Moment of magic from Murphy was something special

WE COULD have got a result, and we deserved it after coming from 13 points down. I don’t know where that hurley came out of to deny us a draw,’ Davy Fitzgerald said.

As for Clare joint manager, Gerry O’Connor, his view was: ‘We will have to look at our second-half fade-out. We still scored some nice points.’

Those were the contrasting views of the respective backrooms after Clare, who held a 13-point lead with 20 minutes remaining, were still forced to play out an agonising closing few minutes to salvage the two points from this Allianz Hurling League clash in Cusack Park, Ennis.

The contrast between the words and phrases uttered by the respective managers just about summed up this game which was quite extraordinary to say the least.

Twenty minutes from the end one expected Clare to cruise on to victory, but then came the transformation inspired by Kevin Foley and Diarmuid O’Keeffe, along with a now more prominent Rory O’Connor and Lee Chin, with this duo beginning to grow into the game following lengthy absences.

Not for the first time have I witnessed a dramatic Wexford recovery. That closing 20 minutes made the long journey home that little bit more comfortable, and when one reflected back on this game, several positives sprung to mind, encapsulating what this game is all about.

We had some delightful stickwork from individual players, and some wonderful long-range scores on either side, but there was one moment of magic that stands out, and possibly will be difficult to equal, let alone surpass, in this year’s league or championship.

That Shaun Murphy goal, detailed in the match report, was a special strike to light up any occasion. It helped to answer the many critics regarding Wexford’s gameplan, one the players are now settling into, and a plan they now believe in.

And in that moment of attacking play, with a string of passes before Murphy’s finish, it was an instant of real splendour.

Fitzgerald is trying to build a consistency through his gameplan. He is working from the back, building attacks by moving players forward at pace.

But while the closing 20 minutes was the most impressive part of this, he will still bemoan the slack marking leading to the opening goal, and the lack of a first touch when in control deep in defence leading up to the resulting penalty.

Both were pivotal junctures in this game, leading to scores that eventually decided the destination of the points.

Given the turmoil of weekend results, Wexford now have that important matter of a final round game against arch-rivals Kilkenny in Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday.

The need is now even more marked given the weekend results. With so many sides deadlocked on four points apiece chasing Limerick, Wexford’s destination is now in their own hands, but it’s a situation they would have preferred to have avoided.

All of the sides suddenly have a spring in their step and Wexford may need a victory to secure their progress through to the knockout stages rather than be reliant on results elsewhere. Kilkenny now find themselves in a similar situation which should make for an enthralling afternoon of hurling.

In a league season that is producing so much, despite the lack of relegation and promotion, it is still coming down to the final round of games, where so much depends on each and every outing, to decide on the four sides that will progress through to the knockout stages.

Who would have expected Tipperary to be the most deflated of the leading teams? Many had expected Wexford to be in this situation, but instead they have impressed greatly, with victories over Cork and Tipperary coupled with those two narrow defeats.

Now it all comes down to that final round clash with Kilkenny. This should ensure a huge crowd in Innovate Wexford Park.

For those under-age coaches in the county, they should look at the GAA Beo Playback, and show their young charges that Wexford goal. It was pure magic. They would quickly realise what the game of hurling is all about.

It certainly warmed Davy Fitzgerald. His team did not let him down in front of Banner county supporters. Now we look forward to another serious challenge with real confidence.