Wexford brought the fire and desire to Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday as they gave their Leinster Senior hurling ambitions a much needed jolt with a famous victory over Galway.
Keith Rossiter's men had denied the Westerners earlier in the year in the Walsh Cup final, but Wexford championship hopes were hanging practically by a thread following the shock loss to Antrim.
However, with Liam Ryan returning to bolster an outstanding defensive effort, and Rory O’Connor finding his true form upfront to combine effectively with the imperious captain Lee Chin, the purple and gold got the job done.
And this represents a first win over Galway in the Leinster championship, having lost five and drawn two of the sides’ previous seven meetings since the westerners entered the province in 2009.
But Keith Rossiter’s men still have work to do in 2024 with a couple of road trips on the horizon - in Carlow on May 19th and Kilkenny a week later.
Galway are still firmly in the frame for the provincial decider as they head to Antrim on May 18th before hosting Dublin.
But manager Henry Shefflin will be seeking a more vibrant attacking show after seeing his forward unit well shackled by Wexford.
Wexford generated a goaling chance shortly after Evan Niland had pointed Galway in front from a free, with Cian Byrne releasing purple and gold midfielder Conor Hearne, who surged through before arrowing across the face of goal.
The sides tied four times across the first fourteen minutes, with defender Cianan Fahy and Conor Cooney launching Galway 0-4 to 0-2 ahead before Wexford tied on 0-5 apiece courtesy of Lee Chin, Conor Hearne and 'keeper Mark Fanning (free).
And Wexford made up the ground while temporarily being without Chin, as he received attention for a facial injury, before returning to help sustain the home surge as they stretched ahead by 0-9 to 0-5 after 21 minutes, Conor McDonald, Chin (free), centre-back Damien Reck and Rory O’Connor electrifying the home support amongst the 6,170 attendance.
Galway ratcheted things up when restoring parity on 0-9 apiece on 26 minutes through Ronan Glennon, free-taker Niland, Conor Whelan and Gavin Lee.
Wexford responded when asserting by 0-13 to 0-11 via Chin (two) and Rory O’Connor, although three closing Niland frees saw Galway keep the pot boiling at the break (0-15 to 0-13).
But Wexford struck a major blow five minutes into the second-half, when a dash by midfielder Richie Lawlor saw him off-load to Rory O’Connor, whose powerful low drive grazed the ‘keeper’s hurl on its way to the net (1-15 to 0-14).
An issue for Wexford was that they weren’t maximising their chances, with ten of the game’s fourteen wides by this stage.
They offset those issues when springing clear by 1-20 to 0-16 on 49 minutes courtesy of ‘keeper Fanning (free), Liam Óg McGovern, Cian Byrne, Chin (free) and Rory O’Connor.
But some concern was sparked when Cian Byrne received a straight red-card in the 51st minute for a high challenge on newly introduced Galway sub Donal O’Shea.
However, after an exchange of scores, Wexford went close to a second goal when sub Cathal Dunbar’s initial effort was blocked by Daithí Burke before Rory O’Connor’s follow-up ground stroke was deflected for a ‘65 pointed by Chin (1-22 to 0-18).
Tom Monaghan, Gavin Lee and Niland (free) nipped into the lead after 65 minutes (1-23 to 0-21).
But Wexford had a quality about them that defied anything other than the essential victory, and Rory O’Connor added two late gems in an outstanding contribution by the St. Martin’s man as Wexford boosted their qualification ambitions.
Wexford: Mark Fanning (0-2, 2f); Matthew O’Hanlon, Liam Ryan, Shane Reck; Conor Foley (0-01), Damien Reck (0-01), Eoin Ryan; Conor Hearne (0-01), Richie Lawlor; Jack O’Connor, Rory O’Connor (1-06), Cian Byrne (0-02); Liam Óg McGovern (0-01), Lee Chin (0-11, 7f, 1 ‘65), Conor McDonald (0-02).
Subs: Mikie Dwyer for Chin (temp. 13-16), Cathal Dunbar (0-01) for J. O’Connor (38), Mikie Dwyer for McDonald (69).
Galway: Darach Fahy; Padraic Mannion (0-01), Fintan Burke, Jack Grealish; Gearóid McInerney, Cianan Fahy (0-01), Daithí Burke; Tom Monaghan (0-02), Ronan Glennon (0-01); Gavin Lee (0-02), Evan Niland (0-11, 10f), Joseph Cooney; Conor Whelan (0-01), Conor Cooney (0-02, 1f), Brian Concannon (0-01).
Subs: Donal O’Shea for Glennon (48), Adrian Tuohey for Grealish (48), Jonathan Glynn for O’Shea, inj. (51), Jason Flynn for McInerney (65), Declan McLoughlin (0-1) for Concannon (69).
Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin).
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