce and he added another soon after before the referee drew the wrath of the 4,722 attendance by issuing a yellow card to Wexford's Nicky Lambert just before the break.

Galway scored five points without reply after the break, Joyce claiming three, and Wexford's cause wasn't helped when Mattie Forde was yellow-carded. Galway didn't escape either, replacing Paul Clancy for a similar offences.

With five minutes to go Galway were down to 14 players after using up the full complement of subs, but by then Wexford had ran out of steam and Padraig Joyce knocked over three unanswered points to give his side a deserved victory.

Galway manager Peter Forde agreed some of the yellow cards were totally unwarranted.

"We deserved our victory. Our defence was superb and frustrated Wexford at every opportunity, and it was there the game was won really," he said.

"You would have to have a certain amount of sympathy for referee. They are working to instructions and under the experimental rules he would have been justified in sending off a couple of more players.

"It wasn't a dirty match. There were some hard knocks given but that's what supporters come to see. Overall I'm pleased to have come this far and got the win."

Scorers Galway: P. Joyce 0-10 (0-6 frees); P. Clancy 0-3; K. Comer, J. Bergin 0-1 each.

Wexford: M. Forde 0-5 (0-2 frees); J. Hudson 1-0; R. Barry 0-2 (frees).

WEXFORD: J. Cooper; C. Morris, P. Wallace, N. Murphy; G. Sunderland, D. Murphy, S. Cullen; D. Kinsella, N. Lambert; R. Barry, P. Colfer, J. Hegarty; D. Deely, J. Hudson, M. Forde. Subs: B. Doyle for Kinsella (yellow carded); PJ Banville for Lambert (yellow carded); K. Krennedy for Forde (yellow carded); R. Mageean for Colfer (yellow carded); J. Lawlor for Deely; D. Browne for Hudson.

GALWAY: B. Donoghue; A. Burke, K. Fitzgerald, V. Feeney; D. Meehan, D. Burke, M. Comer; N. Coleman, J. Bergin; D. Savage, P. Clancy, J. Devane; M. Meehan, P. Joyce, S. Armstrong. Subs. C. Monaghan for Feeney; K. Comer for Devane; N. Meehan for P. Clancy (yellow carded); M. Clancy for Savage (yellow carded); S. Walsh for Armstrong; M. Colleran for Coleman; M. Comer and D. Burke (yellow carded), no replacements as six subs already used.

Referee: M. Collins (Cork).