Matthew O’Hanlon and Wexford aiming to reach next level

In most other years since their last All-Ireland semi-final appearance (against Cork) in 2004, by now Wexford would be on their holidays following another Semple Stadium collapse.

The normally reliable Paudie Foley would have fumbled that ball in that moment in that position, maybe for the first time in his life, and Daniel Kearney's goal with nine minutes remaining to put Cork a point up, without deserving to be, would have awoken the slumbering Rebels.

Tradition would have mattered. Fear of failure would have led Cork into an All-Ireland quarter-final just as it froze Wexford hurlers into inactivity. Instead Lee Chin stood up, caught the subsequent puck out and levelled matters up.

In any other year, Cork would have scored more than two more points to 0-5 from Wexford in what became a late, late shootout.

The radar

“Yeah, it was massive for us,” says Wexford captain Matthew O’Hanlon. “Over the last couple of seasons we’d have come across Cork in the league and last year in the qualifiers and we felt as a group that we probably didn’t do ourselves justice.

“We could have beaten them in the league in Páirc Uí Rinn last year. And but for the fact we conceded three goals in the qualifiers last year in the first half, we put up a better show in the second half and kind of got back close but left too much of a gap. So, this year coming in under the radar helped us.

“We were full of belief and knew if we put a performance in for 70, 75 minutes we could get over the line. And thankfully we did.”

That victory on July 9th represented change that had been expected but has just been slow coming. Despite three Leinster under-21 titles from 2013-15, Wexford slipped miles off being the contenders Liam Dunne has sought to mould them into since a group of quality young hurlers landed in senior ranks with a poor league campaign followed by the confidence-shattering loss to Dublin earlier this summer.

“Daniel Kearney’s goal at the end, Wexford teams in the past might have capitulated there and Cork would have gone on to win it,” said O’Hanlon. “But a few big scores from some of our big players really got us over the end-line. We had said to ourselves before the game that no matter what would happen we’d keep going and keep the momentum up and for 70-plus minutes we’d give it our all.

Better team

“Obviously the couple of goal chances

David Dunne

would put in any other day so it was a bit of a letdown. But then other guys stepped up and David [Dunne] worked very hard, won four or five frees for us. Lee won a few big puck-outs and then Liam Óg [McGovern] came into it for the last ten minutes and Conor (McDonald) was very good from the frees too.

“Over the 75-plus minutes I felt we were the better team. It was a pity not to get another goal or two to put a bit more of a margin between the teams. But, look, a win is a win.”

In most years Wexford would be blown away by an embarrassed Waterford, limping off their Munster final meltdown, at Thurles this Sunday afternoon.

“As a group of players we’ve always remained united. Always had each other’s back and always remained motivated and wanted to do our best for Wexford. . Until the Offaly and Cork game we haven’t really set the world alight. An indifferent league, a poor performance against Dublin.

“So, rightfully so, people in Wexford were asking questions. And we felt we owed the supporters one. And we owed Liam one as well because he stood by us for the past five years. And we’ve had our ups and downs but we were delighted to get over the line and prove we have it within us to win a big championship game and get a bit of momentum. Who knows where it can take us now.”

Chin is a massive draw for all hurling people, not just Wexford fans, but so is McDonald near to goal, McGovern and Dunne. So much attacking quality does make almost anything seem possible.

“Lee is a phenomenal athlete first and foremost. Back when he was playing dual he worked really hard on his hurling skills and since then he has improved year after year and it’s only this year he’s really started to see the fruits of his labour now.

"He's an exceptional player and a real leader for us. It's great to have someone of his strength and stature in the half-forward line to win ball and drive on the team. But there are other guys there who are stepping up as well. Liam Óg McGovern has been around for a while playing really well, Diarmuid O'Keeffe is playing really well, Conor (McDonald) is getting some great scores for us, and then you've got the likes of Paudie Foley who's still only 21 as well and manning the centre back position."

Maybe, Wexford are still not ready to grace Croke Park in August for the first time since 2004 . . .but maybe they are.