Gaelic Games

Understrength Wexford and Galway impress in Walsh Cup victories

UCD and Westmeath were dismantled by their experimental intercounty opposition

Galway manager Anthony Cunningham can be happy with his young team’s win over Westmeath. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Galway manager Anthony Cunningham can be happy with his young team’s win over Westmeath. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Sun Jan 18 2015 - 19:44

Wexford may have been in experimental mode but they still recorded a comfortable 1-21 to 0-15 victory over UCD in this Walsh Cup senior hurling game played at Pairc Ui siochain, Gorey.

Early scorers from Podge Doran and Joe Kelly set the scene for a period of total Wexford dominance as they moved into 0-10 to 0-0 lead by the 19th minute before the college side eventually opened their account through a twentieth minute Pat Purcell point. But with Kelly striking over two further points along with a Shane Tomkins effort, the Wexford surge continued.

Three Ross King points gave the visitors some hope but they still trailed 0-17 to 0-5 at half-time.

UCD who had five Wexford players in their side were totally outplayed through that opening thirty-five minutes, but they did manage to bring more cohesion to their game on the resumption. To their credit they continually pressed forward in their efforts to reduce the deficit.

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Four early second half points from Ross King, one free, saw them reduce the deficit to 0-17 to 0-9 after forty-five minutes, but Wexford quickly regained the initiative through the splendid play of half-backs Lee Chin and then Paudie Foley.

King then added further points, while Cian MacGabhainn added another to leave it 0-19 to 0-12. The concluding quarter saw Wexford regain control as the impressive Joe Kelly crashed home a sixty-fourth minute goal to sure up a a comfortable hone victory.

Meanwhile, with Jason Flynn in top form at full forward, an understrength Galway team had a comfortable win over Westmeath in a low-key Walsh Cup game in Mullingar on Sunday afternoon.

The first half was something of a shootout between Flynn and his opposite number Brendan Murtagh. Anthony Cunningham's charges held a narrow lead (0-11 to 0-9) over their hosts at the interval.

Three points in the opening two minutes of the second half put Galway firmly in control. Michael Ryan's men were still in contention when trailing by five points (0-19 to 0-14) with ten minutes remaining, but Flynn's 61st-minute goal sealed victory for the Tribesmen - Galway 1-21 Westmeath 0-16.