It’s never a bad day’s work when we skin the Cats

I’M A sad creature of habit on match day in Wexford, and wake on a Sunday morning with a happy heart when we play host to one of the big eight. Sunday took a slight turn as I attended a coffee morning in aid of Glynn school and, after a few words of advice to former soccer star Kevin Doyle and his wife, Jenny, who have positioned themselves as favourites for the upcoming Mr. and Mrs. title in the clubhouse on Friday night, I headed happily to town for my pre-match coffee.

You can’t buy the atmosphere that hurling brings to town, and I do feel that we have been living the dream as Wexford hurling supporters over the past few years.

Everyone is talking hurling and for lovers of the game like myself it is so heartening to see the excitement generated by the current band of young men that wear the famous jersey.

Even as I took my evening stroll around town, it is so noticeable to see so many youngsters carrying their hurls about, and the Bullring was host to a mini game involving ten or 15 Lee Chin wannabes.

Times are good on the surface with the ultimate threat, however, being the disregard shown for the club and its players. We need to expand the club season to cater for the vast majority of the players, young and old, even if that means condensing inter-county activity.

Failure to address this issue will have disastrous and far-reaching consequences.

Wexford gave an exhibition of how to manage a gale-force wind in the last 21 minutes of Sunday’s game after finding themselves a point down. They quickly turned the deficit into a point advantage, and the workrate, movement and use of the ball from this to the end was outstanding.

Two plays more than any summed this up, and they both involved the same player. When the play was at its most ferocious, Dee O’Keeffe took charge of the ball on the open side of the pitch and almost slipped into slow motion, not releasing the ball until the perfect opportunity arose as he picked out Kevin Foley who won a monster free landed by the excellent Paul Morris.

Shortly before, the young St. Anne’s man had ran into an open space at another vital juncture to be picked out by Rory O’Connor for the point that probably broke the back of the Cats’ challenge, and it showed for me the maturity and ability to make the right decision in a pressurised environment that has developed within the team.

In the commentary position we remarked that our bench was better populated and so it came to pass but, lest we get carried away, Reid, Fennelly, Mullen, Walsh, Murphy etc. weren’t togged and this illustrates what a challenge Brian Cody’s men will bring to the Leinster championship.

A small point must be made about the men that carry the black and amber jersey. Midway through the second-half Paddy Deegan received a blow (which was accidental and mistimed).

His response was not to go down, but leave the ball for the resultant free and race back into position. It’s a small thing, but an overstated reaction from the O’Loughlin Gaels man could have led to a more serious sanction, and I so admire the manly and dignified way Kilkenny approach our ancient sport.

But a win is a win and we had some excellent performances all through, with Mark Fanning and Joe O’Connor standing out at the back, and Liam Ryan storming into the game when most needed.

Jack O’Connor had a strong hour with three fine points, and Conor Mac’s goal exemplified everything that is good about the man. Powerful fielding, quick thinking and wonderful wrists.

Our substitutes had a strong impact and at the end of the day proved the difference, with the replaement of Richie Hogan probably not doing our chances any harm either.

It was a fine win in an excited Wexford Park which leaves qualification in our own hands. It’s never a bad day’s work when we skin the Cats.