It’s early days yet, but narrow loss to Cats still frustrating

IT WASN’T meant to be this way. We had promised ourselves two things in advance of Sunday’s Bord na Móna Walsh Cup Senior hurling semi-final in New Ross. Firstly, it’s only January, so the result would be immaterial by the end of the year. And secondly, whether we won or lost, the outcome was never going to have a major impact on the decades-old relations with our closest rivals. Both teams have bigger fish to fry down the line after all.

And yet, it was still hard not to feel some pangs of regret trooping towards the exit along with the thousands of expectant supporters who came in their droves to New Ross despite the miserable weather.

Let’s face it, a Wexford versus Kilkenny clash would be competitive even if it was a game of tiddlywinks. Fair enough, football games between the neighbours usually go in one direction only, but when it comes to stick and ball there’s nothing quite like the sight of that black and amber jersey to stir the passions.

That’s not just the feeling of supporters, as it was abundantly clear in this game that the players were out to give everything they had in a bid to improve our terrible recent record against the Cats.

The exchanges were extremely physical and demanding on the body from the off, with countless hefty tackles and regular battles for the ball on the ground featuring a multitude of players.

In those facets of the game, Wexford showed they were up for this particular fight.

It could be argued that the conditions didn’t suit the style of play Davy Fitzgerald is slowly but surely bedding in, building from the back and working the ball into the best scoring position with a heavy emphasis on short passes.

It only takes one slip for moves of that nature to break down, and on Sunday mistakes were inevitable given the appalling conditions for hurling.

Neither team was at full strength of course, and the real judgement will have to be reserved until the counties hopefully meet in the championship.

And while the feeling will pass quickly, it was still a mite disappointing not to edge that particular verdict on Sunday, especially when the team had the chances to do so near the end.

Richie Reid may be living in the shadows of Eoin Murphy when it comes to nailing down the number one jersey for Kilkenny, but he certainly earned his keep and showed he’s an able deputy with that stunning late save from Cathal Dunbar.

I was standing on the field between the two dug-outs, and it seemed like time stood still and everyone around me took a step forward in anticipation when Lee Chin popped that handpass to the young substitute.

Regardless of what anyone says about the nature of the game or the time of year, it would have been sweet to see the net rattling at the dressing-room end, but it wasn’t to be.

The players and management now have a little time to prepare for two massive games which will mark the opening of the Allianz League, home to Limerick on February 12 and away to Galway seven days later.

There’s no doubt that our promotion bid will be determined in those encounters, so we await the outcome with interest.

First it’s the turn of the footballers to begin their league campaign with a home game, also against Limerick, this coming Sunday. While the clash against Dublin in the O’Byrne Cup attracted a high profile, for the most part they have flown in under the radar due to the public’s fascination with the new hurling regime.

A glance at the sides in Division 4 would suggest that Wexford, Westmeath and Limerick are the front-runners for the two promotion places, with the latter in a bit of form at present if their decent showing against Kerry in the McGrath Cup final is anything to go by.

Last year it was a similar situation at the outset when our biggest rivals to make Division 3 were Louth and Antrim. Unfortunately, we lost to both, so in that context victory on Sunday is essential.

Finally and briefly, congratulations to St. Peter’s who produced a vintage standard of football in Friday’s win. They were simply superb, and the victory was a real tonic for the county as a whole.