Jacob master class sets up deserved Wexford win
Jacob’s showing was but one of many pleasing features from the Wexford perspective, something manager Seamas Murphy acknowledged afterward.
“We considered ourselves unlucky not to have taken something away from our game against Waterford last week. Today we hurled with great fire and commitment and we’re delighted to get league points on the board.”
Clare never got out of traps, and having trailed from the fifth minute to a Rory Jacob point never once enjoyed the lead. However, they did threaten briefly to get back into contention with a short-lived second-half revival.
Goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald said: “For a league game Wexford’s performance was very intense, they were all fired up for it, probably motivated by the defeats we had inflicted on them in the last few years. They were very sharp, very aggressive, and fought hard for their win. They deserved it and good luck to them.”
The visitors were hampered by the absence of several regulars. There was no Sean McMahon or Brian Lohan to shore up a defence which Jacob repeatedly tormented, there was no Colin Lynch in the middle of the field, and for the greater part of the game no Niall Gilligan in an attack up against a home defence marshalled by Diarmuid Lyng, Keith Rossiter, Malachy Travers, and David O’Connor.
With a wind advantage in the first half, Wexford enjoyed almost total possession with Jacob revelling in the liberal supply of ball to the attack.
His well-struck point on five minutes was but a foretaste of what was to come as he began a miserable day for Frank Lohan, a last minute replacement for brother Brian.
Sixty seconds later Jacob set up MJ Furlong for a goal and Wexford began to hit their stride. Clare’s opening score came on eight minutes from Barry Nugent - their only one from play in the entire half.
With Jacob continuing to find the range both from play and placed balls the Wexford lead was extended to eight points, 1-8 to 0-3, at the interval.
It was still far from an unassailable lead however, given the strength of the breeze, and Clare wasted no time in fighting back. Although Tony Carmody’s point was neutralised by one from Eoin Quigley, the Banner suggested they would make a real game of it when Pat Donnellan, Brian O’Connell, and Carmody (free) all found the range inside 90 seconds.
And things got even better for them when first Davy Fitzgerald denied Tomas Mahon with a blinding save on 49 minutes and then substitute Niall Gilligan (within seconds of his introduction) and Fergal Lynch slotted over points to slash the deficit to a goal, 1-9 to 0-9, with 14 minutes remaining.
But within another two minutes the Clare challenge had ended. First Wexford substitute Des Mythen pointed in some style and a minute later Jacob brilliantly drilled the ball past Fitzgerald from 15 metres after Mahon provided the inch perfect pass.
There was no way back for Clare now with Jacob continuing to slot over the points, and when midfielder Brian O’Connell poorly hit his delivery when unmarked 20 metres from goal Fitzhenry had no difficulty in dispatching the ball to safety. It was a moment that summed up Clare’s dismal day.
: Wexford: M. Jacob (1-8, 0-3 frees, 0-1 “65’); M. J. Furlong (1- 0); E.Quigley (0-2); P.J.Nolan, D. Mythen, M. Jacob (0-1) each. Clare: T.Carmody (0-4, frees); P. Donnellan (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 “65’); N. Gilligan (0-2); B. Nugent, B. O’Connell, F. Lynch (0-1) each.
: D. Fitzhenry; M. Travers, D. Ryan, D. O’Connor; C.Kenny, K. Rossiter, D.Lyng; D.Stamp, T.Mahon; P. J. Nolan, E.Quigley, M. Jacob; M. Jordan, R. Jacob, M. J.Furlong.
: D. Mythen for Jordan (52 mins); S. O’Neill for Furlong (70 mins).
: D. Fitzgerald; T. Holland, F. Lohan, C. Harrison; P.Donnellan, C. Forde, G. Quinn; B. O’Connell, P. Vaughan; J. Clancy, T. Carmody, D. McMahon; B. Nugent, T. Griffin, F. Lynch.
: N. Gilligan for Nugent (45 mins); D. O’Connell for Clancy(45 mins); F. Flynn for Vaughan(68 mins).
: J McDonnell, (Tipperary).
