Cork minor hurlers fall short against Wexford

Wexford 2-16 Cork 1-10

THE Cork minor hurlers’ campaign came to a disappointing end at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday as they fell to Wexford.

A third-placed finish in Munster brought Cork to the Electric Ireland All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals but, after Galway’s win over Waterford in the opening game, this match also went the way of the Leinster representatives.

While the opening 20 minutes were evenly contested, once Wexford hit the front with a goal from Adam O’Connell Byrne, they began to assume a tighter grip on proceedings. They led by six points at half-time and the lead was never less than six in the second period.

The goal was a well-worked move, with Cathal Sinnott linking with the outstanding Seán O’Brien, who in turn fed O’Connell Byrne and, though goalkeeper Adam Lee got a touch on his shot, he couldn’t stop the ball crossing the line.

That made it 1-4 to 0-4 and, while Cork had an immediate reply with a Mark O’Brien pointed free, Wexford – beginning to dominate midfield – had the next four points. Three of them came from the stick of Seán O’Brien, while Colin Carley got his second of the game.

Cork did end an eight-minute spell without a point as Mark O’Brien’s quick free allowed Michael Tadhg Brosnan to point in injury time but another from Seán O’Brien sent Wexford in with a six-point lead at the half, 1-9 to 0-6.

At the interval, Cork brought on Colm Garde and Dean Cosgrave but Wexford almost added another goal on the resumption, with Carley’s rampaging run ending with a shot into the side-netting.

Even without the green flag, they were able to ease into a nine-point lead as two more Seán O’Brien frees were followed by a point from O’Connell Byrne. Mark O’Brien’s fourth of the day brought Cork closer but, at the other end, they needed a great hook by captain Liam Kelleher to deny Carley a goal.

When John Murphy set up Mark O’Brien for his fifth point and sub Leo Hennessy scored, the deficit was back to six points and the Cork crowd began to find their voice, but it was as close as they came.

Another good Kelleher block prevented Seán O’Brien from a strike at goal but Cork’s hopes of finding the net were receding too. Having pointed a free on 47, Mark O’Brien opted to go for goal a minute later but goalkeeper Paddy Quigley saved while sub Peter Barrett shot wide with a half-chance when a Hennessy delivery broke. Brosnan also unfortunate, his shot following a good run blocked by Ian Reilly.

Having weathered the storm, Wexford pushed on in the closing stages. Sub Rhys Wickham almost goaled with his first touch, Adam Lee making a great save to divert the ball over the bar, but they did have another goal as Seán O’Brien garlanded his fine display.

Cork had a consolation strike at the death, sub Joe Twohig reacting to prod the ball home after Barrett’s shot was deflected onto the bar, but it was the last action.

Scorers for Wexford: S O’Brien 1-9 (0-5 f), A O’Connell Byrne 1-2, C Carley 0-3, J Nolan, R Wickham 0-1.

Cork: M O’Brien 0-6 (0-4 f), J Twohig 1-0, MT Brosnan, A Lee (Cloyne), L Hennessy, O O’Connell 0-1 each.

WEXFORD: P Quigley; B Harpur, E Hughes, I Reilly; O Moore, R Donohoe, C Sinnott; J Nolan, K O’Mahony; C Fanning, J Dunne, C Carley; D Rossiter, A O’Connell Byrne, S O’Brien.

Subs: J Kennedy for Rossiter (36), S Hylan for O’Connell Byrne (48), P Keavey for Moore (52)., R Wickham for Fanning (58), P Wickham for Carley (60).

CORK: A Lee (Carrigtwohill); CD O’Connor (Millstreet), D Fleming (Mallow), L Kelleher (Douglas); K Beechinor (Éire Óg), C Noonan (Kanturk), J Murphy (Mallow); O O’Connell (Carrigaline), J Hegarty (Ballinora); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), M O’Brien (Douglas), L Murphy (Barryroe); A Lee (Cloyne), E O’Shea (Ballinhassig), J O’Brien (Douglas).

Subs: C Garde (Lisgoold) for Hegarty, D Cosgrave (Courcey Rovers) for O’Shea (both half-time), L Hennessy (Ballymartle) for Murphy (40), P Barrett (Midleton) for A Lee (Cloyne) (42), J Twohig (Valley Rovers) for Brosnan (56).

Referee: N Malone (Clare).