HEART-WARMING VICTORY
Hurlers show great spirit to start league on high note
DAVY FITZGERALD has wasted no time in winning over the hearts of Wexford supporters.
His side staged a dramatic second-half comeback to snatch a stunning three-point victory over Limerick in a hugely exciting Allianz Hurling League Division 1B game at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday.
Trailing by six points at the interval having played into the elements, it was always going to take a massive second-half performance to turn things around.
And Wexford managed to achieve this, with a Conor McDonald goal in the 61st minute turning the game his side’s way, while the home defence proved ruthless in the closing minutes as they curbed the Shannonsiders’ late surge.
While Davy and his team have another huge fixture next Sunday gainst Galway in Salthill, he was prepared to savour this victory before contemplating the challenge in the west.
‘We’ll enjoy this, then we’ll look ahead and start preparing for Galway on Tuesday,’ he said.
However, they are still unlikely to be able to call on the injured attackers, Jack Guiney and David Dunne, both nursing problems that forced them out of the Limerick game, while the cruciate trio of Andrew Shore,Shane Tomkins and Liam Og McGovern are still some two months away from full fitness.
Looking back on Sunday’s game, there were contrasting views from the rival managers.
Limerick boss John Kiely clearly pointed the finger at referee Diarmuid Kirwan, being clearly annoyed with some of his decisions or rather the lack of them.
‘The lads were absolutely superb. We won ball, we broke ball, broke lines, broke tackles, attacked their ‘21, but we were hacked down, full stop, that’s the story.
‘We got lots of frees outside their ‘65 but did not get anything inside their ‘21 or close to goal, very disappointing, and one would expect better at this level.
‘The lads were still fantastic, did everything they were asked to do, but Wexford got momentum in the final ten to 15 minutes, got some scores, and that is difficult to stop.
‘Our full-forward David Dempsey was clear on goal in the closing minutes, and was hacked down by their ‘keeper (Mark Fanning), who injured himself in the process, just a free, no penalty. He should have been second yellow carded, no doubt,’ an irate Kiely added.
This was in start contrast to Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald, who embraced the victory.
‘I’m delighted with the fighting qualities, we played well in patches, though we can do better than that. Six points down at half-time, I knew about five minutes before we went back out on the pitch, the lads still believed.
‘There was no panic as we played against an unbelievable wind in that first-half. I thought we could be closer, just say four points down at the interval, but that is where we found ourselves.
‘The conditions out there were horrendous and I was delighted the way boys dug in. There was no shortage of effort and commitment, their workrate was savage. One thing’s for sure, they did not want for effort.’
On the team’s performance and fitness over the 70 minutes, Fitzgerald reflected: ‘This was the result of months of preparation. Those lads have been putting so much into training since last November. The response of those players has been unbelievable. We will be back Tuesday to prepare for Galway.
‘We will not get carried away. There’s no doubt there is still a lot of work to be done. Yes, we can do better on the hard ball, but that’s part of the learning curve. It’s a long time since we beat a side like Limerick. They are one of the top sides in the country.
‘I know there are bigger days ahead, but we’ll enjoy today and start worrying about Galway tomorrow. Still, it’s nice to beat one of the bigger teams, but there is no harm in letting everyone not forget this is a process.’
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