Finn Harps beat Wexford 3-1 in the First Division's 31st round on Friday evening. The hosts had looked comfortable for the first half, leading 2-0 after T. McNamee and J. Doyle struck in consecutive minutes. But then the visitors tightened things up and carved them open in the second half.
And here's the thing about matches like this — the turning point often comes when you least expect it. Wexford had the energy, the attacks, the possession in the opening period. By then they were already two ahead and thinking of the three points.
The goals came in quick succession after the break. A goal at 59 minutes — the scorer not named in the records — set up Benny to extend the lead just before the hour. O. Brogan sealed it at 88, and Wexford had nothing left to offer. The hosts had been frozen out, their high line picked apart by visitors who never got out of second gear until they did. The captain dragged them through it, but there was no response.
The statistics tell their own story. Finn Harps held 56% possession and registered seven shots on target against four for the hosts. Three corners apiece, but the visitors were more clinical. Wexford blocked six shots but couldn't stop the flow.
Wexford sit eighth with 37 points from 30 games. Finn Harps are tenth with 22 points. The gap between them is 15 points, and this result will make life awkward for the hosts going forward.
We had backed the home side at 59% confidence before kickoff. The prediction didn't come off. What broke it was the substitution pattern — Finn Harps brought on three players at 67 minutes and changed the tempo completely. Wexford didn't respond. That's the difference between sides in this division.
