Wexford snatch draw with Fermanagh in Tailteann clash

Wexford keeper Darragh Brookes was the hero as he levelled a tense and turgid Tailteann Cup affair in the 78th minute at Brewster Park.

It looked like jittery and wasteful Fermanagh had snatched victory when sub Sean Quigley hit a superb point from the side-line.

But in the last play gritty Wexford, who trailed by 1-07 to 0-04 at half-time.

But the home side will certainly rue four missed goal chances, nine wides, as well as a disallowed goal as wing forward Conor McShea was in the square when he flicked Ultan Kelm's pass to the Wexford net in the 45th minute.

But from there to the finish it was Wexford who hit four late great long range points as the Erne men conceded a freak penalty in the 50th minute.

A Fermanagh defender mistakenly passed back to keeper Sean McNally after the latter placed him with a short kick out.

In the turmoil, McNally hauled down Wexford’s Robbie Brookes and earned a black card and Ben Brosnan dispatched the ball to the net past sub keeper Jack Kelly, to leave Fermanagh leading by just 1-10 to 1-08.

They hit three more points, but Wexford hit an impressive 1-09 to earn a richly deserved draw.

A physically powerful Wexford looked lively in the opening stages, but it was Fermanagh’s Aidan Breen who opened the scoring for the home side after two minutes.

Ultan Kelm doubled the lead with a pointed free before Wexford responded with a well struck effort from speedy wing forward Kevin O’Grady.

The home side got a major boost in the seventh minute, when wing forward Conor McShea was hauled down in the square and corner back Luke Flanagan shot high to the roof of the net.

The home side had three further goal chance, but Che Cullen, Flanagan and Ryan Lyons’s efforts were smothered by busy Wexford keeper Darragh