Updated / Saturday, 18 Jan 2020 18:11

Wexford 1-16 Galway 0-18

Defender Pdraig Foley snatched a dramatic Walsh Cup SH title for Wexford with an injury-time point to dethrone holders Galway in Saturday's decider at MW Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

After overcoming an early 0-7 to 0-3 deficit, Galway appeared destined to complete back-to-back titles as a personal salvo of 12 points from ace sharpshooter Tadhg Harnan eased them clear by 0-17 to 0-12 after 55 minutes.

But Wexford refused to die, and a Conor McDonald goal two minutes into injury-time tied matters on 1-15 to 0-18 before Foley's winning intervention landed a first outright Cup success since 2018 for the reigning Leinster champions.

The Tribesmen made no fewer than 10 personnel changes from their narrow semi-final success over Dublin as new boss Shane O'Neill continues to size things up ahead of the National League next weekend.

In contrast, Davy Fitzgerald retained 12 of his starting-team from the success over Kilkenny, and Wexford burst clear by 0-7 to 0-3 after 16 minutes with five frees from Jack O'Connor as Aidan Rochford and defender Damien Reck also made their mark.

But Galway forced their way back into contention when tying on 0-7 apiece by the 26th-minute courtesy of free-taker Tdhg Haran (3) and Ja Mannion.

The title-holders maintained the shift in momentum to forge back in front by 0-10 to 0-8 at the break with a couple more Haran frees.

As extended Galway clear by 0-12 to 0-8 on the restart, Davy Fitzgerald moved to liven up a limp Wexford with three substitutions in the 42nd-minute in the shape of experienced trio Shaun Murphy, Rory O'Connor and Paul Morris.

Regardless, they slipped further adrift before a Jack O'Connor free ended Wexford's seventeen-minute drought on 46 minutes to shave the gap to 0-14 to 0-9.

While the Yellowbellies closed to within 0-14 to 0-11, Galway appeared to be holding firm in the face of a rousing finish by the purple-and-gold, with substitute Cathal Dunbar flashing over a goaling chance.

Wexford kept searching and eventually overcame stubborn Galway resistance for Conor McDonald to net the equalising goal in added-time.

Pdraig Foley then saw his free from distance drop short. But the no.5 held his focus to intercept the resultant clearance and fire the decisive point as Wexford stole the show at a venue where they open the league against Laois next weekend.

Wexford: James Lawlor; Gary Molloy, Liam Ryan, Joe OConnor; Kevin Foley; Paudie Foley (0-1), Ross Donohue, Damien Reck (0-1); Aidan Rochford (0-2), Aidan Nolan (0-1); Harry Kehoe, Conor McDonald (1-0), Jack OConnor (0-8, 0-8fs); Michael Dywer, Andrew Shore.

Subs: Liam Og McGovern for Shore (42), Paul Morris for Kehoe (42), Shaun Murphy for D Reck (42), Simon Donohue for R Donohue (48), Cathal Dunbar (0-1) for Dwyer (49), Seamus Casey (0-2, 0-2f) for Jack OConnor (59)

Galway: Darach Fahy; Paul Killeen, Jack Grealish, TJ Brennan; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Adrian Touhy (0-1); Sean Linnane (0-1), Sean Loftus (0-1); Conor Walsh, Tadhg Haran (0-12, 0-11fs), Brian Concannon (0-1); Ja Mannion (0-1), Jason Flynn, Evan Niland.

Subs: Aidan Harte for McInerney (h-t), David Glennon for Linnane (50), Diarmuid Kilcommins for Concannon (50), Thomas Monaghan (0-1) for Walsh (53), Ronan Burke for Brennan (55), Niall Burke for Flynn (57), Brian Concannon for Loftus (67), TJ Brennan for Haran (70 + 1)

Referee: Michael Murtagh (Westmeath)

The rest is here:
Foley the match-winner as Wexford snatch Walsh Cup - RTE.ie