LET’S KEEP IT REAL
Former Model boss wants sense of perspective at Wexford
ALL-IRELAND SHC Q-FINAL
But 1996 All-ireland winning boss Liam Griffin says a battling defeat will still be a positive for Davy Fitzgerald’s developing side.
That would mark the second year in a row that the Model County have lost an All-ireland quarter-final to Waterford.
But the big difference this year, according to Griffin, is that 2017 was already a giant success before the Championship even began.
He believes that gaining promotion to Division 1A was a season defining achievement and says that retaining that status next year is easily as important as the outcome of today’s game.
Griffin said the reality is that the Leinster finalists have already overachieved this year and need to be realistic about how far they can go.
Griffin said: “When you get 60,000 people turning up for a Wexford game and when you have the whole county buzzing about hurling, the pressure comes on to perform. But people have to cut the players some slack and let reality take hold - we have overachieved all year.
“Yes, Wexford were going to come good at some stage on the back of the three Leinster under-21 titles we won between 2013 and 2015.
“But nobody expected us to get to Division 1A of the league this year. It was a major bonus to get there and, for me, the really important thing is that they stay in 1A now.
“Doing well in an All-ireland quarter-final is obviously important and would be great but the longer term picture for Wexford is about staying in 1A and playing the top teams on a regular basis.
“Then you start to come into the big summer matches against the Waterfords and the Galways on the same level as them.”
Griffin would love to be overtaken by Davy Fitzgerald as the ‘last Wexford manager to win the Allireland’ but reckons that moniker will stick with him for a while yet.
He said: “I’m realistic about this game. Nobody wants Wexford to win more than me but Wexford are a little behind Waterford despite all the progress we’ve made this year.
“I’m not trying to whisper up Waterford as the favourites to take the pressure off Wexford – the reality is that Waterford are the favourites.
“They’ve been hurling at a higher level for the last few seasons and have been knocking on the door of an All-ireland for a couple of years.
“It depends on which Waterford turns up. They’ve been hot and cold but if Waterford turn up and play to their potential I think that could be the end of the line for us.”
Griffin isn’t concerned that losing to Galway in front of the eyes of the nation may have set Wexford back. It was just their second defeat all season and guru Fitzgerald shrugged when asked if they could shake off the disappointment.
Fitzgerald described it as a ‘big ask to pick them back up’ though Griffin believes it won’t be an issue.
Griffin said: “I’d be surprised if they didn’t give a really good performance and if they do that and just come up a bit short they can head back down the road for home with their heads held high.”