2003 All Ireland Qualifier
Wexford 1-20 Waterford 0-18
Nowlan Park offered the ideal setting as 26,000 crammed in to generate an electric atmosphere. Both sides stood one step away from Croke Park and Waterford emerged quickest. Ken McGrath recovered from a bad day at the office against Cork with five points and John Mullane powered on from his Munster final hat trick also with five points. Rory Jacob’s goal before half time dragged Wexford back and Larry Murphy’s introduction as a first half substitute for the injured Adrian Fenlon also aided their recovery. Placed at full forward, he used his shrewdness to earn frees and clip over two points. Mullane departed with an eye injury as the Yellowbellies left Waterford in their wake for the final quarter. The Examiner headline on Monday morning read: “Wexford show grit as Waterford flop.”
Scorers for Wexford: P. Codd 0-8 (0-2 fs, 0-1 65’), R. Jacob 1-3, M. Jordan 0-3, L. Murphy, M. Jacob 0-2 each, D. Stamp, A. Fenlon 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: J. Mullane, K. McGrath 0-5 each, P. Flynn 0-3 (0-2 fs), E. Murphy 0-2, D. Bennett, M. Walsh, D. Shanahan 0-1 each.
Wexford: D. Fitzhenry, D. Guiney, D. Ryan, D. O’Connor, D. Stamp, D. Ruth, L. Dunne, L. O'Gorman, R. McCarthy, B. Lambert, A. Fenlon, M. Jacob, C. McGrath, P. Codd (capt.), R. Jacob.
Subs: L. Murphy for Fenlon (24), M. Jordan for Lambert (H-T), T. Mahon for O'Gorman (58), M.J. Furlong for McGrath (71).
Waterford: S. Brenner, B. Greene, T Feeney, D. Prendergast, E. Murphy, F. Hartley, J. Murray, T. Browne (capt.), P. Queally, S. Prendergast, K. McGrath, D. Bennett, J. Mullane, S. Prendergast, P. Flynn.
Subs: A. Moloney for Queally (47), E. McGrath for Mullane (51), E. Kelly for S. Prendergast (56), M. Walsh for Browne (61).
Referee: W. Barrett (Tipperary).
Waterford 2-19 Wexford 3-15
This was an awkward assignment on Waterford’s road to rehabilitation. After just six minutes, Rory Jacob’s crossfield pass picked out to Stephen Doyle to finish to the corner. Eoin Kelly hammered in an injury time free just before the break (1-10 to 1-6). An explosion of three goals in three minutes arrived early in the second half. Willie Doran and Stephen Doyle helped the Model men into a four point lead before the 2007 Hurler of the Year recaptured his goal scoring touch. Dan Shanahan fielded John Mullane’s point attempt and shot home with the help of the post. Eoin McGrath was named man of the match after a personal contribution of four points (three in the first half). Wexford won a penalty with eight minutes left but Damien Fitzhenry skied his shot over the top. After three backdoor wins, Waterford were semi final bound. “I said the last day we’d have to be better,” said Davy Fitzgerald afterwards. “We weren’t, and we were lucky to get away with it. We’ll have to improve, but having said that, we were under pressure, but these lads are battling hard. We’re in an All-Ireland semi-final. Would they have taken that in mid-May? And who’ll give us a chance against Tipperary, who haven’t lost a game all year?”
Scorers for Waterford: E. Kelly 1-8 (1-6 frees, 0-1 65); D. Shanahan 1-1; E. McGrath 0-4; J. Mullane 0-3; S. Prendergast, S. Molumphy, J. Nagle 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: S. Doyle 2-1; D. Lyng 0-6 (all frees); W. Doran 1-1; R. Jacob 0-2; D. Redmond 0-2; E. Quigley, D. Fitzhenry (pen), S. Nolan, 0-1 each.
Waterford: C. Hennessey; E. Murphy, K. McGrath, D. Prendergast; S. O’Sullivan, T. Browne, B. Phelan; M. Walsh, J. Nagle; D. Shanahan, S. Prendergast, S. Molumphy; E. McGrath, E. Kelly, J. Mullane.
Subs: K. Moran for Phelan (45); J. Kennedy for O’Sullivan (46).
Wexford: D. Fitzhenry; M. Travers, P. Roche, B. O’Leary; M. Jacob, D. O’Connor, C. Farrell; E. Quigley, D. Redmond; PJ Nolan, W. Doran, D. Lyng; R. Jacob, S. Banville, S. Doyle.
Subs: S. Nolan for PJ Nolan (27); D. Stamp for Farrell (42); B. Lambert for Banville (44); K. Rossiter for S. Nolan (56).
Referee: J. Sexton (Cork).
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