Wexford latest in long list of Leinster finalists

DESPITE THE province not managing to bring home an All-Ireland title, Leinster football has had a notable decade to date. On Sunday Wexford became the seventh Leinster county to reach a provincial final this decade - a record unequalled since the 1940s.

It's 1956 since the county - famous for being the only one outside of Kerry to win four successive football All-Irelands - reached this stage.

The 1950s were better known in Wexford for the rise of the county's charismatic hurlers but the county also reached a couple of provincial football finals.

Coincidentally it is exactly 52 years ago today since Wexford defeated the hot favourites Dublin to reach the Leinster final.

They had previously defeated Westmeath, who play Dublin next Sunday to decide Wexford's opponents in this year's final.

The background to the 1956 semi-final was that Dublin had just returned from a trip to the US, where they had recorded a satisfying win over champions Kerry in a rerun of the previous year's now legendary All-Ireland final.

Unfortunately for Dublin, they had picked up injuries and were forced to line out without the first-choice centrefield of Jim Crowley and Mark Wilson. Their most important forward, Kevin Heffernan, was replaced by John Joyce, just out of minor and destined to go on to set a championship scoring record of six goals against Longford in the 1960 championship - a total not equalled until 42 years later, when Fermanagh's Rory Gallagher got 3-9 against Monaghan.

Wexford, featuring the 1955 All-Ireland hurling medallist Paddy Kehoe, ran out deserving winners by 2-7 to 0-7 in Carlow.

A month later the county lined up against Kildare for the Leinster final, which attracted 47,586 spectators to Croke Park.

After 15 minutes playing into a strong breeze and bright sun Wexford led by 1-3 to 0-1 but fell away badly to lose 1-8 to 2-11.

Kildare would not win another Leinster until 1998, and it has taken their opponents a further 10 years to get back to their 22nd provincial final in pursuit of a first title since 1945.

Wexford's Matty Forde, a former Footballer of the Year, has joined Goal's list of sporting patrons.

He agreed to become a member of a list that includes DJ Carey, Maurice Fitzgerald, John McEnroe and Eamonn Coghlan.