Wexford's revival the season's story so far

Mostly Hurling: Are Wexford the new Dublin? After the opening two rounds of this year's league we were tipping the Dubs for stardom.

The Metropolitans arrived on the scene with a bang but couldn't maintain the momentum and exited tamely. On the other hand Wexford quietly progressed through the rounds, showed improving form almost all through, after a tame start, and are now safely through to the last four.

Of those remaining teams Wexford are the new kids on the block in terms of recent media exposure. A godsend for the hack, you might add. They certainly deserve their elevation because of the steady progress they've made.

I saw them play Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Ten minutes after half-time it looked like the same old story with Cork almost in total control. But John Meyler's men had a plan and they stuck with it. I was very impressed with their use of the ball in the forwards. They continued to play it into the corners when a score wasn't on. They played with the same plan against Galway. They also didn't allow Galway's speedy forwards to settle on the ball. They had a far greater desire for victory, a trait Meyler always possessed in his playing days.

It's amazing Wexford are competing at this level at all considering their lack of success down through the years. Indeed it's a credit to all the wonderful hurlers and mentors that have kept the show on the road. They haven't won a minor title since 1968 or an under-21 since 1965, and they have won only two senior titles in the last four decades. Yet how many wonderful, high-scoring battles have we witnessed between themselves and Kilkenny in Leinster finals? Many.

But for now Sunday's game is the only important one. The Cats are the team to compare with. Over the past few years when Cork were champions we were always aware every team we played would do their utmost to beat us because then we were the yardstick. Now it's Kilkenny.

But really it's always Kilkenny. If you can compete with them in terms of intensity and touch then you've got a chance. That is until they bring on the five subs that would probably get on any other intercounty team! That is how good they are. They have a far greater pool of top-class players than any other county. Yes, we're envious but we know this doesn't happen by chance. Whatever the outcome of Sunday's game, Wexford have made progress.

Kilkenny also had a slow start but now they are picking up the pace again. They are heading for three league titles in a row. Brian Cody is the undisputed manager of the decade. His teams have almost always played with pride and passion. This time last year he said he was team building. It didn't take long. Add in the GPA and Vodafone player of the year and young hurler of the year to a side that looked quite impressive against Galway and you've got the favourites to do the double again this year.

Waterford played against Tipperary as this Waterford team seem to be wont to do. They were brilliant at times and very ordinary at other times. They were five points up when John Carroll was red-carded. But as often happens, the team with fewer players plays with much more determination. How many times have we seen the team of 14 winning?

For me their most influential player was Séamus Prendergast. He was involved in much of the good forward play over the 70 minutes. Their full-back line was again a little suspect. Overall they were fortunate to hold on. But the game will have done them the world of good.

Their opponents, Cork, are fortunate to be in the last four. They won three of their league games by two points. They have played indifferently throughout. Indeed they should have been 10 points down against Clare at half-time last Sunday week. They are, however, well placed right now. They have most of the great team of the last four years now available.

They're being written off by many. But the class of this team hasn't gone away. They have come from behind to win so many classic games over the past few seasons it would be foolish to write them off . The recent history of these two teams suggests this could be the pick of the weekend's games in Tom Semple's stadium.

So what about Tipp and Galway? Well, psychologically Babs Keating's men won last Sunday's game. They played their best hurling with 14 players. They lost the talismanic Eoin Kelly with 15 minutes left.

Far too much is expected of Kelly. He has been almost a one-man forward line for too long. So to do so well without him can only be good for the team. They were forced to introduce players they hadn't intended to. Their display in this period could yet define their season.

And Galway? Well there was always going to be too much expected of them with Ger Loughnane at the helm. They really haven't shown much to inspire confidence so far. They have potential, however. They have players who have won All-Irelands at minor and under-21. They have Eugene Cloonan.

But for now the jury is out. They've been taken to an ostán in the west of Ireland. Will they return with a unanimous verdict? Time will tell.