Five talking points as Wexford Senior footballers earn promotion to Division 3

By Byron Jones at Wexford Park

The Wexford Senior Footballers produced a fabulous performance against Wicklow to ensure Division 3 football next year in the Allianz League, dispatching neighbours Wicklow on a score-line of 0-20 to 0-12 under a starry night at Wexford Park….

Yet again Wexford’s defensive lines were tigerish in the tackle, and as an organised unit for the most part, forced Wicklow into speculative wayward shots.

Wexford’s midfielders produced a towering performance and were in full control for the entire game with wonderful high fielding and exquisite passing on display .

The forwards were classy as usual and were in fine form with some masterful build up plays and they nailed some outrageous scores.

No nonsense defending

The Wexford full-back line in particular, and their half back line, played not only with aggression – but with excellent discipline too.

They constantly stood up to their men, held them at bay, forcing Wicklow forwards backwards and on many an occasion pressurising them into Hail-Mary shot’s which often ended in a horrible wide.

This defensive effort was shown in the half time score for Wicklow, scoring just four points.

Gems of points:

The absolute gems of points scored by the Wexford forward line was something to behold. The 2 point rule suits these players. Shane Pettit was the pick of the forwards in this regard. He scored an unnatural score early in the first half from way out on the right on the stand side curling it in beautifully. Midway through the half with over 10 attacking passes, Darragh Brooks found Shane Pettit in space in the same position. The crowd was buzzing in anticipation before he decided to go for it and as the ball left his boot, the crowd were already cheering it over with raucous support.

The forward line had Wicklow constantly in fear with pace and purpose in speedy attacking moves. Most of the forwards got in on the act; it was brilliant to see such a diverse scoring equilibrium among Seán Ryan, Ben Brosnan, Kevin O’Grady and Mark Rossiter who all scored from play, which can only be viewed as a massive positive. It’s important to have all the forwards buzzing and scoring and Wexford have shown throughout this successful Allianz League campaign.

Attacking football:

A beautiful display of exciting attacking football was on show for everyone in the Park to see by every single Wexford player. It was amazing to watch.

It often started with pin-point accurate kick outs by Wexford goalkeeper, Darragh Brooks, who set the attacks in motion picking out midfielders and backs to go the team on the move. Often, Wexford players shown quickness of thought in quick tap and goes to surge forward themselves.

Intelligent passing really impressed with great vision shown in finding free players or men out in front with swift booming passes accompanied with laser-like accuracy. The Wexford forwards were seen to be running on to the ball kicked slightly ahead of them with quick moves which often led to gorgeous scores.

Hughes’ Man of the Match performance:

Páiric Hughes, the young warrior from Kilanerin was in ridiculous form on Saturday night. He might have had the no. 6 on his back, but he was everywhere.

In the first half, he started with a bang – surging forward in the led up to a fine Seán Ryan score. Páiric Hughes then made a determined run down the stand side which resulted in him being fouled and the free scored. During the mid-way point of the first half, he slotted a beauty from a tight angle from the right.

Into the second half, he was an absolute menace intercepting a Wicklow attack which led to a glorious team point.

The resulting kick was plucked clean out of the air by that man Hughes who skinned the defender and scored with confidence.

Later amongst a phalanx of bodies, he fielded an unreal ball with pure Kilanerin steel at the heart of the battle and twice more soon after showed great tenacity. Somehow, in tight squeezes, he managed to come out with the breaking ball. He is everything we love and want in a Wexford centre back and was no doubt, my Man of the Match.

A day in the Sun – and Croker awaits:

To see the Wexford footballing community, players, management and back room team and supporters embrace and celebrate, laugh and clap in the middle of Wexford Park was beautiful moment. Securing promotion to Division 3 was a bit special, given that success isn’t something that often followed this crop of Wexford players. Doing so – in front of their home crowd, with two games to spare in the Allianz League campaign, was the icing on the cake.

There is a fantastic buzz around Wexford football in the campaign and it was all there to see on Saturday night. It is such a huge achievement for the players and management to secure promotion and it was great how they went about it. With glorious attacking football and positive attitude and on field smarts has got them their prize. It’s a pleasure to watch them play great Gaelic football – and an Allianz League final, along with a trip to Croke Park, now awaits the Wexford Senior footballers in three week’s time on Saturday March 29th.