Rossiter full of praise for Wexford’s resilience
WEXFORD’S Keith Rossiter praised the ‘special fight’ his players showed in earning a share of the spoils away to Leinster rivals Kilkenny in the first round of the Allianz Hurling League. But the Model County’s new hurling manager admitted the level of drama in the final quarter — especially a madcap finish that saw Cian Byrne grab an injury-time goal to equalise — wasn’t good for the heart. ‘If they’re all going to be like that, I don’t know if I’ll last! Ah no, it was great. The fight we showed,’ Rossiter commented. ‘I thought we were a bit flat in the first half. Second to a lot of ball. ‘We weren’t winning much breaks, coming out from much rucks. We were probably lucky enough to go in just four down at halftime. ‘They missed a couple of frees that they probably won’t miss come Championship time but we showed great fight in the second half. ‘Yeah, the heart is racing at times on the sideline but in fairness to the lads, they did it on the field. They fought like dogs.’ Rossiter already has silverware to his name in the shape of the Walsh Cup but this was a big step up in a League campaign that carries a real sense of jeopardy. Teams need to finish in the top three of the division to guarantee top-flight status for 2025 in the new seventeam Division 1A. The top three in both current Division 1 groups will make the cut, along with the best fourth-placed finisher. ‘The prize is Division 1 hurling next year,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t know if it’s a hindrance or not but that’s the pressure to finish there.’