Wexford captain leads his team to victory

WEXFORD 3-15 SLIGO 0-13

Wexford are back to winning ways in Division 1B, after they defeated a previously unbeaten Sligo outfit at Wexford Park.

Corner forward and captain Mattie Forde ended the game with a stunning haul of 2-9 as his side threw off the shackles to race into a 2-10 to 0-6 half time lead.

Forde and Sligo’s Padraig Doohan both scored inside the first 4 minutes before Wexford opened up a 0-6 to 0-2 gap by the fifteenth minute.

Scott Doran, Forde and half back George Sutherland all pointed before former All star Eamon O’Hara joined the action on 17 minutes.

Forde struck for his goals on 23 and 28 minutes to see the home side 2-8 to 0-5 in front with Sligo striking just one point from play.

Substitute Ciaran Kennedy also saw his goal chance saved by Sligo net minder Philip Green.

Into the second half and Sligo hit back with early points from Dessie Sloyan, Adrian Marron and substitute Ciaran Quinn, and Marron again on 48 minutes to bring the visitors to within two goals at 0-10 to 2-10.

But Paddy Colfer’s goal on 52 minutes put an end to their comeback hopes and they diminished when Wexford ‘keeper John Cooper saved a certain goal from John McPartland on the hour mark.

“It was great to put on such a stunning show in front of our home crowd,” exclaimed Forde at the end, “it was a total team display and I’m just lucky that I was in the position to score when I could.”

Wexford’s win leaves them fourth in the table.