Another win vital now that we’re out of starting blocks

LOOKING AHEAD to this Saturday evening, Wexford know that Offaly are waiting in the long grass. Offaly have lost their opening two games which leaves them on the fringe of a relegation battle.

Wexford may have just won their opening game against Dublin with a late scoring flourish, but the players will realise that Offaly are a side capable of bringing a team back down to earth.

The midlanders are capable of one big shock in this title race, so Wexford will be cautious.

While there may be much hype surrounding Wexford now following the manner of the Dublin victory, the important thing for the squad is to park that game and get back into their preparations, setting out their goals as to how they will take both points home from O’Connor Park on Saturday evening.

There are no great differences between teams in this round robin so Offaly will always have targeted this game for a possible two points, which should be a warning in itself to the Model county players.

Dublin may be kicking themselves, having lost their opening two games in additional time, but looking back on Sunday afternoon, one feels there is now real belief in this Wexford side.

The players have settled into the Davy Fitz gameplan, and while there is still room for improvement, one had to be impressed with some new players taking on the responsibility as a few of the more noted names struggled to impose themselves on this game. One would have to give huge credit to Wexford.

It’s not that long back when Wexford would have been unable to respond to such a late setback, leaving them one point adrift entering additional time.

This was never going to faze this Wexford Wexford team as they retained their composure to strike over three golden match-winning points.

Dublin were always going to be well prepared under Pat Gilroy with a gameplan set out.

They decided on trying to smother Lee Chin out of the game, but the long ball tactic into Liam Rushe failed to reap dividends as Liam Ryan was immense on the fringe of the square, with both Damien Reck and Simon Donohoe ever alert to the breaking ball.

At the other end Wexford gave up two goal chances while they also struck 13 wides.

But it all boiled down to the final minutes as Dublin failed to put the game away, but they came up against a Wexford team that in the eyes of visiting manager Pat Gilroy controlled most of this game.

Wexford stood up when it mattered. Rory O’Connor’s levelling point from a free out on the sideline under the stand was inspirational, but his lead point marked him out as something special.

Shaun Murphy broke up a Dubs attack and filtered the ball through to O’Connor who, from inside his own half, struck over a massive lead point, a score that lifted the crowd to their feet. Wexford will have found out much from this game.

They will work on aspects of their play this week, and take the challenge to O’Connor Park, where they can expect a warm and physical welcome from the midlanders.

This is a day when Wexford will need to deliver and build on Sunday’s good work.

They can only collect the two points if they put in the work, give Offaly the respect they deserve, and then go on to produce the type of hurling which will mark them out as realistic provincial contenders.

Wexford are now becoming a serious team. Now they must back up that performance with a display against Offaly as there is a lot more to this team.

There were flashes of excellent play against Dublin, and ultimately they led to that hard-earned victory.

Many felt this was always going to be an arm wrestle, and Offaly will be no different.

That’s going to be the nature of most championship games in this new-look structure.

Wexford nearly got caught by Dublin, but now that they are out of the blocks it’s crucial that they go on and deliver a victory against Offaly.

But it will not be easy. Once they realise that’s the case, they should be good enough to succeed.