Davy Fitzgerald sidesteps mind games before Clare reunion after Wexford win
Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald will take aim at his native county next weekend, but demanded more from his players after they failed to impress against Westmeath in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
Defeat for the hosts was enough to see Michael Ryan call time on his stint with Westmeath, but Wexford have lofty ambitions of a first All-Ireland semi-final since 2007.
However Fitzgerald, who managed Clare to an All-Ireland final victory in 2013, as well as winning it twice as a player, remained coy.
"I don’t know, I’m not even thinking about next week, it’s a tricky one for me so less I say about Clare the better,” said Fitzgerald.
It’s too close to my heart and I know them well. I’ll be accused of playing this game or that so I won’t say anything. We’ll go out and give it our best. Let’s see what happens, if we don’t play better than we did, we won’t be doing anything.
Wexford were 1-12 to 0-8 ahead at half-time in the blistering heat. David Dunne came in as a late replacement for Rory O’Connor and scored the first-half goal. Conor McDonald’s second killed the game.
But Wexford didn’t dominate entirely and Allan Devine, who finished with eight points, scored the first two points. Wexford drew level through Lee Chin in the sixth minute and led all the way after Paul Morris pointed them in front moments later.
But Westmeath were resolute one week on from their Joe McDonagh Cup final defeat to Carlow. They closed out the half with three points in a row from Devine, Aonghus Clarke and Cormac Boyle.
But Dunne had already found the net when he was set up by the outstanding Aidan Nolan in the 27th minute. Jack O’Connor rounded off the first half scoring and Wexford were seven clear.
Westmeath needed a goal, but when Ciarán Doyle, Devine, and Clarke scored, they only trailed by 1-13 to 0-11 in the 44th minute. However Wexford substitute Liam Óg McGovern provided the assist for McDonald to finish two minutes later.
“We did some great things, there were a few phases of play that were deadly but we did what we had to do. There’s lots of room for improvement but next week is a new week,” said Fitzgerald.
“It was comfortable enough, didn’t think we were under pressure at any stage and we played well. We won by 11 points, the goalie had two unreal saves in the first half and a victory’s a victory.”
For Westmeath, they have to build again and Ryan’s departure, four years into his reign, is a big blow. “My journey is at an end but we’ve had some fantastic days and this team will go on from strength to strength,” said Ryan.
“Who knows what’ll happen next time, I’ve no idea but I don’t believe in looking too far forward, whatever will be will be. I’ve enjoyed it so far, I might have something to offer going forward but we’ll see.
“For the moment I’ll just chill out, relax, and be thankful to have worked with such a decent bunch of honest players that are proud to wear the Westmeath jersey.”
Scorers for Wexford:
L Chin (0-7, 6 frees, 1 65); D Dunne, C McDonald (1-1 each); A Nolan (0-4); H Kehoe (0-2); P Morris, J O’Connor, D O’Keeffe, S Murphy, L Ryan, S Tomkins (0-1 each)
Scorers for Westmeath:
A Devine (0-8, 6 frees); A Clarke, E Price (0-2 each); D McNicholas, C Boyle, C Doyle, J Boyle (0-1 each)
WEXFORD:
M Fanning; D Reck, L Ryan, S Donohoe; P Foley, M O’Hanlon, D O’Keeffe; K Foley, S Murphy; L Chin, A Nolan, J O’Connor; P Morris, D Dunne, C McDonald
Subs:
L Óg McGovern for Morris (43), W Devereux for O’Keeffe (54), H Kehoe for O’Connor (63), S Tomkins for O’Connor (63), É Martin for Reck (69)
WESTMEATH:
P Carroll; C Shaw, T Doyle, J Gilligan; S Clavin, P Greville, D McNicholas; E Price, A Clarke; R Greville, C Doyle, C Boyle; N O’Brien, N Mitchell, A Devine
Subs:
J Boyle for McNicholas (44), L Varley for Boyle (54), D Clinton for Doyle (58), A Craig for Shaw (69)
Referee:
Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).
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