St. Anne’s 3-7 Fethard 0-12

What might have been but for the misfortune of John Tubritt striking the base of an upright with a goaling effort in the early moments of this clash?

That was a serious consideration after St. Anne’s netted the decisive blows through Andy Kennedy, Liam Rochford and Redmond Barry to sway Saturday afternoon’s rather mediocre Tom Doyle Supplies county senior football championship Group A second-round tie at a chilly Innovate Wexford Park.

In fairness, after being subjected to a better start by Fethard’s wind-assisted men, the Anne’s subsequently had the better of matters as, on top of the three goals that they bagged, they went close with at least three more gilt-edged goaling opportunities before emerging with an important victory.

Indeed, both sides had lost in round-one, so they certainly felt a real urgency to get off the mark in this fixture.

And Fethard were first to demonstrate that urgency as John Tubritt and Daniel Johnston each pointed within the first five minutes, in between which Tubritt was left frustrated after his neat goaling effort came back off the bottom of the far post much to the relief of the Anne’s.

St. Anne’s slowly but surely gained the upper-hand from that stage, although they lacked real punch upfront and only managed to fashion a 1-4 to 0-3 half-time lead as points from Liam Rochford, Seán Kelly (free) and ‘Red’ Barry (2) sandwiched the unmarked Andy Kennedy netting from the edge of the square on 18 minutes after being located by some swift play between Michael O’Brien and Mark Furlong.

Wexford FC soccer player Seán Kelly went close with a goaling effort shortly before Liam Rochford was put through by ‘Red’ Barry to net a 2-5 to 0-5 extension to the lead on 40 minutes.

Fethard were endeavouring hard only to be hit by another solid blow on 51 minutes when a quickly taken free caught out the seasiders for ‘Red’ Barry to find the Clonard-end net and stretch the margin to 3-6 to 0-7.

Richard Waters was one of the leaders for Tomás Kavanagh’s Fethard, and he pegged back three points late on.

But Andy Kennedy was unlucky not to add a second personal goal for the Anne’s who got the necessary done nevertheless.

St. Anne’s – Paul Brennan; Pauric O’Keeffe, Seán Gaul, Kenny Clooney; Michael O’Brien, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Finn O’Driscoll; Mark Furlong, David O’Connor; Jess Codd, Liam Rochford (1-1), Michael Fogarty; Andy Kennedy (1-0), Seán Kelly (0-3 frees), Redmond Barry (1-3).

Subs: Jonathan Fogarty for O’Connor (37); Ben Moore for Furlong (46); Barry Roche for Clooney (58).

Fethard – Kieran Furlong; Martin Doyle, Daniel Mullan, Martin Power (capt.); Christopher Molloy, Graham O’Grady, Jimmy Sutton (0-1); Daire Barden (0-1), Daniel Johnston (0-1); Adam Swan (0-1), John Tubritt (0-4, 2 frees), Richard Waters (0-4, 1 free); Joe Sutton, Darren Foley, Mark Wallace.

Subs: Kevin Rowe for Foley; Jean Luc Tubritt for Swan (54); Jesse Foley for John Tubritt (54).

Referee – James Mullally (Gusserane).