Our recent record against Banner is a reason to believe
IT’S HARD to believe that there are only three weekends left in the Senior hurling championship which, despite some flaws, has entertained and enthralled for the past couple of months. Hurling at national level is on a high but we will have to carefully look at the adverse impact the format has had on the club scene over the winter.
I had three spare tickets heading to the Tipp venue on Sunday, two of which were given to me by Mick Walsh. Sadly, I didn’t collect any money for them so I hope Mick is reading the article (probably not) to save me the embarrassment of telling him I have no money for him.
I gave the third ticket, situated beside me, to another individual as my good deed, and discovered when inside a Galway fan sitting beside me had paid the full price for said ticket. So overall I have decided to stay out of the touting business for the foreseeable future.
It was my great privilege to sit with Liam Spratt and the incredibly passionate Gerry Forde at a wonderful Under-21 game on Wednesday evening. I was one of the most unpredictable and spectacular games for years and great credit is due to all participants.
Nothing prepared us for the twists in the tale with the brilliant Ian Carty sending Wexford fans into orbit in injury time, only to be tragically (for us) deprived in similar circumstances by Seán Bleahene at the death.
Some Galway people were a little over the top at the end in their remonstrations because in calm recollection I feel Wexford were slightly the better team, with more goal chances and a very legitimate penalty claim in the first-half.
My abiding memory of the game, however, was the sheer intensity of the excitement within the ground, with incredible performances from the likes of Darren Byrne, Damien Reck, Gary Molloy, Rory O’Connor, Seamus Casey (what a loss when he went off) and the aforementioned Carty underlining the bright future we have in Wexford hurling.
I have long maintained that of all games there is no hiding place in hurling and it is unfair to individualise after a game where nothing was left in the tank by any player. It would have been a great game to win but I have no doubt we will have a big say in this competition before the James Nowlan Cup is handed out.
Our Seniors comfortably, if not impressively, qualified for a joust with Davy’s native county next weekend. The venue hasn’t been decided on at the time of writing.
I see no reason why it should be automatically a Munster venue, with Kilkenny being just as suitable. Decisions of this nature seem to have a southern influence and whilst there seems to be no problem playing the Leinster hurling final in Thurles (which I have no problem with given I am a serious Michael Buble fan), Waterford weren’t allowed to play their Munster home games in Kilkenny.
The next thing we know is they will be bringing the Wexford Senior hurling final to a Munster venue. Regardless of venue, the Clare challenge, to use Davy’s own words, will be massive. There are areas of weakness in their defence but a forward line containing Kelly, Conlon, Duggan, Collins etc. will be mighty hard to stop.
They were very disappointed in the second-half capitulation against Cork, but let there be no doubt given their ability and the undoubted incentive of facing their former boss that this will be a tough hurdle. On the flip slide our own lads have had the chance to re-energise over the past few weeks and our recent record against the Banner is very encouraging.
We took them to extra-time in their glory year of 2013 and dethroned them in Innovate Wexford Park the year after so the colour of the jersey won’t faze us. Our system will cause them problems and if our marquee players perform we are a match for anybody.
It will be a great occasion with the Munster men holding a slight edge in my book. I have learned, however, never to underestimate a Davy team so we will undoubtedly give it a right shot.
Good luck to all the lads and up Wexford.