Sport

Jacob seals Wexford win

Leinster Under-21 Hurling C hampionship semi-final Wexford 1-13 Offaly 2-7 Rory Jacob proved Wexford's saviour with some splendid…

Fri Jun 25 2004 - 01:00

Leinster Under-21 Hurling C hampionship semi-finalWexford 1-13 Offaly 2-7 Rory Jacob proved Wexford's saviour with some splendid finishing as they fashioned a three-point victory at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, yesterday evening. Wexford were cruising but Offaly came storming back to within one point in the closing minutes but Jacob salvaged a victory.

Wexford senior star Jacob put his side in front inside 60 seconds of the start. With Offaly struggling to come to terms with the fluent ground hurling of the opposition, despite a fourth-minute Eoin Franks point bringing them level, they were 1-5 to 0-1 adrift at the end of the opening quarter.

Wexford's goal arrived after five minutes when corner-forward Joey Lawlor drilled a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Shane O'Connor, and with two points from Des Mythen, and one apiece from Jacob and Lawlor, it was Wexford who seemed to be cruising.

Offaly's corner forward Eoin Egan had a great goal chance but shot weakly at goalkeeper Dermot Flynn. However, he made amends six minutes before the break when he tapped a ball home from close range after a great shot from Eoin Franks had been beaten out by Flynn.

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Wexford finished the half the stronger, with Pierce White pointing to leave them leading 1-8 to 1-2 at the interval.

After Brian Carroll had reduced the deficit with a pointed free, Wexford had to wait until the 40th minute for their next score, a Jacob pointed free. A superb Barry Bergin goal two minutes later hauled Offaly to within three points. Points from Brian Kearney and Dylan Hayden left the minimum separating the sides, but two late Jacob points sealed Wexford's final spot.

WEXFORD: D Flynn; A O'Connell, P Ryan, T Hawkins; K Kavanagh, C Kenny, J O'Connor; A Kavanagh, C Dempsey; M Kelly (0-1), S Howard, D Mythen (0-3); J Lawlor (1-1), R Jacob (0-7, 3 frees, 1, 65), P White (0-1). Subs: T Furlong for Ryan (inj); M Doyle for Howard; J Breen for White.

OFFALY: S O'Connor; M Corrigan, K Brady, P Healion; B Buckley, S Brown, A McRedmond; B Bergin (1-0), D Hoctor; D Hayden (0-1), K Kelly (0-1), A Lynch; E Egan (1-0), B Carroll (0-3, 2 frees), E Franks (0-1). Subs: E Bevans for Bergin; B Kearney (0-1) for Franks; P McIntyre for Lynch; G O'Grady for Egan.

Referee: P Neary (Kilkenny).