Clinical Wexford outclass NUIG
Inspired from the back by Liam Ryan, Lee Chin and Diarmuid O’Keeffe, and with Ian Byrne, Paul Morris and Shane Tomkins shining in the attack, they dominated the opening half as NUIG struggled, despite the best efforts of John Hennebery and Cormac Devanney.
NUIG, who had disposed of Laois the previous week, were hugely disappointing. Such was the dominance of the home side, their victory margin could have been far greater had they put away goal chances late in the game.
Playing with the breeze in the first half, the home side dominated despite falling behind to a first minute point from Niall Deasy, the only time the visitors led. Wexford soon picked off some excellent long-range points, through Ian Byrne, Shane Tomkins and Diarmuid O’Keeffe, and led 0-7 to 0-4 after 16 minutes.
Wexford then turned their dominance into goals, from a Mark Fanning free on 17 minutes and Byrne two minutes before the break, to go in with an interval lead of 2-15 to 0-4.
The Galway students failed to raise their game on the resumption, and Wexford seemed even more energised as they increased their lead through Byrne’s 39th minute pointed free. Gary Moore then extended his side’s lead to 17 points, 2-17 to 0-5.
Wexford emptied their bench in the closing stages but it did not affect their flow of attacks and they struck for goals from Kevin Foley after 65 minutes and Padge Doran on full time to ease into the semi-final.
Scorers for Wexford: I Byrne (1-5, 0-3 frees), P Doran, K Foley (1-1 each), M Fanning (1-0 free), S Tomkins, G Moore (0-3 each), D O’Keeffe, P Morris, B Jordan (0-2 each), E Martin, R Clarke (0-1 each).
Scorers for NUIG: N O’Brien (0-4, 0-2 frees), N Deasy (0-2, 0-1 free), B Lane, J Hennebery (0-1 each).
WEXFORD: M Fanning; L Ryan, K Rossiter, E Conroy; D O’Keeffe, L Chin, J Tonks; C Devitt, B Jordan; S Tomkins, P Morris, I Byrne; G Moore, P Doran, K Foley.
Subs: PJ Nolan for Byrne (41), R Clarke for Moore (48), J O’Connor for Chin (50), E Martin for Rossiter (57).
NUIG: K Flynn; E Teagle, E Fahy, D Magnier; G Joyce, J Hennebery, C Devanney; JP O’Connell, E O’Farrell; N Deasy, N O’Brien, C Hardiman; M Mullins, B Lane, G O’Donohoe.
Subs: K McMahon for Joyce (32), S Claffey for Deasy (48), G Hutchinson for Flynn (58).
Referee: G Quilty (Kilkenny).
