Hurling is box office
First point scored that day from Cusack Stand side, as good as any in an AI final. Captain, my captain
Best of luck to Wexford today. After events of last night they surely believe they belong at This stage and are good enough to win an All Ireland.
1 Like
Hurling needs a Wexford win
Apart from us in '96.
Arm! Arm! He cried
For I’ve come to lead you
For Wexford’s glory
We’ll fight or die
6 Likes
I haven’t cried since Arsene Wenger left Arsenal but I’m fucking bawling my eyes out here over my peanut butter and banana porridge after reading this:
Who are you? Who are you? I’ll tell you who you are. When I’m finished speaking we are going to walk out of Wexford. Our goal is that the next time we set foot in this, our county, we will be Leinster Champions. On Friday night there was a report, on television, from Offaly and in mentioning the word tradition they sang their anthem. It made me think about tradition and its importance. And about this fantastic county of ours. A county of which we should be so proud. From the beach outside there to Courtown, Gorey, Ardamine, Blackwater, Curracloe, Wexford, Rosslare, Kilmore, Cullenstown, Fethard and The Hook. And back again to Ross, Mount Leinster, Rathnure and Enniscorthy. And of course Boolavogue. That’s who we are and that’s where we come from.
Our people have real songs to sing. When they question the blood in our veins don’t you ever forget that our county has a proud past and when other counties failed, ours was the only one of 32 counties wherein the people, your forefathers, rose and shook off the chains of bondage. Listen to ‘Boolavogue’ and ‘The Boys of Wexford’ and then think of Offaly. Why should we fear Offaly or Kilkenny or any other Irish county? Nothing in our past suggests that we should. Look at your names. Great Wexford names. Think of all the memories that this county of ours holds for you. For many of the bones of our nearest and dearest lie buried in the clay beneath your feet. Like yours will, much sooner than you ever thought. This is our chance to make history. For which you will never be forgotten. You come from a fighting tradition and don’t ever forget it.
Now we are going to walk up this road in silence. Out of our county. With the promise to each other that we will fight to the last – And remember! It is only for 70 minutes. Not like your forefathers who had to fight for days on end. We will promise to give absolutely everything in order that the next time we set foot on Wexford soil we will carry back the Leinster Cup.
Today we are playing for a way of life. Breathe in now, long and hard and as you walk, think of yourself since childhood, of all the matches you played, all of your friends both alive and gone, and make this promise to yourself. Today is the day we will be proud again. And remember:
“We are the boys of Wexford who fought with heart and hand.”
That’s real tradition. Let’s go!
11 Likes
I didn’t realise you were from Wexford pal? Always had you down as a Dub
I’m bawling here.
3 Likes
Let’s fucking go!
First time in a long time I believe we have a great chance of winning a semi final. Since 97 really. 01 we played Tipp and did fantastic to rescue a draw, similar to Cork in 03 but in both cases, I felt we were heavy underdogs and really fought hard to get 2 excellent performances. The replays in both probably indicated where we really stood. 04 was against a very good Cork side despite going in as Leinster champions. And 07 told it’s own story as the undercard to a quarter final.
There is no reason we can’t beat Tipp though. We may not, and the bookie’s are rarely wrong, but Kilkenny have shown that maybe the free scoring Munster championship may not be as tough as the more hard working physical Leinster championship.
If we limit them up front and keep tight and not concede so many free scores, ones where are shot goes unchallenged, it will go a long way. Badly need Conor Mac and Rory to keep up their leinster final form. Both were subdued during the league phase but excellent in the final. We come to expect Liam og and Dee to work hard and be full of running and again, this will be key to bypassing their free man at the back.
I don’t expect us to win, but I do think we are capable of winning. It’s the hope that will kill you.
9 Likes
Best of luck pal…
1 Like
Wexford on all family sides as far back as records go, pal.
From a professional perspective I’m thrilled you thought I was from Dublin though.
3 Likes
I’m fucking crying again.
I’ve often said that Wexford is the flower of them all but when you came tonight, and you look down through the streets of Gorey at 30,000 people and you come on through the places like Clough, Camolin, Ferns and into Enniscorthy, and you look back at that magnificent town with the bridge in the background, the cathedral on the hill and the chapel and the spires, you think to yourself what a beautiful place and what a beautiful part of the world.
And then to come into Ferrycarrig and a whole snake of cars for ten miles, the two castles shining in the air, the moon on the water, and then you can say about the blood in your veins and the county that you come from is a special place.
And the colours that you hold over your head are purple and gold. That flag over your head is a symbol of everything that we stand for. That purple and gold isn’t an accident. It’s a fact and it’s tangible and the men who wore it on their backs yesterday and marched behind the band with pride and stood with respect before their president carried your colours – the colours of your county.
That colour is your colour and it represents everything you are and all that went before you, and the people who died in the streets of this very town. This is your colour and don’t forget it. If you have pride in your county, pride in the place that you come from, you become a very special breed of person. We are Wexford and don’t ever forget that.
6 Likes
What kind of crowd should there be today? 55k yesterday. 70k? 50 wex, 20 Tipp?
Are Tipp a bit wan paced and can we run through them with O’Keeffe, McGovern etc and then, crucially, finish rather than botch our goal chances?
Is Chin now a reliable 9/10, 10/12 freetaker or will he revert to 6/11, 7/13?
Will Tipp have the template to destroy our system? Will they get their defensive “match ups” right, leave the best distributor spare and then have some Eamon O’Shea style forward alignment and movement to render Kevin Foley a non factor? They could score 2-6 on you in around 12 minutes if you’re not careful.
I’m hoping Damien Reck is fit and playing with no disrespect intended to anyone else.
D Reck - John McGrath
Liam Ryan - Callanan (the jobs Ryan did on Fennelly look better since KK played Cork and Limerick)
Donohoe - Forde
P Foley - McCormack (Foley likes a physical tussle)
Murphy and O’Hanlon - O’Meara and O’Dwyer.
Quite the imponderables.
I watched back some of the Leinster final last night. I’d forgotten how direct the high king of Ireland can be when he gets going. He tore KK to shreds a few times going straight through him. I’m sure a bundle of Maher’s will pull him down early tonight if he gets going but his support runs at pace will be key as he can score from anywhere.
Only tickets free are the tail end of Upper Hogan, Upper Davin and Hill. I’d say 68k.
3 Likes
There won’t be 15k there from Tipperary
Fixed
I knew we were winners the moment the umpire waved the flag. It was an outstanding performance from Tommy.
1 Like