Hurlers to meet Galway at home
O’Hanlon looking forward
WEXFORD WILL be hoping to have secured a provincial final place before they face off against arch-rivals Kilkenny in what will be their final round robin game in the new-look provincial championships.
Ever since Wexford handed their neighbours two successive defeats this year, in league and championship, Brian Cody’s charges have been waiting in the long grass to gain revenge.
And given the nature of the draw, the once hurling kingpins could still be needing a result from this final round game to keep their championship hopes alive.
When the draw was made in the RTE studios on Thursday night, Wexford received a bye in the opening round but have been handed a second round home game against Dublin who, seven days earlier, will have entertained Kilkenny in Parnell Park.
Following this Wexford travel to play Offaly, but the game of the championship from a Wexford perspective is a third round clash against reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions, Galway, in Innovate Wexford Park, before completing their round robin series of games away to Kilkenny.
While Wexford may have pulled off high profile wins this year, being the only team to gain a victory over Galway in that famous league game down in Salthill, joint captain Matthew O’Hanlon believes that while Wexford have been handed many huge challenges for 2018, he is clearly looking forward to it.
O’Hanlon said that Wexford are where they want to be and where Wexford hurling should be.
‘This is going to be a totally different scenario as far as we are concerned, but it going to be the same for each county, first the league to be followed by four hugely competitive championship games.
‘When it comes to the league, Division 1A is where we wanted to be for the last number of years. The games in the league will be huge, with Cork and Clare at home, and then trying to grab points on the road.
‘This is going to be a huge test of our panel. Naturally injuries will be picked up along the way, both in league and championship, and that is where the panel comes in, but Division 1A is where we always wanted to be,’ he said.
‘Apart from that it offers us hugely competitive games, but staying there is going to be our aim. It’s going to be a great test but we are looking forward to it as hopefully it will set us up for the championship. With the league starting earlier by some three to four weeks it will be totally different, but the opportunity is there for us now.’
For the championship, the St. James’ clubman said it’s going to offer different challenges for every side.
‘There are four championship games, whereas previously teams could qualify for a provincial final with just two games. That in itself offers the type of challenges that make a strong panel necessary. We have the bye in the first round but then we’ll have four huge games on successive weekends.
‘But if we can gain momentum from the opening games, like the league this year, it can carry us a long way. With Dublin at home in the first game, they will throw everything at the league and championship this year under new management, and then it’s away to Offaly.
‘If we gain momentum from those games, then it’s Galway and an opportunity to take on the All-Ireland champions on home turf. These are three huge games so let’s hope we have the points before that final game with Kilkenny.’
O’Hanlon is clearly enjoying the break before returning to training. ‘For the first time in five to six years I have finished early. Normally with the club we would still be playing this time of year, but right now I’m enjoying rest.
‘I’m just tipping away keeping myself in shape, but come the end of November it will be back to full training. The appetite will be well and truly be back by then,’ he said.
Leinster SHC round robin draw - round one: Dublin v. Kilkenny; Offaly v. Galway; Wexford bye.
Round two: Wexford v. Dublin; Kilkenny v. Offaly; Galway bye.
Round three: Offaly v. Wexford; Galway v. Kilkenny; Dublin bye.
Round four: Wexford v. Galway; Dublin v. Offaly; Kilkenny bye.
Round five: Kilkenny v. Wexford; Galway v. Dublin; Offaly bye.
Allianz HL Division 1A: Sunday, January 28, away to Waterford; Sunday, February 4, home to Cork; Saturday, February 17, away to Tipperary; Sunday, February 25, home to Clare; Sunday, March 4, away to Kilkenny.