GAA: Wexford v DublinIT IS the pedigree of the hurlers on show this evening that entices us to this provincial final.
Wexford can boast a couple of senior hurlers, now free for the summer, and one from the football panel in Liam Óg McGovern. They also have a cousin of soccer international Kevin Doyle in centre forward Harry Kehoe.
Then there is full back Matthew O’Hanlon, whose grandad, Mick, was part of the great 1950s team. There is even a Storey, Tommy being a nephew of Martin, on the panel.
Dublin’s pedigree, although more recent, is equally impressive.
Thomas Connolly, younger brother of footballer Diarmuid, comes into the full-forward line while Rory and Ross O’Carroll’s younger sibling, Bill, is at right-corner back. Mark Schutte and Conor Gough also have brothers, Paul and Oisín, ploughing away for the senior hurlers.
Anthony Daly is not overseeing this team, but he keeps close tabs on his lieutenant John McEvoy, while there are regular promotions up to senior training.
There is also the direct crossover of Liam Rushe (seems like he has been around for ages already), Daire Plunkett and Martin Quilty balancing the hectic lifestyle of competing in two championship campaigns at once.
Some sensible scheduling has ensured the games haven’t directly overlapped yet. The aforementioned trio have 10 days to recover before the Dublin seniors face Limerick. It allows them to focus solely this week on the job at hand and they’ll need to.
Wexford deservedly overcame Kilkenny and then Laois to reach this juncture so there is enough evidence to suggest a group has been unearthed capable of ending a nine-year search for a Leinster title at this age grade. It would be their 15th in total.
Dublin, in the meantime, have surpassed both tonight’s opponents and Offaly, as they did in the semi-final, as Kilkenny’s main rivals. They have two recent titles, 2007 and last year, to prove it.
Niall McMorrow also comes into the Dublin attack in their only other change.
John Leacy’s return to centre back for Wexford seems crucial while manger Tony Dempsey has also shuffled his deck, putting Pádraig Donnelly at corner back with Eoin Moore moving to midfield as Rory Sludds makes way.
They appear in greater need of victory here, but Dublin have higher aspirations.
DUBLIN: G McManus; B O'Carroll, D Kelly, J Doughan; D Curran, M Quilty, C Gough; D Sutcliffe, D Plunkett; M Schutte, L Rushe, R Mahon; K O'Loughlin, T Connolly, N McMorrow.
WEXFORD: M Fanning; W Devereux, M O'Hanlon, P Donnelly; M O'Regan, J Leacy, S Murphy; E Kent, E Moore; S Tomkins, H Kehoe, L Óg McGovern; P Morris, J Breen, P Doran.
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny).
