Wexford strong favourites to see off Antrim and book their place in U-21 decider

Victory over Kilkenny in Leinster final a huge boost to young Model County men

Wexford captain Lee Chin. “I just hope a lot of people don’t think ‘sure look we have won Leinster, that’s good enough’.” Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Wexford captain Lee Chin. “I just hope a lot of people don’t think ‘sure look we have won Leinster, that’s good enough’.” Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho

This match will garner little interest but Wexford have already set the under-21 hurling championship ablaze with their dismissal of Kilkenny in the Leinster final.

“I just hope a lot of people don’t think ‘sure look we have won Leinster, that’s good enough,’” said captain Lee Chin. “I really hope we can drive it on and compete in this All-Ireland. Pressure is one thing, but it’s just we know ourselves that we have to come up with something for our own future, let alone the future of Wexford. If this is the lifestyle we want and to be competing for All-Irelands in the future, this is our way of putting that mark down now.”

Bold statement from a swashbuckling hurler cum footballer cum soccer player. Chin looks destined for a long and potentially storied career in the Wexford half back line, should he choose that, but he features at midfield today.

Wexford, even without injured duo Jack Hobbs and Niall Murphy, should have no problems skating through the Antrim challenge as they, much like Galway, arrive utterly under-prepared for the required standard of hurling.

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That structural glitch takes a little from this penultimate round and almost guarantees that Wexford’s pursuit of a national title at this grade for the first time since 1965 will not be hindered today.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent