THERE’S a local perception that Galway hurlers should nearly always be beating Wexford, but statistics – at least, in terms of championship clashes – beg to differ.

Prior to the Leinster final of 2017 which Galway won comfortably on a 0-29 to 1-17 scoreline, the Tribesmen had only recorded a solitary victory over Wexford in the counties’ previous eight summer tussles, with anothern one of those games ending in a draw.

There have been four championship battles between the counties since, with Galway coming out on top in both 2018 (1-23 to 0-17) and 2020 (1-27 to 0-17), but there was a costly draw at Pearse Stadium (0-16 to 0-16) in 2019; while last year’s round-robin tie also ended in stalemate (1-19 to 1-19) at Wexford Park. It leaves Galway’s overall championship record against Wexford as won four, lost six and drawn three.

None of this will carry much relevance ahead of the counties’ National League opening round clash in Wexford Park on Saturday (5pm) – a match which also doubles-up as the Walsh Cup final – but it does show that regardless of their contrasting reputations, Galway can rarely afford to take victory over Wexford for granted.

Much focus will centre on the personnel Henry Shefflin and his mentors send into battle for their first meaningful test of 2023 – a fixture which is reportedly set to attract a crowd of around 14,000, such is the lure of the new floodlights at Wexford Park.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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