GAA: Wexford run out 1-21 to 1-13 winners over Offaly

Conor McDonald scored 0-11 as Wexford advanced to second round of the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers with a 1-21 to 1-13 win over Offaly at Innovate Wexford Park.

Offaly led 0-9 to 0-7 at the break but Wexford, with the wind behind them in the second half, were too strong as they secured their passage to the next round and brought the Faithful County's summer run to an end.

The winning margin should have been more with a Wexford goal from a penalty not being given, but it mattered little in the end.

McDonald gave the hosts an early boost by slotting a point from play but Offaly, making good use of the wind, took control.

Shane Dooley, who finished the match with seven points, scored from a third-minute free before the impressive Shane Kinsella opened his account in the sixth minute.

Dooley tacked on another two frees to put Offaly 0-4 to 0-1 up ahead after 10 minutes, and Sean Cleary should have found the net for the visitors moments later.

His initial shot was saved by Wexford goalkeeper Mark Fanning and when the ball came back to Cleary but he scuffed his follow-up wide from a narrow angle with the goal at his mercy.

Fanning appeared to throw his hurley at Cleary as he attempted his second shot but this went unpunished.

Wexford replied in the 16th minute from a McDonald free before Offaly tagged on three unanswered scores in as many minutes. Sean Ryan, Joe Bergin and Dooley all scored in this spell.

The Faithful County should have been further ahead but for nine first half wides. This wayward shooting gave Wexford a way back into the game and David Dunne, Podge Doran and McDonald (free) raised white flags to leave just two points between the sides.

Wexford were awarded a penalty on 23 minutes with goalkeeper Mark Fanning taking it and his powerful shot appeared to come back off the post.

Replays showed that the ball had, in fact, come back off the back stanchion meaning a goal should have been awarded. None of the officials spotted it and Fanning was incensed.

The two sides exchanged two scores each before the break as Offaly went in at the interval two points ahead. But this lead was soon wiped out as Wexford stormed out of the blocks in the second half.

Liam Óg McGovern chipped over a point before Paul Morris punished some disarray in the Offaly defence to score a 37th minute goal for the hosts.

The inspirational Lee Chin pointed a free for Wexford in the 40th minute to put Liam Dunne's men 1-9 to 0-9 ahead.

Offaly only managed four second half points as Wexford proved too strong. David King was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time before substitute Oisin Kelly grabbed a consolation goal.

Wexford: M Fanning; E Moore, M O'Hanlon, J Breen; D O'Keeffe (0-2), P Foley, E Martin; J O'Connor, E Conroy; L McGovern (0-1), L Chin (0-2), P Doran (0-4); P Morris (1-0), C McDonald (0-11, 8f), D Dunne (0-1).

Subs: H Kehoe for Conroy (55), A Kenny for Foley (66), C Dunbar for Dunne (68).

Offaly: J Dempsey; N Wynne, C McDonald, P Rigney; D Mooney, S Gardiner, D King; P Murphy (0-1), S Ryan (0-1); J Mulrooney, J Bergin (0-1), S Kinsella (0-2); S Dooley (0-7, 6f), S Cleary, K Connolly.

Subs: B Conneely for Mooney (26), E Nolan for Cleary (30), O Kelly (1-0) for Connolly (30), D O'Toole for McDonald (53), P Guinan (0-1) for Dooley (59).

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).