Ryan: There’s no consolation

HIS side may have unexpectedly pushed Dublin to extra-time, but boss Jason Ryan was taking no consolation from Wexford’s gallant performance.

“To have so many chances and dominate the first-half, and not win is disappointing,” said Ryan, whose charges are away to London in the first round of the Qualifiers on Saturday, June 26.

“And then to be given the lifeline near the end of normal time of being two players up (Dublin’s Denis Bastic and Ger Brennan sent off on 57 and 70 minutes), and not take it. It was there – it was just a matter of grabbing and grasping it, but we didn’t have that killer instinct.

“Then in extra time, it was a huge boost for Dublin to get the two players back. And as much as it was a psychological boost for them, it was a bit of a kick in the stones for us.”

Ryan also felt that the delayed start, caused by extra-time in the preceding Laois-Meath tie, impacted adversely on his side.

“You’ve done a warm-up to prepare yourself to play the game” he remarked.

“We’re preparing for this game since the draw was made. To think that you’ve prepared for so long, and all of a sudden the warm-up time is changed.

“I know it’s the same for both teams, but for us against Dublin whom Wexford haven’t beaten for so long, you’re not just playing a team you’re playing a tradition, against a huge crowd, and you’re playing in a venue that Dublin are so used to.”

The Wexford boss is now hoping that his charges will bounce against the Exiles. “When you see the guys so dejected and so disappointed, you don’t know how people are going to react,” he said.