Galway v Wexford:THE CONTEXT framing this is a little unforgiving. The team that blitzed its trail through the NHL Division One final takes on the side that stammered its lines in the Division Two decider despite looking comfortably the better performer.
Key to what happens is how Wexford respond. They’re free of league worries and playing on familiar territory without any pressure of expectation and have experienced players dotted around the field. Last year, they overturned their league final defeat by Offaly in the championship a couple of weeks later, but went on to lose to Dublin and flop against Limerick at home.
Galway’s defensive spine of Shane Kavanagh and Tony Regan were excellent in the league final, but Stephen Banville is a more buccaneering full forward than Aisake Ó hAilpín and Eoin Quigley a more practised centre forward than Kieran Murphy.
Still, the problem remains for Wexford that they have been hurling with less intensity and at reduced pace in Division Two – and not always doing well in the environment – compared to Galway. Their ability to get up to the top levels of intensity might be open to question later this year, but no one can doubt the pace at which they’ll run the game this evening.
One of the big pluses of the league final was the extent to which the whole attack contributed and not just Joe Canning.
All six scored from play and replacement Joe Gantley, who is named for this match ahead of Iarla Tannian also chipped in.
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Regan, D Collins; G Farragher, D Burke; D Hayes, C Donnellan, A Smith; A Harte, J Canning, J Gantley.
WEXFORD: N Carton; L Prendergast, K Rossiter, C Kenny; R Kehoe, D Stamp, M Travers; H Kehoe, C Farrell; M Jacob, E Quigley, D Lyng (capt); R Jacob, S Banville, P Atkinson.
Referee: J Sexton (Cork).
In the last episode:There is well-aired imbalance between the counties with Galway not having beaten Wexford in seven championship meetings, going back to the 1951 All-Ireland semi-final. The most recent meeting was in 1996, when Galway also had just won the league, but they lost out to the momentum of a Wexford team who had just picked up a first Leinster title in 19 years and were on the way to a first All-Ireland since 1968.
You bet:Galway unbackable at 1/10, Wexford 7/1, the draw 9/1.
On your marks: There's more to handling Galway than simply holding Joe Canning, but at times not much more. Keith Rossiter is one of those players whose talents would grace one of Wexford's more high-profile eras and how he gets on this evening will be a litmus test of the county's challenge.
Gaining ground:Although Wexford were beaten by Dublin at the Kilkenny venue last year, it has been a reasonably happy hunting ground for them in the championship and they had been unbeaten here on their previous four visits in the past decade.
Just the ticket: Walsh Stand tickets (€20 – no concessions), Grace and Carroll Stands (€20), Family tickets for the stand (adults €20 and children €5) and terrace (adults €15 and children €3). Terrace (€15). Students and OAPs get €10 rebate on stand tickets and €5 on terrace tickets. There will be extra-time in event of draw.
Crystal gazing:Wexford can come up with a competitive show, but the difference between Division One and Division Two winners will tell on the scoreboard.
