Wexford's derby delight
The Wexford Garda soccer team, winners of the Leinster inter-divisional title at the expense of former playing colleagues Wicklow.
Wednesday March 17 2010
THE LEINSTER final of the Garda inter-divisional soccer championship on Wednesday of last week at the Wexford Youths ground in Ferrycarrig, threw together former team colleagues of yesteryear with the unlikely pairing of Wexford hosting Wicklow.
With the splitting up of Garda divisions into counties, the former Wicklow/Wexford division has been divided in two, and few would have forecast such a turnaround in the first year of the new set-up.
Having outlined the historic turn of events, few would have guessed that these sides were formerly in the same division as many crunching tackles quickly displayed that sentiment was being put on the back burner and both sides fought tooth and nail to achieve victory.
With both defences very solid and backed by two excellent 'keepers, easy chances were to prove about as unlikely as good banks. It must be said that the standard of play was quite good and it was almost at the end of the opening quarter that the first real chance came the way of the hosts.
A quick break up the left side by John English, Kieran Hayes and Alan O'Shea was floated across the box where Gerry Heanue beat his marker with a header, only to see 'keeper Power pull off a topclass save at the expense of what was to prove a fruitless corner.
Seán McNamara and Stephen Allen forced good saves at the other end before a ball broke loose to the home side's Barry Brennan about 35 metres from goal, and his low, rasping shot just beat the diving Power, as it nestled in the left corner of the net. It was tit for tat in the remainder of the half as the short whistle was reached without any further change to the scoresheet.
The second-half continued in like manner to the opening period, with both sides creating some great chances but many were of the split second variety, with players getting little chance of sizing up their opportunities. Once again the 'keepers were to the fore and the referee was forced to flash a couple of yellow cards as the tackles at times proved to be well beyond fair.
However, it must be said that both sides gave as good as they got and took the punishment in the right spirit, in most cases. The closing ten or 15 minutes of the encounter saw the home side concentrating more on preserving their slim lead as fresh legs were thrown into the fray by both sets of managers.
Wexford were at times under severe pressure and, as they once more cleared a threat from a corner, the referee sounded the final blast from his whistle and Wexford were crowned the first winners of the new-style Leinster championship.
Wicklow must be complimented also on a really brave effort and provided some excellent passages of defensive and attacking football. In the end, Wexford just about deserved to reap the rewards of a truly determined display.
They were later to learn that by virtue of the championship draw, this victory ensures that they go straight into the All-Ireland decider where they will face the men from Clare.
The final has been set for March 23 in Clonmel.
