Wexford Football League

Clare League 0 Wexford Football League 6

Wexford finally managed to get their hands on the coveted Oscar Traynor Trophy with an emphatic 6 goal win over a hapless Clare side in Doora, near Ennis on Sunday.Wexford dominated proceedings from the kick off with Paul Murphy in particular proving to be a real handful for the home defence. Clare had survived a Graham Howlin header hitting the woodwork before Wexford took a deserved lead after 33 minutes when Murphy's fre kick wide on the right was headed into the corner of the net by skipper Leighton Gleeson.One nil at the break though it could hae been more such was the Wexford dominance. Ten minutes into the second half, a cracking volley from Kyle Dempsey put Wexford two up, and with a minute another fine flowing move was expertly finished by Leighton Gleeson to make it three nil.

On the hour mark, Paul Murphy got the goa his overall play deserved to make it four. The Wexford dominance was total and Gleeson completed a fantastic hat trick after 74 minutes. Paul Murphy hit a post with a great chance before sub Ricky Fox made it six with a low right footed drive eight minutes from the end.

FAI Junior Council chaiman, Mick Hanley presented the brand new Oscar Traynor Trophy to Wexford Captain, Leighton Gleeson (who also scooped the man of the match award) amid scenes of great joy in the Wexford camp.

For team manager John Godkin, it was also a well deserved triumph as his charges delivered the perfect performance. Every player excelled and Clare simply had no answer to the movement and touch ofWexford Football League: Lee Walker, Lee Chin, Thomas Hawkins, Gareth Larkin, Graham Howlin, Kyle Dempsey, Sean Culleton, Leighton Gleeson, Eugene O Brien, Mikey Grangel, Paul Murphy. Subs used: Tom Elmes, Ricky Fox and Anthony Hayes. Wexford

Wexford captured the coveted Oscar Traynor Trophy for the very first time with an emphatic six nil win over the Clare League in Doora, near Ennis on Sunday May 16th.

Wexford dominated proceedings right from the kick off and Graham Howlin had already headed against the Clare post before Wexford deservedly went ahead after 33 minutes: Paul Murphy’s free kick wide on the right was headed perfectly into the corner of the net by skipper Leighton Gleeson. One nil at the break then, although it could have been more such was the total Wexford dominance.

Ten minutes into the second half, a smashing volley from Kyle Dempsey put Wexford two up. Within a minute another flowing move ended with Leighton Gleeson finishing it to the net with aplomb. On the hour mark, Paul Murphy made it four nil with the goal that his overall performance deserved. On seventy three minutes, that man Gleeson got on the end of another great move to make it five nil and complete his hat trick. Paul Murphy then shot against the post after another fine bout of play. With eight minutes left, sub Ricky Fox completed the scoring with a low drive from the edge of the box.

For team manager John Godkin, it was the perfect performance as each member of the team played really well, with a lot of high quality goals and moves throughout the game.

FAI Junior Council chairman, Mick Hanley presented the brand new trophy to team captain, Leighton Gleeson, (who also won the man of the match award) amid scenes of wild jubilation in the Wexford camp.

Wexford Football League: Lee Walker, Lee Chin, Thomas Hawkins, Gareth Larkin, Graham Howlin, Kyle Dempsey, Sean Culleton, Leighton Gleeson, Eugene O Brien, Mikey Grangel, Paul Murphy. Subs used: Ricky Fox, Tom Elmes and David Purcell.

Wexford Football lge 1 AUL Dublin 0

Wexford advanced to the semi final of this seasons Oscar Traynor Trophy with a tremendous one goal to nil victory over a highly fancied AUL Dublin team in New Ross on Saturday. Wexford started well, with the lively Paul Murphy causing problems for the AUL defence. Despite that early pressure, it was the AUL who came closest to a breakthrough in the first half when midfielder Joseph Floods volley crashed off the Wexford crossbar with keeper Walker beaten, but luckily for the home side it rebounded to safety, and the game remained scoreless at the break.
Wexford piled on the pressure after the restart, and just 5 minutes into the new half, Eugene O Brien was very unlucky to see his shot hit the post. On the hour mark though, the home side deservedly went ahead when Mikey Grangel controlled a ball on the edge of the area which got through to Paul Murphy and from fifteen yards out, the Wexford Bohs man drove home a superb goal with his left foot. Sean “Eggy” Culleton missed a great chance to wrap up the win, when he mis-kicked from just a few yards out with ten minutes left. That miss was very nearly punished when AUL sub, Mark Summers broke clear on goal in the last few minutes but Lee Walker made a fine finger tip save to keep his goal intact. The foundation for this win was laid by a very solid defence with Lee Chin, Tomas Hawkins, Graham “Dax” Howlin and David Purcell being rock solid all through, but every single player worked very hard for the team, and they got their just reward, with the prize scalp of the leading Junior League in Ireland.
Wexford now go on to the semi-final for the fourth time.They’re drawn away to the Defence Forces, who won their quarter-final 3-1 in Terryland Park against the Galway League on Wednesday last. That match is scheduled for the last weekend in March.
Teams: Wexford: Lee Walker, Lee Chin, David Purcell, Thomas Hawkins, Graham Howlin, Leighton Gleeson, Sean Culleton, Kyle Dempsey,Eugene O Brien, Paul Murphy, Mikey Grangel. Subs used: Philip Druhan, Tom Elmes.
AUL Dublin: Lee Murphy, Conor Dilon, David Brown, Ross Carraig, Keith Brown, Joseph Flood, Keith Kennedy, Stephen Murphy, John Rock, Peter Reilly, Robert Keeley. Subs used: Mark Summers.

Defence Forces 1 Wexford Football Lge 3

Wexford qualified for the Oscar Traynor Trophy final for the first time ever on Saturday after a well deserved 3-1 win over the Defence Forces at Home Farms excellent grounds in Whitehall, Dublin.

Wexford went on the attack from the kick off, and Eugene O Brien put Paul Murphy in on goal after just three minutes, but Lee White in the Army goal saved well.

With nine minutes on the clock, Wexford took the lead: Paul Murphy whipped in a free kick from the left hand touchline and central defender Graham”Dax” Howlin rose highest to power home a header into the top corner.

After 36 minutes, the defence forces got a deserved equaliser when some slack play from Wexford in midfield allowed full back Thomas Cullinane to fire in a good cross which was finished smartly by the inrushing Jason Walsh. Although they remained on top for the rest of the half, the Defence Forces never really threatened the Wexford goal.

Whatever manager John Godkin said to his team at half time had the desired effect, as Wexford stormed into attack from the restart. Paul Murphy in particular, really came into the game and a brilliant bit of play out on the right wing saw him put over an inviting cross for Mikey Grangel to meet on the volley from six yards out, but keeper Lee White pulled off a great stop. After 51 minutes, another bit of sorcery from Murphy set up Grangel again, who volleyed against the crossbar this time, but Leighton Gleeson followed up to head home the rebound high into the net to put Wexford 2-1 up.

After 63 minutes a penalty award was to wrap the match up for Wexford: A clever pass from Eugene O Brien put Mikey Grangel through and keeper White clearly took the Ross man down just inside the area: a yellow card for White, a coolly taken penalty from Paul Murphy and 3-1 to Wexford, who had a few chances to add to their tally before the end, but 3-1 it remained at full time.