Wexford progressed to the last four of the Electric Ireland Leinster MFC in the most dramatic of circumstances on Wednesday night.
The Yellowbellies came up against Meath in the quarter-final in Ashbourne and seemed set for victory with 15 minutes left to play.
They had gone in at the break 2-2 to 0-4 ahead thanks to two excellent solo goals from Tom Funge, and that lead would be extended as the second period progressed. Entering the final quarter, Wexford found themselves ahead by 2-6 to 0-6 and supporters could have been forgiven for looking ahead to the semi-finals.
Meath roared into life in the closing stages, however, and by the time Patrick Yourell pointed in the final minute of regulation to put the Royals ahead, it looked as though it would be the winning score. Tom Funge had other ideas.
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Wexford snatch heroic Leinster MFC victory with last-gasp hat-trick goal
With the clock ticking over into the fourth minute of injury time, Wexford continued to chase a way back into the game as they trailed Meath by a point.
When Funge picked the ball up within sight of goal, most fans would have expected the midfielder to simply hand pass the ball over the bar and force a draw. Instead, he pulled off an outrageous finish at the near post to put Wexford back in front - and the 3-7 to 0-14 scoreline was to be the result.
The Beauty of Youth … 1 point down , last play of the game , tight angle … nothing on the mind only goal. Most of us as adults would take the safe option and hand pass over the bar . pic.twitter.com/K4BpTzXmCO
— Anthony Masterson (@antomasterson1) April 24, 2024
It was an outstanding score worthy of winning any game but for it to come with virtually the last kick of the game for a hat-trick, and to flip the scoreline on its head makes it all the more special.
Speaking to Clubber TV after the game, Funge said that he had thought the game had gotten away from Wexford before his winning strike.
I thought the game was gone, then last minute we got a free. John kicked a high ball in and I thought, 'what's going on?' I thought he'd bottled it for us.
Thankfully, Alex jumped up and got it and we just played it safe and worked it well. Cian passed it to me and...it's all a blur now but I was contemplating whether to hand-pass it over the bar. I didn't want it to go to extra-time so I said I'd just go for it! Thankfully it paid off.
"To be honest, I thought it was gone. There was no chance" ⌛️#ClubberMOTM Tom Funge reflects on his last minute goal to sealing the win and his hattrick for @OfficialWexGAA U17F 🟣🟡 pic.twitter.com/e7yBRtEypl
— Clubber (@clubber) April 25, 2024
When describing one of his first-half strikes, the excitement got the better of Funge, who dropped an F-bomb before nervously looking at the cameraman and laughing off his slip of the tongue:
I was surprised a bit that I got so much freedom running through. Finally, I think number three came and pulled across me, I saw Darren [Rossiter] in, I was thinking of hand passing it over...but, I said 'fuck it, I'll go myself!' Thankfully, I went myself and backed myself all the way.
A hat-trick from midfield to win a knockout game for your county would make a hero of any minor player - and Funge received a fitting reception in the afterglow of his winner.
His school, Gorey Community School, shared a post on Twitter on Thursday morning showing the hero's welcome Funge received from his classmates upon returning to class the morning after his exploits in Ashbourne.
Fresh from scoring a hat-trick last night for @OfficialWexGAA minors Tom Funge back in school this morning. No ego here , even got time to sign a few autographs for the jersey girls.❤️💚🇮🇪💜💛@NaomhEannaGAA @ElectricIreland @alturacu_ie @bodibro @kilaneringaa #LeinsterGAA pic.twitter.com/HD7NZmzb7Y
— Gorey CS GAA (@cs_gaa) April 25, 2024
Remember the name Tom Funge. Wexford now progress to face Dublin in the Leinster MFC semi-finals, with the game set to take place on May 7
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