WEXFORD’S U21 HURLERS were in pretty much a no-win situation against Antrim in Thurles on Saturday evening.
Win well and they were expected to. Lose and it was another seismic shock that would have eclipsed their All-Ireland semi-final defeat against the Saffrons in 2013.
The fact that Antrim boss Kevin Ryan insisted that his own team would cop a hiding probably didn’t help either in Wexford’s preparations.
It was a fact acknowledged by Model County boss JJ Doyle after the game, when he admitted that Ryan’s talk had been picked up on by the Wexford players.
“There is always that fear among young lads when people are telling them they are going to give the other team are hiding, when the opposition manager is saying Wexford are going to give Antrim a hiding.
“It is very hard to listen to that and not be affected by it.
“It is a job done. We are in an All-Ireland final. It wasn’t a great spectacle.
“It wasn’t a brilliant performance or anything like that. We did what we needed to do and we got over the line.”
Doyle was in charge two years ago when Ryan plotted that sensational upset.
And he admitted that he could only breathe easy in the second half when Wexford put major daylight between the sides.
“Up until half-time, there was always that fear (of a 2013 repeat).
“We prepared well for it. There was a couple of the lads here two years ago, the others have certainly heard about it enough.”
Doyle confirmed after the game that Gavin Bailey’s season is over.
The Ferns St Aidan’s man sustained cruciate knee ligament damage on club duty last weekend.
Tony French stepped into the starting line-up and produced a power-packed display to delight his manager.
“For Tony to step in and win match of the match was a positive,” Doyle said.
Originally published at 8.38am
