SAFFTY FIRST
Wexford ace says the 2013 defeat to Antrim is a warning for Model not get ahead of themselves
WEXFORD ace Lee Chin has warned any complacent colleagues thinking that promotion is already secured to remember 2013.
The mention of that year alone is enough for Wexford minds to focus on their shock All-ireland under-21 semi-final loss to raging underdogs Antrim that August.
Wexford were in the midst of a provincial three-in-a-row and, like today, were told they only had to turn up in Thurles to take the spoils.
But with Chin in midfield Wexford were powerless to prevent Antrim becoming the first ever Ulster team to reach the under-21 decider.
Many of the same Wexford players will be involved on Sunday when Wexford attempt to claim the win over struggling Offaly that guarantees a historic promotion to Division 1A.
But Chin said: “I’m no fool, back in 2013 we played the under21 All-ireland series, we won Leinster and beat Kilkenny and all people thought we had to do was turn up against Antrim and we were in the All-ireland final.
“Basically after winning the Leinster final you were in the Allireland final already – that’s what people would tell you. We probably got caught up in all of that and look what happened – we were beaten by Antrim in the semi-final. I’ll never forget that.
“It still stings, of course. I won’t get carried away in terms of who we play. We played Galway and then had Kerry two weeks later and there was nothing different that we did preparing for Kerry than we did preparing for Galway or Limerick.” Chin doesn’t need to be reminded either that Offaly beat Wexford by eight points in last year’s League.
The 24-year-old Faythe Harriers man said: “We’re definitely not going to be taking Offaly lightly, we’re doing everything we can in preparation for them. We know we’re going to have to turn up and perform and that’s exactly what we’re going to plan to do. We know Offaly are not just going to be an easy turnover.”
It would be a big shock if Wexford didn’t get the solitary win they require from their remaining games against Offaly and Laois though.
Many feel the Division 1B campaign was over as soon as Wexford beat Galway in mid-february and reckon a promotion decider for the top two teams should be reintroduced, to sustain interest in the group.
Chin, who will appear in the AIB commissioned ‘The Toughest Trade’ on RTE2 TV tonight (left), said: “It would be nice to get a bit of silverware if the [Division 1B] final was still there but I think the main goal is promotion.
“I’m just happy enough with the position we are in. Hopefully we get the win now in one of the last two games and we are up.”