Poor finish may be a blessing yet if lessons learned

ITHINK it’s fair to say that, leaving the last 15 minutes of Sunday’s game out of the equation, Wexford got more than they could possibly have bargained for out of this Allianz League campaign. Indeed, it might even be argued that the poor finish to the semi-final showdown may yet prove a blessing in disguise, as if we learn some obvious lessons it should steel us for the championship battles to come.

A number of talking points emerged from a fascinating game that wasn’t nearly as one-sided as the final tallies would suggest.

First and foremost, the sweeper system isn’t working as smoothly as some would like to think given that five goals were conceded.

Let’s not forget either that Galway hit us for three in Salthill, but that aspect of the game was quickly parked when we went on to win the match and effectively seal promotion.

Having an extra defender to contend with is nothing new for a team of the calibre of Tipperary, and their inter-changing attacking system patented by former coach and manager Eamonn O’Shea was seen in all its glory on Sunday as they ruthlessly picked us apart.

One must remember that none of their three starters in the half-forward line got on the scoresheet, and the only free awarded to them with a chance of being converted was 85 metres out, albeit with the wind behind it, but Seamus Callanan sent it wide in the ninth minute.

In those circumstances, to score 5-17 from play, with Callanan only contributing two points, was an exceptional feat. The fact that their midfield pairing picked off 1-4 between them should be noted too, as clearly the problems Wexford endured when the play opened up weren’t solely confined to a leaking defence.

The other point worth stressing is that we clearly don’t have the same strength in depth as the top teams. None of our substitutes made what could be regarded as a significant impact, certainly nothing close to the improvement brought about by the first new man into the fray, Tipperary’s half-time replacement Michael Breen.

Clearly he had more time to shine than the rest, but his four-point haul speaks for itself. A game-changer of that calibre is priceless, and I imagine it will be a while before he warms the bench again.

There was a pivotal moment on Sunday when a powerful chant of ‘Wexford, Wexford’ started when we were just two points behind (2-12 to 0-16) with less than 15 minutes left.

It was uplifting to hear it, just like old times when we were able to compete at this level as a matter of course. In the interests of accuracy, I should add that our fans were in similar voice in 2014 versus Clare and Waterford, and last year against Cork, in fairness to the previous management who didn’t deserve the venomous criticism directed at them from some quarters in my view.

The goal must be to have our supporters in that type of form entering the closing stages of each and every game we play from now on. To be still in the hunt against the All-Ireland champions in the last quarter represents tangible progress, even if it all fell asunder in those final minutes.

It has been a successful league campaign on the whole. And while it was a squad effort, I feel it’s worth highlighting the massive impact made by young Damien Reck, fresh out of last year’s Minor ranks.

He had a real ‘welcome to the big time’ moment at the start on Sunday when he took a massive hit to the body from Steven O’Brien, but he got on with it and gave his all before departing owing to injury in the second-half.

And yesterday (Monday) when you and I were still dissecting the finer points of the game, I imagine at some stage the Oylegate-Glenbrien clubman’s thoughts might have turned to getting some revision done for his forthcoming Leaving Cert. in St. Mary’s C.B.S. (Enniscorthy).

It takes a special calibre of young man to enter that Nowlan Park cauldron twice in a fortnight and lock horns with the two undisputed top counties in hurling over the past decade.

In my view he typifies everything good and positive that Davy Fitzgerald is trying to instill into this group of players, a real find from an underperforming Minor collective last year.

It’s going to take time, and patience will be required, but as far as I’m concerned the project is still moving in the right direction.