A surprise return of vintage Wexford

Wexford 1-16 Galway 0-14:Typical of Wexford to play tricks again just when it seemed they'd gone quiet. Maybe it had something to do with the undeniable summer air of Nowlan Park, but this was almost vintage Wexford - blocking, harrying, frustrating their opposition until, given the circumstances, they completed a quite astonishing victory.

So against all predictions they progress to next Sunday's semi-final against Kilkenny, and suddenly that appears far more attractive that anyone could have imagined in recent weeks.

Wexford are back, and back with a vengeance, as flaunted by manager John Meyler.

There was no arguing where the hype was coming into the game, with Galway's progress under Ger Loughnane expected to last right through the league. Instead, they've been bundled out in something of a heap and left idle for almost three months before the start of their championship, leaving Loughnane with plenty to contemplate.

Galway did have their chances - or, more specifically, three great goal chances - but with Damien Fitzhenry in unstoppable form Wexford heroically cut off that threat.

Out the field, though, they inflicted similar damage on Galway's game, with Declan Ruth, Malachy Travers and Keith Rossiter leading a typically stubborn Wexford defence - and Diarmuid Lyng fiery at midfield.

Their forward movement was equally impressive: swift, direct passing coupled with players running off the ball. At times Galway simply couldn't cope, especially when the pressure came on in the second half.

The Jacob brothers, Rory and Jacob, chipped in with two fine points, but it was Rory's searching ball 10 minutes from time, deftly flicked into the net by Eoin Quigley, that proved the defining score. It pushed Wexford six points clear, and they never looked back.

Loughnane made several running adjustments, but none had the desired effect. In the end, Kevin Broderick, Damien Hayes and David Collins were all called ashore, as the goal Galway desperately needed faded with time.

Fitzhenry made one final save in injury time from Eugene Cloonan, but that would have been a consolation score anyway.

Meyler, however, didn't seem at all surprised about Wexford's sudden re-emergence as a hurling force - at least in the short term.

"Not really surprised, no," he said, probably not aware Wexford hadn't beaten Galway in the league in 17 years. "We had worked extremely hard on our fitness early on, since October, but the last few weeks we've come on a lot with the hurling. Our first few games showed that, but since then we've worked a lot more on the hurling aspect.

"Kilkenny and Cork are still the standard-bearers, but back in November we spoke about bringing the pride back into Wexford hurling, and playing with a bit of passion and fire and commitment. And that's what they're showing."

What impressed most about Wexford was indeed that battling quality, that pride.

Galway settled the better, easing three points clear as Hayes, Cloonan and Iarla Tannian got busy. But Wexford's skill gradually surfaced, and did include defenders muscling away at Galway to telling effect.

Michael Jacob drew them level on 10 minutes, and the rest of the first half was practically score for score, and 0-9 each at half-time.

Galway's first big goal-chance on 17 minutes saw Hayes tear towards Fitzhenry, but he untypically fluffed his shot. Broderick was also clean through on 23 minutes and that produced the first miraculous save. The Wexford supporters - very noticeable in the double-bill crowd of 13,500 - seemed to sense it was their day.

In fact, Galway's game went into a rapid decline in the second half as they found Wexford's tactics increasingly difficult to cope with. The sides were still level on 50 minutes, with Wexford's Stephen Nolan - a late call-up - in dazzling form at centre forward.

Then Wexford hit three points without reply before they got their crucial goal. Ger Mahon initially appeared to have Rory Jacob's incoming ball covered but Quigley got the crucial touch.

Not for the first time this season Loughnane kept his players in the dressing-room for a serious talk-down. Of course he has plenty of time on his hands, but with so many of Galway's old problems persisting - positional uncertainty chief among them - it will be interesting to see what team re-emerges.

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D Ruth, P Roche; W Doran (0-1), K Rossiter, C Kenny; K Kavanagh, D Lyng (0-2); M Jacob (0-2), E Quigley (1-1), S Nolan (0-3); P Carley (0-2, one free), D Stamp (0-1), R Jacob (0-2). Subs: B Lambert (0-1, a free) for Carley (45 mins), M Jordan (0-1) for Kavanagh (55 mins, inj), R Kehoe for Nolan (62 mins), D O'Connor for Quigley (68 mins).

GALWAY: A Ryan; F Moore, G Mahon, S Kavanagh; D Hardiman, J Lee, D Forde; F Healy, D Collins; A Kerins (0-2), M Kerins, I Tannian (0-3); D Hayes (0-1), E Cloonan (0-6, three frees), K Broderick. Subs: N Healy (0-1) for Broderick, D Tierney (0-1) for M Kerins (h-t), G Farragher for Hayes (45 mins), T Og Regan for Collins (55 mins).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare)