Gary Laffan’s Side Will Face Infamous Ballyragget On Saturday

In the Wicklow Senior Hurling Championship, Gary Laffan’s Glenealy side were crowned champions after defeating Bray Emmetts. 

In his first year in charge, the Wexford 1996 All-Ireland winner has successfully brought silverware back to the parish.

2017 marked the club’s first Senior Wicklow title in four years, but now they have their eyes on a much bigger prize – the Leinster Intermediate Hurling title.

Along their way to the Leinster final, the Wicklow side overcame a strong contingent from St.Annes.

Saturday will mark a momentous occasion not just for the club, but for Wicklow too, as it will be the first time ever that a team from the Garden County will compete in the Leinster Club Intermediate hurling final.

In the game, they face the infamous Ballyragget of Kilkenny – a hard team that are longing for silverware….and the post-match celebrations. Despite being known for their extravagant celebrations, they have some top hurlers in their ranks, with inter-county star Kevin Kelly immediately coming to mind.

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While the Wicklow side will have to travel to Nowlan Park as complete underdogs, they’ll fancy their chances, and speaking to the HoganStand.com, Laffan said:

“From talking to the players I think they’re just looking forward to it at this stage. I think they realise it’s not a good opportunity they’ll get every year and I think they’re focused on putting in a performance,” said Laffan.

“They (Ballyragget) seem to be strong all over, they’re putting up big scores. They’ve three or four very strong forwards. They’re half-back line are supposed to be physically strong, they’re midfielders are supposed to be mobile.

“I’m trying to focus on our team now and get a performance out of our lads and see where it takes us. If we get a good performance it will take a very good team to beat us.”

Six of the Rathnew players that defeated Dublin football king-pins St.Vincents and then lost to Moorefield of Kildare play for Glenealy in hurling, with Leighton Glynn being their most well-known dual-star.

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Wexford Weekly 

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