Wexford 0-15

Galway 0-23

A supposedly elite hurling county like Wexford shouldn’t be as accommodating on their home soil. You wouldn’t think looking at the final scoreline that Darragh Egan’s team had the winning of this opening round National League tie on Saturday evening, but they paid a heavy price for a shocking misuse of territory and scoring chances in the first-half.

Wexford only retired on level terms (0-10 each) at the break having controlled much of the exchanges. They hit some scandalous wides – ten in this half alone and 15 in total – and were also left counting the cost of not having a reliable free-taker.

Things got so bad on this front at Wexford Park that even midfielder Diarmuid O’Keeffe had an unsuccessful go at one after full-forward Conor McDonald didn’t exactly convince with his free-taking style or accuracy. At this level, it’s unforgiveable and remains a serious problem for Wexford.

It might seem odd to be concentrating on the opposition’s frailties, but the bottom line is that a rusty looking Galway should have been in serious trouble at the break given the balance of play. Can you imagine how far they would have been behind against either Limerick or Kilkenny in similar circumstances.

For long tracts of the opening 35 minutes, Galway lacked cohesion and their first touch was off. Several players were virtually anonymous, leaving them grateful for Gearóid McInerney’s mastery of McDonald on the edge of the square and Conor Whelan’s heavy involvement up front.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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