Ryan’s joy as Model performance leaves Down in mourning
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.
In real terms, Down were chasing the game from the time Ciaran Lyng got the game’s first goal — what Carr referred to as “a calamity” — in the 16th minute when a ball hit in by man-of-the-match Brendan Doyle came back off a defender. And when a bigger defensive mistake led to PJ Banville taking advantage of a high, angled shot from Matty Forde to put the ball in the net a second time eight minutes later, Down had a real struggle on their hands. And it was one which subsequent events demonstrated that they were not up to overcoming.
A frustrated Carr didn’t mince his words when he spoke to the media afterwards — describing as “atrocious” their ball handling and their ball control. “We just couldn’t do anything right. That’s what you get when you don’t do the basics,” he commented.
Actually it was ironic that Carr bemoaned the fact that his team failed to do themselves justice while Ryan (undoubtedly manager of the year) was celebrating the achievement of his players in redeeming their reputation after the disaster that was the Leinster final, with team captain Colm Morris again providing great leadership.
Intriguingly, in separate interviews — hardly minutes apart and almost in the same position under the Cusack Stand — the two managers accentuated the point, Carr first. “You can be disappointed in two manners — you can be disappointed with the result and disappointed with the performance. Unfortunately we’re more disappointed with the performance,’’ he said.
Ryan was as relieved as he was pleased that his team proved the doubters wrong, that they had been equal to the pressure which emanated from an expectation in some quarters that “they would fall flat on their face”. “They are a very motivated bunch. They were determined to dig themselves out of the hole that they got themselves into.
“While winning the game was important, it was more so about putting in a positive performance,” he said, adding: “The scars are gone.”
Against the background of Down accumulating seven goals in the previous two rounds of the qualifier series and, in particular, Benny Coulter getting 4-6 in their five championship games played, it was significant that he waited for over 20 minutes for his first touch of the ball. Overall, he was to be limited to a point from play in each half, with Philip Wallace doing an excellent marking job (and the strong supporting role of Brian Malone complementing his efforts).
“Coming into the game, he was the one we were concerned about, as well as John Clarke, who scores a lot,’’ added Ryan. “The threat from Benny was dealt with very well by Philip, whose performances in some of the games weren’t as good as he would like. Today he was outstanding.
“In the Dublin game we had no protection for our full-back line at all. Midfield, half backs, half forwards didn’t work hard enough and the ball was able to come in at will. Thankfully today it didn’t happen.”
Down weren’t as well prepared to cope with Wexford’s stronger challenge. Centre-back Aidan Carr accounted for half of their total from frees — several of them superbly kicked — while team captain Dan Gordon (given a late reprieve after having been red-carded against Laois) was strangely subdued. Add in a full-back trio that was jittery under the dropping ball and not able to deal with the threat posed by Matty Forde, along with continuing problems in attack and it was clear to see that, for a county with such a proud tradition in the championship, they were ill-equipped to mount a serious challenge.
Wexford led 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time and while Ciaran Lyng was unfortunate not to get a third goal — minutes after the break, when he lost his footing as he was lining up to shoot — it didn’t unduly bother them. There were hints of a late Down rally, but no more than that. On the day, they weren’t in Wexford’s class.
Scorers for Wexford: M. Forde 0-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45); C. Lyng (0-1 free) and P.J. Banville 1-1 each; R. Barry, P. Colfer, R. Stafford and B. Byrne 0-1 each.
Scorers for Down: A. Carr 0-6 frees; A. Rogers and B. Coulter 0-2 each; D. Rooney and S. Kearney 0-1 each.
WEXFORD: A. Masterson; B. Malone, P. Wallace, N. Murphy; A. Morrissey, D. Murphy, C. Morris (capt.); P. Colfer, B. Doyle; R. Barry, E. Bradley, A. Flynn; C. Lyng, P.J. Banville, M. Forde. Subs: C. Byrne for Flynn (53rd minute); C. Deely for Colfer and S. Roche for Banville (65th); R. Stafford for Bradley (67th); G. Murphy for Morrissey (69th).
DOWN: B. McVeigh; L. Howard, P. Turley, C. Murney; P. Murphy, A. Carr, K. McGuigan; D. Gordon (capt.), A. Rodgers; J. Fegan, K. McKernan, D. Hughes; R. Murtagh, J. Clarke, B. Coulter. Subs: R. Sexton for Fegan, D. Rooney for McGuigan and J. McAreavey for Murney (second half); J. McGovern for Murtagh (56th); S. Kearney for McKernan.
Referee: M. Duffy (Sligo).
* Attendance: 27,834.
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