Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
1. Davy Fitz completes clean sweep of hurling titles
DAVY FITZGERALD BECAME the first manager to a complete clean sweep of Leinster, Munster, All-Ireland, National League titles. He did so with three separate counties – Waterford, Clare and now Wexford. He’s also won the Fitzgibbon Cup on two occasions with LIT.
11 years after he first stepped onto the inter-county management circuit by taking over the Deise mid-season, the Clare native has delivered the four major titles on offer in hurling’s top-tier.
It’s a remarkable achievement and ending a 15-year famine for a Leinster crown with this group stands right up there with his best in the game. All those cross-country treks from Sixmilebridge to the Model County have certainly paid off now.
2. Brian Cody’s drought
For the first time in his reign as Kilkenny boss, Brian Cody has gone three seasons without a Leinster title. For the first 15 years or so of his reign, that prospect seemed laughable.
Kilkenny have returned to the pack in recent years, allied to Galway’s arrival in the province and Wexford’s rise under Fitzgerald. The Cats have been beaten in consecutive deciders by either county, but they’ll still have a major say in the destination of the Liam MacCarthy Cup this summer.
In the pre-Cody years, they failed to win the province from 1994 to 1997, which arrived during the ‘Revolution Years’ when Wexford and Offaly were in their pomp.
3. Did Kilkenny go for goal too early?
After Mark Fanning struck home the game’s critical score from a penalty in the 64th minute, Matthew O’Hanlon fetched the puck-out and fed Diarmuid O’Keeffe to move Wexford three in front.
TJ Reid and Lee Chin swapped 65s and from the 69th minute onwards Kilkenny pressed for a goal. Rather than going for a point with his free from midfield, Eoin Murphy arrowed it into the danger zone as they looked to extract a green flag.
During the three minutes of injury-time, they continued to chase a goal, when there was enough time to take a few points instead. A late Kilkenny onslaught produced a ruck close to Fanning’s goal saw Colin Fennelly draw a boot at the sliotar and it rolled agonisingly wide. And that was that.
4. Wexford’s big players stand-up
It was one of those days for Wexford. In the curtain-raiser, their minors climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Leinster crown after defeating Kilkenny.
If the seniors were to follow that up with the Bob O’Keeffe Cup, a number of things had to go right for them on the day. They needed to have a solid game in front of the posts and so they did – firing just three wides over the 70 minutes.
Huge performances were required from their big-name players. Lee Chin didn’t miss a placed ball all day, shooting 0-9, while man-of-the-match Rory O’Connor fired over four points and won the penalty. Conor McDonald edged his battle with Huw Lawlor and also added 0-4 from play.
Defensively, Liam Ryan handled Colin Fennelly, corner-backs Simon Donohoe and Shaun Murphy made some important stops and sweeper Kevin Foley picked up a number of key breaks. It was a real team performance, built on extraordinary work-rate and belief.
5. Looking ahead to the All-Ireland series
Kilkenny’s defeat means they’ll face the winners of Cork and Westmeath in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Unless there’s a shock of epic proportions, it’ll be a Kilkenny-Cork showdown on 13/14 July.
Having eased through from Munster in third place, the Rebels are determined to land the big prize this season. That clash is already a mouth-watering prospect.
Wexford meanwhile, will rightly celebrate for a few days. The nature of Fitzgerald means it won’t be long before he starts looking ahead once again. Wexford will play a quarter-final winner in the All-Ireland semi-final on the last weekend in July.
They’re now just 70 minutes away from reaching a first Liam MacCarthy Cup decider since 1996. There’s a good chance they’ll be underdogs heading into that clash. Not that it will bother Fitzgerald or his players in the slightest.
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People can laugh at Davy as much as they like but he’s done well at Waterford, Clare and now Wexford. Credit where it’s due. Delighted for Wexford today.
@Sean Healy: he did not do well with Waterford
@Ole dan tucker: won a munster title with them and got them to an all Ireland final. He did well.
@Ole dan tucker: Munster title and an all ireland final. Yeh he didn’t do well.
@Ole dan tucker: he won a Munster and also hit us to 2008 Liam McCarthy final. Not bad eh?
Very enjoyable game, the shooting from both sides was excellent. Well done to Wexford, O’Connor and Chin were immense for them
@Frank Scanlon: well done Wexford, well done Davy, some man.
@Frank Scanlon: well spot on Frank,fierce enjoyable,and im glad im not on my own,the experts saying twas a bad game….two points ,holy God ,Donal O’Grady is lile the boaring priest in Fr Ted..and well done Davy ,well done wexford….
@Gerry Campbell: Don’t know how anyone could say that wasnt a good game, some savage point-taking. I still think Cork would beat the pick of them but definitely a bit of Munster snobbery going on if lads are saying that was a bad match
@Gerry Campbell: how was tat a bad game was a serious game intense great scores and tight Leinster has destroyed Munster this year for enjoyment and great games get over it I the no t all about munster
@Frank Scanlon: it was the commentators saying that. Personally I didn’t agree.
Well done Davy. I would say that it is safe to say that your achievements are unmatched.
Proud of our Wexford team today . They refused to buckle, kept a clean sheet and kept their composure. Chin, Rory and Conor Mc all stood up and delivered. All of them put the shoulder to the wheel. Total team effort. Hold your heads high tonight Wexford hurlers. And massive credit to Davy in getting the players to believe in themselves. Superb manager
Laois and Westmeath joining the championship at this stage is beyond ridiculous
@Ian Hat: and Galway gone,after losing one match ,westmeath ( no offence ) still in after ,you guessed it,losing one match …..twould give an anadin a headache…
@Gerry Campbell: If Limerick lost today they would still be in the championship having lost 3 games. Mad stuff but brilliant.
@Gerry Campbell: Galway knew the layout of the championship before it started and lost out on scoring difference cos they failed to beat Carlow by as much as other teams. Westmeath and Laois also knew the layout and qualified through their competition. Would you prefer that teams who are on the lower rungs just stay there and know their place and let the big teams get on with it ??? Whining now when the rules were set out last year smacks of just being a bad loser
Brilliant team effort from Wexford. Incredible discipline, effort and energy shown by all. Every one stood up and was counted . And Chin, Rory and Conor Mc brilliant in their shooting. The minors end a 34 year wait for a Leinster on a day of days for Wexford supporters
Pure thrilled for Wexford!!! Anyone but KK
Well done Wexford fought like tigers great to see tough hard fought hurling matches! Davy’s still a hard man to like though. Honda yellow bellies!!
@Noel Kelly: Own to the bone Noel!!