WHAT’S ON IN WEXFORD – FIVE PAGES OF LISTINGS
ONCE upon a time the pilgrimage to Croke Park to support the Wexford hurlers was just as synonymous with summer as strawberries and cream. Sport is full of ups and downs though, and the last time the county contested a Leinster Senior hurling championship final was in 2008.
Happily all that’s about to change, with supporters looking forward to a return to the good old days as the countdown continues to our first appearance in the decider for nine years. The big game is almost upon us, with Wexford primed to do battle with Galway in Croke Park on Sunday, July 2, at 4 p.m.
The westerners will go into the game as warm favourites, more so for the quality of their dismissal of All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the National League final rather than their impressive, but expected, championship wins to date over Dublin and Offaly respectively.
Galway are relatively recent arrivals to the Leinster championship, and they have one title to their credit thus far from 2012 when they demolished Kilkenny in the final.
The Wexford wave of optimism has been gathering momentum with every passing game, and the manner of the semi-final win over Kilkenny has heightened the belief that this could be the year when we capture that coveted provincial title for the first time since 2004. Thirteen years is too long for a hurling-mad county like Wexford to be in the doldrums, but sentiment won’t count for anything on Sunday in the heat of battle.
Thankfully there won’t be a mad scramble for tickets this time around given the stadium’s capacity in excess of 80,000, although Hill 16 will be closed to facilitate preparations for a music concert the following week.
Roll on Sunday, and here’s hoping there will be dancing at the crossroads of Wexford afterwards!