Dubs show that a tough opener is on cards for Wexford

DAVY FITZGERALD has a stark warning for Model county supporters that this championship will not be easy. The Wexford players have bought into the knowledge of their manager, and brought Wexford hurling to another level, but it’s the ability of the squad to step up one more notch that could decide the 2018 championship path, starting with a huge opening game against Dublin at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday afternoon.

Fitzgerald insists that this championship is going to be massive, particularly Wexford’s provincial run, with four games on successive weekends, so you cannot get away from the fear of injury.

This was demonstrated last Sunday when Dublin’s Conal Keaney was forced out of his side’s narrow defeat to Kilkenny at a crucial juncture of the second period, with his injury making him a huge doubt for the Wexford game.

So it’s the little things that will count. That starts next Sunday for Wexford where two points are essential to build their championship charge.

This is in stark contrast to Dublin who, following their Kilkenny defeat, will now be seeking both points to keep their championship campaign alive, making for what should be an enthralling encounter.

The change to the format will place huge demands on the players this summer but, as Davy Fitzgerald points out, Wexford will need to beat at least two of the four teams to make it to the knockout stages, while they could need a third victory to return to a provincial final.

But it’s a measure of the title race that, for the second successive year, the championship is wide open. The reigning champions, Galway, got off to an impressive start with a comfortable victory over Offaly, which is a measure of what it will take to dethrone them, even at provincial level.

The change in the structure this year means that the depth in the squad will be more important than ever when it comes to games on successive weekends.

Wexford have some small concerns as they wind down preparations, with David Dunne still a doubt with an ongoing ankle problem, while this game could come a few weeks too early for Liam Og McGovern. Centre-back Matthew O’Hanlon has got in some full training sessions as he recovers from a knee ligament problem received in the league semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.

In terms of Dublin, they amply demonstrated that when it comes to championship hurling, one can cast aside league form to an extent.

The Dubs had a dismal league, but came within minutes of shocking the league champions with a display that will not have gone unnoticed by the watching Wexford backroom team.

Dublin showed that under the new management set-up of Pat Gilroy and Anthony Cunningham, the transition is almost complete.

Their side is built around experience and youth, but the potential loss of centre-forward Conal Keaney could be a game-changer as the 35-year-old was in tremendous form in unhinging the Kilkenny defence. It was all there for Wexford to see. They will now know what is facing them but for Wexford to see off this Dublin challenge they must find a way of curtailing the influence of Liam Rushe.

The big Dublin man played in the unusual role of full-forward, having previously shone in centre-back position, but his influence against Kilkenny was huge. He may not have scored but had a hand in 2-3 of his side’s tally, and it’s this influence which made the central pairing of Keaney and Rushe such a dominant feature of the Dubs attack. His battle with the in-form Liam Ryan should be one of the clashes of the game.

Should Ryan curtail Rushe’s influence it can go a long way towards a home victory.

Meanwhile, one could not but marvel at the display of Wexford’s young footballers despite their eventual six-point defeat to Laois after extra-time. They played some wonderful football through the opening 35 minutes, and still led entering the final minute, only to be hauled back in dramatic fashion, with the game going to extra-time which meant a step too far physically.

The victory of the Under-17 hurlers over Laois was a welcome boost to the under-age game in the county. Thursday night’s training session taken by Davy Fitgerald had a huge impact on the young players.

It was a pity the supposed Model army were in such short supply to support our two sides.