‘This is not acceptable... we let down our supporters’

WEXFORD manager Davy Fitzgerald issued a public apology to the county’s supporters after a bumper crowd of over 16,000 saw Kilkenny win in emphatic fashion and set up a League final against Tipperary next Sunday. The defeat ends a run of seven victories in League and Championship at Wexford Park since Fitzgerald (left) took over at the start of last season and he admitted it was a reality check. ‘Extremely disappointed. Kilkenny bossed us completely. They were absolutely, 100 per cent the better team. That’s not acceptable, the way we played,’ said Fitzgerald. ‘I’m just so disappointed for Wexford supporters. I feel we let them down. I don’t say that too often but I said it to the boys, they know it themselves. ‘I promise you there isn’t that much between ourselves and Kilkenny. That’s us flat out, they’ve a few to come back.’ When Conor McDonald goaled in the second half Wexford trailed by just a goal, with the breeze at their backs having trailed by eight at half-time, but Kilkenny weathered the storm and coasted to a nine-point win. Fitzgerald immediately installed the Cats as All-Ireland contenders. ‘I’m delighted to see Kilkenny have changed their game, they’re working the ball way more, they’re gone from the game they played from 2004 to 2011/12. ‘The bottom line is they wanted it more than we did, and fair play to them, I thought they played great stuff. They ran at us unreal, they took us apart, I thought it was as good as I’ve seen them play in four or five years. I know it’s very early days, but if they play like that they’ll be right there as contenders.’