Antrim upset still pains Guiney

It gives Jack Guiney no comfort in revealing Sky Sports have already done a recce in Wexford Park ahead of a possible Wexford v Dublin Leinster semi-final next month.

Antrim this Sunday stand in the way of that fixture happening and August 24 last year taught the Wexford youngster a valuable lesson about taking the Saffrons for granted. The starlet scored seven points in that U21 All-Ireland semi-final but it wasn’t enough, as Wexford were made to pay for getting ahead of themselves.

“Our focus was on an All-Ireland final,” he admits.

There is no mention of Dublin in the camp this week because last year’s U21s, including the Rathnure man, won’t allow it.

“We learned a very tough lesson last year. Even Sky were down checking out Wexford Park for the Dublin game. Our focus is not the Dublin game at all. It’s completely on Antrim because we know how dangerous they can be.”

Yesterday’s U21 launch afforded Guiney the chance to talk to Antrim’s Stephen McAfee, who he faces in Portlaoise on Sunday, and reminisce about that fateful afternoon in Thurles. One yarn told by McAfee didn’t make the memory any better.

“He was telling me about their preparation. One of the Antrim players stopped into a garage for pick-and-mix. A massive bag of pick-and-mix sweets. Now, this is very hard to listen to when they’re after beating you in an All-Ireland semi-final. But he was eating pick-and-mix sweets the whole way down on the bus. And he must have had a sugar overdose by the time he got into the dressing room. He said they didn’t realise they could win that game until they got into the dressing room at half-time.

“Your man that was eating the sweets on the bus was going around the dressing room telling all the lads to eat some of the sweets. If you compare that to what we were saying at half-time... it’s very hard to listen to.”

Just as difficult to take were the backslaps after last year running the Leinster senior champions Dublin and All-Ireland champions Clare so close: bringing Dublin to a replay and the Banner to extra-time.

“A lot of people would say ‘you were this close.’ I know we were in with a shot of winning the game, but our performances were very poor. Way under par.

“If you deserve to be mentioned, you would be mentioned. We haven’t done anything to get given recognition. We’re happy enough to be lying in the long grass. It’s probably where most teams would love to be. But you have to go out and prove yourself before you’re mentioned on The Sunday Game.”

Nephew of Rod and son of Dave, Guiney says patience is vital for Wexford as they aim to build towards a title. “My dad would have played in a Wexford panel for 13 years before he got his Championship start. If he can wait for 13 years for a start, I can wait a little while for a trophy.

“The team they had in the 90s went to three league finals. They were coming. A team doesn’t magic out of nowhere.

“People say Clare came from nowhere last year. They didn’t. They had All-Ireland winning teams coming in the last few years. And that’s what happens. Keeping knocking and it’ll come.”

Guiney says Liam Dunne in Wexford is attempting to replicate Brian Cody’s focus on a panel rather than the team. A recent challenge win over Tipperary has put a pep in their step but Guiney knows the momentum Antrim have generated in the Leinster qualifier series.

“You can play all the practice games you like but Championship is Championship. You get a shoulder into the gut in the first minute: welcome to Championship hurling. They’re going to be ready. They’re flying. And the first few minutes of Championship, lads are inclined to be jittery.”