Clubs competing against Kilkenny’s strength in Leinster

THIS IS a make-or-break weekend for the three Wexford hurling clubs flying the flag on the provincial scene, but they all go into action buoyed by their successes on the weekend before last. When Naomh Eanna, Fethard and Taghmon-Camross accounted for Camross, Kiltale and Wolfe Tones respectively, it was actually the first time for all three of our representatives to clear their opening round hurdle together since 2012.

That was the year when the restructuring of our domestic championships had been completed after two years of groundwork, and the victors from the newly-created Intermediate ‘A’ competition were granted the right to represent us in the Leinster Junior series for the first time.

It was felt at that stage six years ago that this might lead to provincial honours finally coming our way at that level, but it didn’t work out as hoped until Fethard finally made the breakthrough with their success against John Lockes from Callan last season.

Now they are aiming to repeat that fine feat in the higher Intermediate grade, and if they happen to succeed they will become the first Wexford winners of a competition that was inaugurated in 2004.

Our five final appearances have all ended in defeat, starting with that first championship 14 years ago when Carrickshock from Kilkenny had a handy 2-16 to 0-6 win against St. Patrick’s in Camolin.

One year later it was even more one-sided as Dicksboro defeated Marshalstown-Castledockrell by 0-20 to 0-3 in Nowlan Park, and a valiant Ferns St. Aidan’s effort in Loughegar in 2007 ended in a 1-15 to 3-7 loss at the hands of Clonkill from Westmeath.

Kilkenny’s county ground bore witness to another rout in 2012 when Clara crushed Oylegate-Glenbrien by 3-20 to 0-5, and Bellefield was the location one year later when Buffers Alley pushed The Rower-Inistioge all the way before going down by 1-9 to 0-10.

Ten of the 14 competitions thus far have been won by the Noreside champions, with one apiece for the Senior victors from Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Carlow.

Readers won’t need reminding, particularly in light of the above information, that the benchmark in Leinster Club hurling is set by the Kilkenny representatives across all grades.

It means that Naomh Eanna and Fethard will face the acid test of their capabilities in their semi-finals versus Ballyhale Shamrocks and Graigue-Ballycallan respectively.

And if Taghmon-Camross happen to get through their trip to St. Loman’s Park in Trim where they will face the Meath Intermediate champions, Na Fianna, their likely final opponents will be another Kilkenny outfit, Dunnamaggin.

The team trained by Jason Ryan will be aiming to become the third from New Ross District to reach a Leinster Junior decider, as Clongeen lost a classic to Tullogher-Rosbercon by 1-19 to 3-8 in Nowlan Park in 2008, nine years before Fethard’s breakthrough.

Askamore were the inaugural winners of the competition in 2000 when it didn’t progress to an All-Ireland series and, apart from that first and last Wexford success, no fewer than 13 from a possible 18 titles have gone to Kilkenny. Clubs from Westmeath, Carlow and Offaly also took the spoils one time apiece, but again the evidence is crystal clear: it’s a tall order triumphing in a Leinster championship with some version of the Cats standing in your way.

Having said that, their representatives haven’t been as dominant in Senior ranks in recent years, with just one of the last seven finals won by a Kilkenny team.

Still, that honour went to the self-same Ballyhale Shamrocks, Sunday’s opponents for Naomh Eanna, back in 2014. While some significant changes in personnel have been made since, the most notable being the presence now of Henry Shefflin on the other side of the white lines where he can do less damage, it will remain a big ask for the Gorey lads but not an impossible one by any means.

Ballyhale’s last visit to Innovate Wexford Park, for a semi-final on December 1, 2012, resulted in a 1-11 to 1-10 loss to Oulart-The Ballagh, and they were very lucky to beat Erin’s Own from Castlecomer in their recent county semi-final with a late burst.

The weather could be a great leveller on Sunday, and hopefully Naomh Eanna will have a right cut at it and get the desired result.