Wexford win based on work ethic

INTENSITY in sport has many manifestations and we got a good example of this in the two semi finals yesterday. There was a sharp contrast between the level of intensity in the two matches.

However as I left Croke Park, I was convinced that we are in for an intriguing AllIreland final. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wexford Galway match and while Galway will reflect on opportunity lost, 16 wides is its own commentary, Wexford's performance embraced the essence of determination, courage and a will to win and they revealed yet again they had the character and depth to meet the needs of the most intense circumstances. I believe they thoroughly deserve to be back in the All Ireland final after so protracted a period.

Before the match I thought this might possibly be a bridge too far for Wexford. They answered that and after the campaign they have come through and the manner in which they have performed, they will go into the final with very strong hopes of the ultimate fulfilment.

Liam Griffin has done a superb job of preparing this Wexford side, both psychologically and physically, and it showed yet again yesterday. I have been especially impressed with their teamwork. They are a team in the true sense of the word. They play for each other, support each other and we got several examples of that yesterday.

The match started out as a tactical battle and yet again Wexford used Rory McCarthy in a midfield role. Galway's counter to that was to give Liam Burke a roving commission. He performed that task well, but McCarthy's performance was crucial to Wexford's success.

McCarthy has skill, pace and courage and the manner in which he took his goal was superb. Some players will inevitably play better than others, but one could say in the nicest sense that Wexford are a team without stars. The manner in which they scorned danger and threw their bodies on the line in defence was a telling illustration of that; so, too, the way their half forwards were prepared to chase back when necessary to help out in defence.

Liam Griffin is getting the very best out of the players available to him and that I believe is a key element in Wexford's run of success. They are on a roll now and will be hard to stop.

Their goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry was once more excellent and brought off a few great saves, Liam Dunne took some time to settle but played well and Sean Flood had a fine match. But their most notable characteristics are their teamwork, resolution, selfless effort and courage, and yet again they displayed them yesterday.

Galway will obviously be very disappointed, all the more so as they had the opportunities to win the match. The manner in which they failed to avail of scoring chances will add to their level of frustration. One must, however, give credit to the Wexford defence for the way in which they closed down the Galway forwards. It was an illustration of the point I made about playing for each other. Wexford did not mind who scored or who blocked the ball. There was a job to be done and a man on hand to do it.

But Galway's inability to score from frees was as surprising as it was prodigal. They managed only two points in the second half and that despite the fact that I thought the Galway half backs dominated much of the game in that period.

In hindsight, Joe Cooney may regret he did not go for a point instead of trying to get a goal from a second half penalty - the shot was saved and the ball cleared. A point at that stage would have been important to Galway as the game was so delicately poised. But his decision is understandable, I remember doing exactly the same in the 1981 semi final with the same result.

I also believe that the first half injury sustained by Joe Rabbitte was a blow to Galway. He was just beginning to make an impact. After Cooney's penalty was saved it gave Wexford a tremendous lift and at that point they believed that they could win the match. They went six points up and were coasting in the closing stages. Even when Galway got a late goal there was no panic, just the firm belief that Liam Griffin has instilled into this side, an unquenchable faith that is being rewarded.

Hard work is an essential element in the pursuit of excellence and success. This Wexford side is the embodiment of that truism. There is much about the side that is similar to the Clare team that won the title last year.

In the first semi final, I think it would be fair to say that Limerick were on a beating to nothing against Antrim. Limerick will be glad to have this over and their place in the final secure. Their total concentration will now be on the final and they have a lot of very hard work to do before the big day. I heard suggestions that there was a level of complacency among the Limerick supporters, the "we will wait until the final" attitude. I think that suggestion unfair, Limerick had very good support in Croke Park yesterday.

I did not think it was a very impressive performance, but it was sufficient. That can often be the case in a semi final of this nature. Limerick won readily enough in the end but had a few close calls in the closing stages when goals might have been conceded.

I would also query the tactic of the full forwards coming 35 yards out from goal and long balls being hit over their heads. That is not a productive strategy. Too often yesterday, too, Limerick players tried shots from very difficult angles instead of passing to better placed colleagues. That selfishness induced a level of frustration among Limerick supporters.

Wexford have proved conclusively that they are now a very powerful and vibrant force. This team has proved its worth in a very hard campaign. They have beaten Kilkenny, Dublin, Offaly and now Galway. In recent times the team that has beaten Galway has gone on to win the All Ireland. But Limerick, too, have travelled a very hard road and are worthy of their place in the final. It is good to see these two counties contesting the decider and it is an occasion I await with eager anticipation.