Lyng relief as Wexford clinch promotion

WEXFORD captain Diarmuid Lyng admits Sunday’s NHL Division Two final win over Clare was a huge relief as they secured the promotion to Division 1 for 2011.

Twelve months ago Wexford had been overturned by Offaly in the Division Two decider and it was the nightmarish prospect of a third successive season in the second tier that Wexford were fighting to avoid.

Lyng admitted: “There’s huge relief to have won but it wasn’t until Rory (Jacob) got the late goal that we were through. There was major relief, and it was more of that (relief) than the enjoyment of it or feeling anything else.”

Lyng said the tension that surrounded this clash beforehand as a key factor in contributing to a poor spectacle.

“There was huge tension getting ready for this game and you could see that in the play. There was an awful lot of wides and scrappy play. We did well to create chances but we just probably didn’t have the composure.”

Lyng concurred with the assessment of both managers that not operating at a high standard is proving detrimental to both side’s aspirations of improving.

“I know it is great for Carlow, Westmeath and Kildare to be playing the likes of Wexford, Limerick or Clare and Laois. But it is hard to try and ply your trade in the winter or spring against the Division 2 teams and then go up. All I want is a crack at the big sides.”