The Leinster u-20 hurling championship is officially back for 2025…
Here, we’ll go through all you need to know about Wexford’s opening game of the Leinster u-20 hurling championship.
Who are Wexford playing?
Wexford will be playing the old rivals, Kilkenny, in the opening game.
Where?
It’s a home clash. It’s in Wexford Park.
What date / time?
It will take place on Saturday March 29th. Throw-in is at 12:30pm.
What’s the Wexford team?
What’s the Kilkenny team?
Who’s the Wexford u-20 manager?
Wexford’s manager is Ronan Joyce. He hails from the Shelmaliers GAA Club in Wexford. He is assisted by Roger Ennis (Horeswood) and Benny Barron (Shelmaliers). Joyce replaced Aidan O’Connor from Buffers-Alley, who had replaced Keith Rossiter previously.
How does the u-20 Leinster hurling championship work?
Wexford have been placed in Group 2 of Tier 1. In total, Tier 1 consists of six Leinster teams. The other group in Tier 1 – Group 1 – consists of Dublin, Offaly, and Laois.
Tier 1: Wexford, Kilkenny, Galway
Tier 1: Laois, Offaly, Dublin
Whoever finishes third in the group will enter the knockout stages at the preliminary quarter-final stage (Wednesday April 23), against a team emerging from Tier 2. This will be against one of the Tier 2 teams, either Carlow, Meath, Kerry, Antrim, Westmeath or Kildare.
Tier 1 group runners-up and preliminary quarter-finals will play quarter-finals proper on Monday May 5. The winners of those matches will play Tier 1 group winners in semi-finals on Wednesday May 13. The Leinster u-20 hurling final is fixed for Wednesday May 21.
Breakdown for Wexford:
Finish 3rd – placed into preliminary quarter-final knock-out against Tier 2 team
Finish 2nd – placed into Leinster quarter-final
Finish 1st – placed directly into semi-final
Is there anything else happening?
Actually, yes – but it’s not in Wexford Park. Taking place at St Peter’s College in Wexford, just a few walking minutes from Wexford Park, will be the Wexford u-19’s who also take on Kilkenny in the Leinster Development League. Throw in for that clash is at 10:30am, allowing supporters to enjoy a feast of derby hurling action the same day.
When did Wexford last win the u20 championship?
The Leinster u20 hurling championship is essentially the new u-21 hurling championship. Wexford reached the final of the u-20 hurling championship two times in the previous three years, but they lost out narrowly on both occasions. Wexford’s last success in the competition came in 2015, marking a three-in-a-row of Leinster u21 titles. It’s a decade since Wexford last captured u20/u21 silverware, but hopefully 2025 will be the year where Wexford taste success in the competition once again.
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
