Strong and unified approach was so pleasing to witness
WELL, AFTER cautioning not to get too carried away by the outcome in last week’s column, I’m the last one who should be getting over-excited after that outstanding performance in Nowlan Park on Sunday.
However, it was very hard not to be lifted by the sheer quality of the display as we finally beat Kilkenny on that immaculate ground for the first time in a National League game since October of 1957 when we triumphed by 3-10 to 4-4.
We had drawn there in the last match of the shortlived second phase in 2003, but to pull off a victory of that nature in a knockout match and with a lot of inexperienced players was something special.
There was a steeliness to the entire team that was a joy to witness, particularly after the interval when Kilkenny kept nipping away at us by picking off the odd point here and there.
Unlike other years, when we tended to capitulate so easily, it was extremely encouraging to see that strong unified approach which ensured that we were within sight of success moving into those heart-stopping closing minutes.
Not alone did Wexford produce a superior brand of hurling, they also took the game physically to their arch-rivals and there was no standing back when the occasion demanded it.
The dogged and tigerish James Breen set the tone with his exemplary man-marking job on a completely subdued T.J. Reid, and the rest of his colleagues followed that fine example.
‘An absolute animal of a man,’ was one of the most accurate comments I heard about the Adamstown defender afterwards, and if anyone’s in any doubt let me stress that it was intended as the ultimate compliment.
Without the magnificent netminding of Eoin Murphy it’s entirely conceivable that we might have rattled the net five times. He was the one shining light for Kilkenny on a day when the shackles were put on so many of their big guns, but let’s take it all in its proper perspective.
As a stand-alone achievement it was something to behold, but we mustn’t lose sight of the likely repeat meeting on June 10.
Anyone thinking this win will make us favourites for that hoped-for championship clash would need their heads examined.
Of course, it will increase the confidence of the relative newcomers in particular, but Kilkenny will devote some time to club activity now and will be gunning for us if we get over our round robin opponents first.
However, the result last Sunday just adds another layer of intrigue to what hopefully will be a night to remember in our main county ground.
I can almost anticipate it now fully two months away from the date, and it’s the first time in ages that I’ve looked forward to taking on the Cats in the white heat of battle with such relish.
The players and mentors have already done so much to lift the county, and for that we should all be thankful.
Even before Sunday’s throw-in, as I observed the packed stands and the beautiful playing surface, the thought occurred to me that next year we are now guaranteed five big league games back in the top flight against the cream of hurling.
There is a tremendous appetite for matches between the leading teams, and it’s so important to be a key part of it once again.
And what better preparation for that expected re-match with Kilkenny than to be facing All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the league semi-final on Sunday week back in Nowlan Park?
Testing yourself against the very best at this time of year is worth a full month of training sessions to any team. We have been frustrated for so long by our lowly league standing that it’s now time to completely throw off the shackles and go for it.
The irony of three Division 1B teams reaching the last four isn’t lost on keen observers of the game, not to mention the fact that one of the teams we beat to gain promotion will now be guaranteed a final place.
It’s an exciting time for hurling in Wexford, and the year is young yet. Who knows where this roller-coaster ride will end?
Whatever happens, let’s enjoy every single minute.
wrong with his forceful challenge.
The sides went in level (1-7 to 0-10) after Conor McDonald caught the ball over Pádraig Walsh and was duly fouled, with the Gorey ace doing the needful before producing even more heroics after the break.
Reid resumed at centre-forward, with Breen still in his slipstream, and the faith the mentors showed in their defenders following their men everywhere really paid off.
McDonald restored the lead from a free brought forward for dissent after Shane Prendergast climbed all over David Dunne, but Ollie Walsh levelled after a poor line ball from Diarmuid O’Keeffe.
Shaun Murphy and Jack O’Connor also shot wides in that early spell before McDonald made it 1-9 to 0-11 after Paddy Deegan coughed up possession, but Reid levelled once more from a 42nd-minute free.
Wexford’s ability to match a Kilkenny score with one of their own, and sometimes even more, was another hugely encouraging sign. And in this instance they responded with three on the trot to move 1-12 to 0-12 clear.
McDonald (free) was first to strike after Aidan Nolan was impeded, and Chin then played a clever short placed ball to Paul Morris who fired over a monster effort from distance.
The momentum was completely on Wexford’s side at that stage, and they had a chance to put some daylight between the sides when David Dunne latched on to a David Redmond pass in the 46th minute and was fouled in the act of striking the ball to the left of the posts. Mark Fanning darted upfield but was most unfortunate to see his penalty come back into play off the woodwork, but it didn’t unduly upset Wexford.
Indeed, after Reid missed a difficult free, McDonald displayed brilliant ball control to gather a Damien Reck clearance and leave three points between the teams.
He followed up with a wide, while Jack Guiney was introduced in between Kilkenny points from Reid (free) and Paddy Deegan which cut the gap to the minimum (1-12 to 0-14).
Eoin Murphy smothered a McDonald shot after Aidan Nolan put him through, with Guiney delivering a wide before Fanning landed a long-range free between the posts after a foul on Damien Reck.
Matthew O’Hanlon made a vital hook on Ollie Walsh, although Reid converted a free in the follow-up after Fanning was penalised (1-13 to 0-15).
Morris and O’Keeffe shot wides on either side of another glorious point from McDonald after a short Chin pass 64 metres out.
Fanning converted another free earned by Willie Devereux, and the gap was finally widened to four when Chin availed of a pass from James Breen who was having the game of his life.
It was tight and tense down the home stretch, with McDonald responding to an Ollie Walsh point before Reid (free) and Blanchfield reduced arrears to 1-17 to 0-18 by the 65th minute.
Chin broke on to the puck-out after that second score and split the posts before Reid missed a decent chance from a free on the left wing.
And while he atoned from closer to goal, Matthew O’Hanlon caught a dangerous delivery before the arrival of the clinching goal mere seconds into the three added minutes.
It came once again from a free deep within his own half taken by Fanning, with Jack Guiney lurking with intent around the square and providing a major distraction as the ball ended up in the net after a deflection.
A Reid pull went wide seconds before the full-time whistle saw Nowlan Park erupt to the sound of elated Slaneyside supporters.
It had been a long time coming, and let’s hope it’s the first of many big knockout wins in a hurling year that has grabbed the attention of the public already.
Wexford: Mark Fanning (1-2 frees); Willie Devereux, Liam Ryan, Damien Reck; James Breen, Matthew O’Hanlon (joint capt.), Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-1); Aidan Nolan, Jack O’Connor; Paul Morris (0-3), Lee Chin (joint capt., 0-3, 1 free), David Redmond (0-1); Shaun Murphy, Conor McDonald (0-8, 4 frees), David Dunne (1-0). Subs. - Jack Guiney for Redmond (53), Harry Kehoe for O’Connor (59), Barry Carton for Morris (70), Aaron Maddock for Nolan (70+1).
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Pádraig Walsh, Shane Prendergast; Lester Ryan, Jason Cleere, Paddy Deegan (capt., 0-1); Ollie Walsh (0-2), Cillian Buckley (0-1); Colin Fennelly, Walter Walsh (0-1), T.J. Reid (0-10, 9 frees); Liam Blanchfield (0-3), Richie Hogan (0-1), Conor Martin. Sub. - Jonjo Farrell for Ryan (49).
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).