O hAilpin return inspires Rebels

Wexford 0-07 Cork 0-19

2005 All-Ireland-winning captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín made his first appearance of the season as Cork picked up a morale-boosting NHL Division 1A win at Wexford Park today.

In the re-fixed tie, Ó hAilpín lined out at midfield having recovered from a hamstring injury, and wasted little time in proving his worth, ferrying back to cover the half back line whenever called upon.

The Rebels’ second win of the league campaign sees them lying third ahead of next weekend’s final round clash with leaders Clare.

Seamus Murphy’s Wexford side are now facing a relegation battle with just Sunday’s trip to basement side Down to follow.

While Ó hAilpín’s return commanded much attention, Ballyhea forward Neil Ronan, another late call-up, put in the performance of the afternoon as he struck ten points for Cork, including five from play.

Ronan launched over three early points on three, five and nine minutes to put the visitors three points in front without reply.

Wexford were slow out of the blocks with Dessie Mythen hitting their sixth wide in the eleventh minute.

Murphy’s charges were playing in fits and starts, but when they did get going, they were suddenly level at three points apiece. Rory Jacob, Mythen and Eoin Quigley, with a rocket of a shot, buoyed the home side.

Brian Corcoran, who ended up 0-04, replied for Cork on the half-hour.

Ronan slammed then over his fourth and fifth points of the afternoon before Jacob played in Darren Stamp for an injury-time score that reduced the visitors’ lead to 0-06 to 0-04.

Cork were never really troubled after the restart when they enjoyed a wind advantage.

Wexford did try to peg them back with centre half back Declan Ruth landing two excellent ‘65s. Midfielder Diarmuid Lyng also sailed over a peach of a point, but they proved to be the hosts’ only scores of the entire second period.

Leading 0-13 to 0-07, Cork added six more points to close out the win, the pick of which was a brilliant 90-yard effort from wing back Ronan Curran.