WEXFORD BOSS JJ Doyle wasn’t too impressed by Antrim’s defensive tactics in last Saturday’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-final.
The Saffrons opted for a policy of containment at Semple Stadium, after departing manager Kevin Ryan had predicted a “massive hiding” for his Ulster champions.
Flooding his defence in an attempt to prevent a rout, Ryan deployed Maoi Connolly and Michael Dudley, named in the wing-forward positions, as sweepers.
Antrim’s set-up contributed to a largely forgettable encounter and it took a moment of individual brilliance from Conor McDonald to unlock Antrim’s defence, as his sublime handpass placed Conor Devitt for a second half goal.
But Doyle was left with a hollow feeling at full-time, despite guiding the Slaneysiders to a second successive U21 decider.
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Antrim manager Kevin Ryan used two sweepers against Wexford. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“It is a job done. We are in an All-Ireland final. It wasn’t a great spectacle,” Doyle said.
“It wasn’t a brilliant performance or anything like that. We did what we needed to do and we got over the line.
“It was probably the most negative game I have ever seen. It would probably put some football games in a good light.
“We knew it would be defensive, we didn’t think it would be that defensive.
“But then, at times, our use of possession out of defence played into their hands.
“We were playing ball down the middle when we had spoken about not doing that.
“They are young men, they will learn from it.
“They are not overly happy which is a great sign after winning an All-Ireland semi-final by 12-points.
“We know we will have to be better than that, but we know we are capable of being better than that.”
Wexford will hope to atone for last year's All-Ireland U21 hurling final defeat. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Wexford got the job done, as expected, to set up a 12 September shootout with Limerick for U21 glory.
And while Limerick appear more battle-hardened en route to the showpiece decider, Doyle insisted that Wexford would be fine.
“These kinds of results didn’t affect Clare in two out of the last three years,” he said.
“It was a tough game in the sense that it was a game where the lads kinda had to work it out for themselves.
“We were coming in off a six and a half week lay-off and that is a long time to go without a match.
“We have three weeks now to the final and hopefully we can take momentum from today.”
'It was probably the most negative game I have ever seen, it wasn't a great spectacle'
WEXFORD BOSS JJ Doyle wasn’t too impressed by Antrim’s defensive tactics in last Saturday’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling semi-final.
The Saffrons opted for a policy of containment at Semple Stadium, after departing manager Kevin Ryan had predicted a “massive hiding” for his Ulster champions.
Flooding his defence in an attempt to prevent a rout, Ryan deployed Maoi Connolly and Michael Dudley, named in the wing-forward positions, as sweepers.
Antrim’s set-up contributed to a largely forgettable encounter and it took a moment of individual brilliance from Conor McDonald to unlock Antrim’s defence, as his sublime handpass placed Conor Devitt for a second half goal.
But Doyle was left with a hollow feeling at full-time, despite guiding the Slaneysiders to a second successive U21 decider.
“It is a job done. We are in an All-Ireland final. It wasn’t a great spectacle,” Doyle said.
“It wasn’t a brilliant performance or anything like that. We did what we needed to do and we got over the line.
“We knew it would be defensive, we didn’t think it would be that defensive.
“But then, at times, our use of possession out of defence played into their hands.
“We were playing ball down the middle when we had spoken about not doing that.
“They are young men, they will learn from it.
“They are not overly happy which is a great sign after winning an All-Ireland semi-final by 12-points.
“We know we will have to be better than that, but we know we are capable of being better than that.”
Wexford got the job done, as expected, to set up a 12 September shootout with Limerick for U21 glory.
And while Limerick appear more battle-hardened en route to the showpiece decider, Doyle insisted that Wexford would be fine.
“These kinds of results didn’t affect Clare in two out of the last three years,” he said.
“We were coming in off a six and a half week lay-off and that is a long time to go without a match.
“We have three weeks now to the final and hopefully we can take momentum from today.”
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Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling championship GAA JJ Doyle Wexford tough going