Wexford Under-20 footballers fade in last quarter against Longford in Andrew Corden Cup

A last-quarter loss of control – conceding six points without reply after enjoying a one-goal lead – led to Wexford’s exit from the Leinster Under-20 football Andrew Corden Cup at the hands of hosts Longford at the semi-final stage in Newtownforbes on Tuesday.

It was a disappointing fade-out on a night when the visitors produced plenty of good moments over the first 45 minutes, but they couldn’t sustain the effort as their rivals dominated the closing stages to ensure a derby decider against Westmeath.

Playing against the wind in the first-half wasn’t a deterrent to Wexford, and an excellent goal from impressive midfielder Cathal Kehoe in the 22nd minute was the key score as they established a 1-2 to 0-4 interval lead.

Longford’s entire tally in that opening period was claimed by the best player on the field, full-forward Matthew Carey, but their shooting was generally wayward as nine wides compared to five for Wexford left them trailing as they prepared to tackle the elements.

However, facing into a breeze isn’t as daunting a task as it was in the old days when catch and kick prevailed, and Longford eventually started to monopolise possession around the middle third and wore down the Wexford resistance.

They had to do it the hard way, though, because the visitors outscored them by 0-5 to 0-3 in the third quarter and were looking good for a place in the final at that stage.

A major factor in the change of momentum was the introduction of Jack Belton to midfield in the 45th minute.

Longford had struggled in that department, where Wexford’s best player, Cathal Kehoe, received ample support from Seán Hughes, but the new arrival got his hands on a lot of possession and the locals were able to make it count.

With Senior panel members Cian Hughes and Will Foley still unavailable, along with Andrew Smyth, Michael Kavanagh, Cillian Twomey and Jack Morris, Wexford could ill-afford another absentee.

However, they were also minus the services of regular full-back Alex Kirby, with Connor Mackey dropping back into a defence featuring some positional switches while Morgen Ellis came in at right half-forward.

It was a fine night for football, and there was no time for the visitors to settle as Eoin Blanchfield was called upon to make a good save from Jamie Brady-Hynes after 69 seconds following strong approach work by Conor Smith and Matthew Carey.

The latter pointed the ’45 that arose – the first of nine scores out of 13 from a player that looked so comfortable in possession as he delivered a performance that had Longford supporters wondering why he hasn’t featured with their under-performing Senior side.

Rory Gilbert – who was at midfield for the throw-in but moved immediately to his natural full-forward role – was unfortunate to hit the angle of post and crossbar on Wexford’s first attack.

They levelled in the eighth minute when a foul on James Lawless was punished by free-taker Dylan Cooke-Leonard, with two wides following from Micheál McGonigle before the visitors hit the front in the twelfth minute.

Cathal Kehoe and Morgen Ellis featured in a move that ended with Cooke-Leonard rifling over with his left foot, but that advantage was shortlived.

Matthew Carey levelled from a free before adding a fine solo point from play in the 16th minute, although the powerful runs of Kehoe from midfield continued to cause problems for Longford.

McGonigle popped a pass into his path to the left of goal, and his shot was parried away by netminder Oisín McManus before Cooke-Leonard hooked the rebound high and wide as he sought a point.

That move should have served as a warning to the home team, but it was one they didn’t heed.

Three minutes later, James Lawless drove at the Longford defence before locating Kehoe arriving at pace off his shoulder, and this time the Cloughbawn lad rattled the top right corner to finish off a move that had started with a solo run to midfield by Eoin Blanchfield.

Just one score was added before the break – a long-range Longford point from Matthew Carey that arrived in between Wexford’s fourth and fifth wides, from James Doyle and a Cooke-Leonard ’45 respectively.

A 1-2 to 0-4 interval lead was no more than Anthony Russell’s charges deserved, and they were unfortunate not to add a goal directly after the second-half throw-in.

Cathal Kehoe won possession and sent in a long delivery that was misjudged by a Longford defender, with Rory Gilbert first-timing the ball over the bar after just twelve seconds when a goal was clearly on his mind.

Another green flag at that stage would have been a huge boost to Wexford, but they kept battling and looked to be on the way to victory with a three-point haul in just two minutes near the end of the third quarter.

Prior to that, Jamie Brady-Hynes had kicked a neat point for Longford after a short Matthew Carey ’45, before the latter levelled from a free in the 38th minute (0-6 to 1-3).

Dean Kehoe restored Wexford’s advantage and Carey replied again, but a Cathal Kehoe mark from Eoin Blanchfield’s restart marked the beginning of that two-minute purple patch.

Dylan Cooke-Leonard sent over a booming point from distance via the right-hand post, and Longford looked rattled as netminder and captain Oisín McManus was penalised for delaying his kick-out.

The turning on of the floodlights was marked by Rory Gilbert breaking the throw ball into the path of Cathal Kehoe who planted it over the bar, and there was one more bright moment to come.

Ruairí Martin latched on to the kick-out and fed Micheál McGonigle before Conor Kelly – captaining the side in the ongoing absence of Andrew Smyth – joined the attack to extend Wexford’s lead to 1-7 to 0-7.

Jack Belton was introduced at that stage for Longford, and the Mostrim clubman’s influence was immense along with Matthew Carey as they spearheaded an all-out comeback.

Wexford didn’t score again, with a couple of long balls to Rory Gilbert not reaping the desired rewards as a diligent Longford defence crowded him out.

Just two wides were added in the second-half – from an over-hit Cooke-Leonard free that was aimed for Cathal Kehoe, and from Morgen Ellis in the 47th minute.

The classy Carey had kicked the first of those six Longford points at the start of the last quarter, and Clonguish attacker Michael Flynn added a fine strike from tight to the endline on his home club pitch in the 49th minute (1-7 to 0-9).

The equaliser followed from Jamie Brady-Hynes, before Gilbert dropped a shot short, but Wexford’s control of possession was merely a distant memory by that point in proceedings as they were now relying on scraps.

Carey curled over a free from the left to edge Longford ahead in the 54th minute, and Gilbert was denied by a tenacious tackle before Longford’s top scorer was fouled on a solo run and duly made it 0-12 to 1-7.

It took a brave block by Dean Kehoe to prevent Michael Flynn from sealing the deal with a goal, and Wexford had no option other than all-out attack in the six additional minutes.

That left them exposed to swift counter-attacks, and one from Paddy Moran led to the final score of the game in the 62nd minute.

Substitute Liam Donoghue launched one late Wexford free into the danger zone, only for Longford to emerge with the ball and secure a free out.

And even though they lost Jonathan Burke to a black card, they really should have goaled at the end when substitute Pádraig Boyle fired the ball at Eoin Blanchfield from close range.

This outcome marked the end of the road for Wexford after three defeats – by a combined margin of just eight points – and one win against a Carlow side who exited to Westmeath in the other Corden Cup semi-final on the same night.

Given those tight margins, it was undoubtedly a source of huge frustration that Cian Hughes, in particular, was ruled out, as his presence alone would surely have been worth a few scores.

Wexford: Eoin Blanchfield (Ballynastragh Gaels); James Doyle (Glynn-Barntown), Seán Nunan (Fethard), Conor Kelly (Naomh Éanna, capt., 0-1); Ruairí Martin (Naomh Éanna), Cathal Murphy (St. Anne’s), Connor Mackey (Glynn-Barntown); Seán Hughes (Kilanerin), Cathal Kehoe (Cloughbawn, 1-1); Morgen Ellis (Fethard), James Lawless (Duffry Rovers), Micheál McGonigle (Ballynastragh Gaels); Dean Kehoe (Adamstown, 0-1), Rory Gilbert (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown, 0-1), Dylan Cooke-Leonard (Naomh Éanna, 0-3, 1 free). Subs. – Brian Roban (Duffry Rovers) for McGonigle (50), Liam Donoghue (Glynn-Barntown) for Ellis (51), Cormac Kiely (Gusserane) for Mackey (54), Cormac McGee (Bannow-Ballymitty) for Lawless (59), Tom Quigley (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy) for Murphy (60), also Eamonn Asple (Ballyhogue), Shane Reddy (Rathnure), Evan Dunne (Monageer-Boolavogue), Darragh Dee (Kilrush).

Longford: Oisín McManus (capt.); Conor Smith, Ruairí O’Toole, Eoghan Williams; Gavin Farrelly, Andrew Flynn, Jonathan Burke; Oisín Flynn, Caolan Lynch; Brian Mulvey, Matthew Flynn, Paddy Moran (0-1); Michael Flynn (0-1), Matthew Carey (0-9, 5 frees, 1 ’45), Jamie Brady-Hynes (0-2). Subs. – Ross Shields for Williams (HT), Pádraig Boyle for Matthew Flynn (43), Jack Belton for O. Flynn (45), Ronan Courtney for Lynch (52), Harry Kiernan for Mulvey (52). Sin-bin: Jonathan Burke (60+5).

Referee: Enda Kelly (Westmeath).