It can be exhausting being a fan of the greatest game on earth…
A rollercoaster doesn’t begin to describe the path the Wexford hurlers have taken since Darragh Egan took over the reins last September.
In the four months of game time, we’ve seen blowouts both for and against, nail-biters and non-performances that delight and destroy the soul. Sometimes, all you want as a supporter is a nice easy day with nothing to worry about.
Saturday’s stroll against Laois was exactly the kind of tonic to put the narrow loss to Dublin to the back of the mind. The Models needed to show the form that brought them unbeaten in the league, and to be fair, they showed that in spades against the home side in O’Moore Park.
Wexford have to start seeing themselves as a level above the likes of Cheddar Plunkett’s men and a 27 point margin of victory should be a target rather than an aspiration.
You have to give the visitors credit. The pressure was starting to build as the accusations of inconsistency were getting louder and louder by the week. Was this side a team that can battle back against genuine All-Ireland contenders or uncomfortable favourites who shrink when the spotlight looms. The weekend showed that this team is both and maybe something else as well. A ruthless machine that can strike when given the opportunity.
It’s time once again to fall on our knees and give thanks at the altar of Rory O’Connor. His direct running style and never-say-die attitude couldn’t be matched by any number of markers. That kind of approach can be called greedy but everything the Martins’ man does is to the benefit of his team. His goal might not have been the prettiest ever scored, but it pointed the way forward at a crucial time. Every week we get closer to crowning a 23rd All Star from the county.
Ultimately, this was a chance to let the lads off the leash and put some digits in the FOR column on the league table. Teams at the latter end of the championship give you no space to breath and close down on your neck when the opportunity presents itself. Wexford have to be killers to join those ranks and they duly showed that.
The last goal being the pick of the bunch, not for tactical nous or a well-executed game plan but for the sheer desperation of first Paul Morris and then Kevin Foley to raise that green flag and put the game to bed. They have been two fine servants in Purple and Gold and yet both men flew from the bench with a hunger to get involved. It hasn’t always been there and let’s hope it remains for the bigger challenges ahead.
That being said, Laois were not 27 points worse than Wexford in round 3. The harsh red card didn’t help matters of course and once the goals started going in, the tackles became tired, and they lived to fight another day. Their season was never going to be won and lost in round 3 with the showdown with Westmeath now firmly in their sights in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.
One major concern remains and that’s the lack of new faces coming through and taking the chance to make themselves a household name. Conor Hearne was the only player that you would not consider a regular starter on Saturday. Interestingly, of the 20 involved last weekend, 13 started the fabled 2019 All-Ireland semi-final loss to Tipperary.
Sorry to cast your mind back to that day but one of the major reasons for failure was the lack of a fit and ready subs bench to make an impact. I’m likely to give Egan a pass for this season given the condensed nature of the year, but where do we go if the old workhorses reach their limits down the line?
So, where are we 3 games into this championship. The cricket stumps on the table sum it up nicely. One dominant win, one heroic draw, and one miserly defeat. With all respect to Westmeath, our thoughts to the thoughts of Kilkenny. What team are they expecting to show up to Nowlan Park on May 21st?
Let’s hope it’s something approaching what we saw in Portlaoise. A bit of consistency from here on out would be very much appreciated lads.
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