Galway storm back from 13 points down to beat Wexford

Galway will play Dublin in the Leinster SHC final

Wexford took a 3-9 to 0-5 lead in the first half but Galway fought back to claim the win. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Leinster SHC: Wexford 3-20 Galway 2-31

WEXFORD, 13 points clear inside the opening 25 minutes, saw their defiance dismantled as Galway turned on the style for the remainder of the game storming to an eventual dramatic eight-point victory in this final round game in the Leinster SHC at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

For Keith Rossiter in his final game in charge, although he may seek a further spell in charge, the game will make for uncomfortable review. Already out of the championship race, Wexford were playing for pride in the jersey, played their best hurling of the championship during that opening spell, storming into a 3-9 to 0-5 lead inside that first 25 minutes, the goals coming through Jack O'Connor, Lee Chin (pen) and Cillian Byrne.

Wexford looked like conjuring up what would have been a shock victory, such was their control through this spell, but one sensed that Galway despite their precarious position, showed no evidence of panic, as they gradually played their way back into the game, going on to take total control of the second period.

Galway, anxious to put their Dublin defeat behind them saw Jason Rabbitte point them in front inside 30 seconds, but the intensity expected from the visitors failed to materialise as Wexford, for a side out of the title race, stormed into the game, with a Lee Chin free levelling the sides inside 60 seconds. 

Tom Monaghan and Kevin Foley exchanged points, but Wexford did not show any difficulty with dealing with the occasion as they hurled with passion and fluency moving 0-7 to 0-2 clear, before Conor Hearne stormed through the centre, laying off to Jack O'Connor who found the net from close range and this after just fifteen minutes.

Galway were finding it real difficult to bring a real flow to their game, and were rocked further back on their heels when in a five-minute spell they rocked the visitors with two goals.

The first arrived on 17 minutes, when Cillian Byrne was brought down by Joshua Ryan, black carded for his effort, with Lee Chin crashing home the penalty, while five minutes later it was Chin who picked out Cillian Byrne, who moved through the defence to find the net, giving his side a 3-9 to 0-5 lead.

With Micheál Donohoe demanding a response from the sideline, Galway finished the half with some fine points from Evan Niland, Jason Rabbitte and Ronan Glennon but they still trailed 3-12 to 0-15 at the interval.

Galway introduced Conor Cooney at the interval, and one could see this would bring real impact to their second half challenge, with Jason Rabbitte and Cooney (pen) finding the net immediately putting the home side under pressure, with the home challenge wilting under the intense heat and Galway storm.

During the early second half exchanges, Jason Rabbitte and free-taker Conor Cooney were particularly prominent, as Tiernan Killeen, Monaghan, Gavin Lee and Ronan Glennon rallied their side.

The second half surge was so intense that the Wexford challenge began to fade, with Galway looking much fitter and more intense and they quickly added points through Cooney (two frees), and Darragh Neary hauled them back into contention, as just four points separated the sides after forty minutes, 3-13 to 0-18.

Wexford did manage to set up some counter attacks and some desperate defending saw them deny Chin a goal having been set up by Conor Hearne, while at the opposite end Wexford keeper Mark Fanning pushed a Monaghan shot over the bar, 3-14 to 0-20.

Galway were a rejuvenated side eventually getting back level when Jason Rabbitte goaled after good Conor Whelan play, as Cooney followed with three successive points leaving his side leading 2-27 to 3-17.

Wexford keeper Mark Fanning was black carded for a foul on sub Brian Concannon denying the attacker a goal, but Cooney shook the net from the resulting penalty, as Galway took total control, and it was sub John Fleming who closed out the scoring with a fine point.

Galway will now play Dublin in the provincial final, chasing their first title since 2018 when seeking revenge against the Dubs, in what will also be their fourth provincial final in five years.

Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin (1-6, 4f, 1-0 pen), Cillian Byrne (1-1), J O'Connor (1-1), K Foley (0-3), Ross Banville (0-2), S Martin (0-1), S Donohoe (0-1), C Hearne (0-1), Cian Byrne (0-1), C Foley (0-1), J Byrne (0-1), J Redmond (0-1).

Scorers for Galway: C Cooney (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-7 frees), T Monaghan (0-6), E Niland (0-5 frees), J Rabbitte (1-2), C Whelan (0-3), T Killeen (0-2), D Burke (0-1 free), R Glennon (0-1), G Lee (0-1), D Neary (0-1), J Fleming (0-1).

WEXFORD: M Fanning; S Martin, S Donohoe, R Lawlor; D Carley, C Molloy, N Murphy; D O'Leary, C Hearne; Cillian Byrne, Ross Banville, K Foley, Cian Byrne, Lee Chin, J O'Connor.

Subs: C Foley for Lawlor (29), D Kehoe for Martin (57), J Byrne for Banville (60), J Redmond for O'Connor (62), L Ryan for O'Leary (67).

GALWAY: D Fahy; D Burke, C Trayers, J Ryan; D Morrissey, P Mannion, R Glennon; C Daniels, G Lee, C Whelan, T Killeen, D Neary; T Monaghan, J Rabbitte, E Niland.

Subs: K Hanrahan for Burke (7-9), C Cooney for Niland (35), Hanrahan for Ryan (50), J Fleming for Killeen (52), C Fahy for Glennon (61), B Concannon for Lee (67).

Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).