After 17 minutes of their first encounter in Ennis, Wexford led defending champions Clare by 2-7 to 0-3 following an explosive start. However, by half-time, they’d only added two further points while Clare reduced the deficit to five.
With Liam Ryan, Jack Guiney and Conor McDonald all having played a part in their side’s defence of the Leinster U21 hurling title against Dublin on Wednesday, it may be tooo much to expect another fast start from Wexford.
The trio are all expected to play some role in today’s replay and their ability to last the pace of another intensive championship encounter is one of the big question marks hanging over a rejuvenated Wexford.
U21 boss JJ Doyle insists it won’t be an issue as the players are “fit as fiddles” but three high-intensity games in a week will test the fitness of even the best conditioned hurler.
2. Is the siege mentality fostered by Davy Fitzgerald a help or hindrance?
The Clare manager is a savvy media operator when he wants, using the fourth estate to address issues with match officials, county boards and anyone he feels has wronged him or his team.
If, as O’Connell has suggested, Fitzgerald saw fit to blame him for Clare’s woes on the field this year you have to ask if it was done to protect his team and deflect criticism after a game they were expected to win.
It’s a tactic used by managers in various sports over the years – from Jose Mourinho in soccer to Bernard Laporte in rugby – but whether or not it ever serves a team well in the long term remains to be seen.
If we see the Clare of late 2013 today, we’ll have to assume the ‘us against the world’ siege mentality has worked. If not, then it’s anyone’s guess as to where blame will be apportioned.
3. Can Clare improve enough in six days?
Wexford followed Cork’s example in the Munster SHC semi-final and denied Clare players any space when they got on the ball, restricting the defending champions to speculative shots for much of the game.
Likewise, the Clare back line showed a surprising naivete in the amount of time afforded to the likes of Conor McDonald and Rory Jacob, especially as Liam Dunne’s men raced into their early lead.
Generally, there was a lethargy about Clare – as there was against Cork – that was absent in their All-Ireland run last year. Can you coach that out of a team in just six days?
4. Can Tipperary finally build some momentum under Eamon O’Shea?
Last week’s remarkable comeback win over Galway represented the first championship win of Eamon O’Shea’s two years in charge of the Tipperary hurlers. However, they could not have asked for a better opportunity to build some real momentum with the qualifier draw pairing them with Offaly.
The Premier County has never lost a championship game to the Leinster side and, much like last year when Clare’s facile win over Laois laid the foundations of a successful All-Ireland campaign, Tipperary fans will be hoping for something similar today.
Tipperary also has a superb record in the qualifiers (losing only two of 12) and expect that to continue today.
5. Have Offaly any chance?
The short answer is no. The long answer is just a different way of saying it.
Only the most Faithful of fans would argue Offaly were good value for their last-gasp win over Antrim last month and Brian Whelehan’s men have just nine qualifier wins from 23 attempts since the back-door system was introduced.
Tipperary are 1/66 to win this game and the handicap is a whopping 14 points. That tells you everything you need to know.
5 talking points ahead of today's hurling action
1. Will burnout be an issue for Wexford?
After 17 minutes of their first encounter in Ennis, Wexford led defending champions Clare by 2-7 to 0-3 following an explosive start. However, by half-time, they’d only added two further points while Clare reduced the deficit to five.
With Liam Ryan, Jack Guiney and Conor McDonald all having played a part in their side’s defence of the Leinster U21 hurling title against Dublin on Wednesday, it may be tooo much to expect another fast start from Wexford.
The trio are all expected to play some role in today’s replay and their ability to last the pace of another intensive championship encounter is one of the big question marks hanging over a rejuvenated Wexford.
U21 boss JJ Doyle insists it won’t be an issue as the players are “fit as fiddles” but three high-intensity games in a week will test the fitness of even the best conditioned hurler.
2. Is the siege mentality fostered by Davy Fitzgerald a help or hindrance?
The Clare manager is a savvy media operator when he wants, using the fourth estate to address issues with match officials, county boards and anyone he feels has wronged him or his team.
But there’s an acrimonious side too which was perfectly encapsulated by his verbal confrontation with journalist Peter O’Connell last weekend.
If, as O’Connell has suggested, Fitzgerald saw fit to blame him for Clare’s woes on the field this year you have to ask if it was done to protect his team and deflect criticism after a game they were expected to win.
It’s a tactic used by managers in various sports over the years – from Jose Mourinho in soccer to Bernard Laporte in rugby – but whether or not it ever serves a team well in the long term remains to be seen.
If we see the Clare of late 2013 today, we’ll have to assume the ‘us against the world’ siege mentality has worked. If not, then it’s anyone’s guess as to where blame will be apportioned.
3. Can Clare improve enough in six days?
Wexford followed Cork’s example in the Munster SHC semi-final and denied Clare players any space when they got on the ball, restricting the defending champions to speculative shots for much of the game.
Likewise, the Clare back line showed a surprising naivete in the amount of time afforded to the likes of Conor McDonald and Rory Jacob, especially as Liam Dunne’s men raced into their early lead.
Generally, there was a lethargy about Clare – as there was against Cork – that was absent in their All-Ireland run last year. Can you coach that out of a team in just six days?
4. Can Tipperary finally build some momentum under Eamon O’Shea?
Last week’s remarkable comeback win over Galway represented the first championship win of Eamon O’Shea’s two years in charge of the Tipperary hurlers. However, they could not have asked for a better opportunity to build some real momentum with the qualifier draw pairing them with Offaly.
The Premier County has never lost a championship game to the Leinster side and, much like last year when Clare’s facile win over Laois laid the foundations of a successful All-Ireland campaign, Tipperary fans will be hoping for something similar today.
Tipperary also has a superb record in the qualifiers (losing only two of 12) and expect that to continue today.
5. Have Offaly any chance?
The short answer is no. The long answer is just a different way of saying it.
Only the most Faithful of fans would argue Offaly were good value for their last-gasp win over Antrim last month and Brian Whelehan’s men have just nine qualifier wins from 23 attempts since the back-door system was introduced.
Tipperary are 1/66 to win this game and the handicap is a whopping 14 points. That tells you everything you need to know.
Here are the Tipp and Offaly teams for their Round 2 hurling qualifier
After struggling in 2013, Kilkenny are back in ‘sixth gear’, says TJ Reid
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All-Ireland Senior HC GAA Take your point Clare Offaly Tipperary Wexford