Ryan’s joy as Model performance leaves Down in mourning

REGAINING focus! That’s the priority for proud Wexford manager Jason Ryan, ahead of their All-Ireland football championship quarter-final against Armagh, after they bounced back in style in Croke Park on Saturday from the 23 points hammering they got from Dublin in the Leinster decider.

However. Nothing as clear-cut for beleaguered boss Ross Carr or Down County Board officials after what was one of the poorest displays from a Down team in living memory.

Wexford’s outstanding achievement in going further than any team since the 1945 semi-final appearance against Cavan contrasted sharply with a disjointed display from an opposition which was highly susceptible to error in defence and almost powerless in an attack which ran in 5-19 against Offaly. And, that was due in large measure to the success of Wexford’s strategy in using a second defender to severely limit the threat of top forward Benny Coulter.