Waterford to clash with Wexford for first time

Waterford v Wexford, Nowlan Park

They may be close neighbours but Waterford and Wexford have never met in the Guinness All-Ireland hurling championship, a void that will be filled at Nowlan Park this evening when they clash in the second round qualifiers.

Both sides reached provincial finals this year with Waterford losing to Cork and Wexford going down to Kilkenny.

Waterford will be bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the second time, having previously qualified in 1998 when they were runners-up to Clare in Munster.

They had an easy day out in the quarter-final, beating Galway by 1-20 to 1-10, before losing to Kilkenny by a point in the semi-final.

Wexford last qualified for the quarter-finals in 2001 as runners-up to Kilkenny in Leinster.

They were drawn against Limerick in the quarter-finals, winning by 4-10 to 2-15 in a most dramatic game. Wexford snatched victory in injury time when goalkeeper, Damien Fitzhenry smashed home a goal from a penalty.

Wexford fared badly in their first ever qualifier game last season, losing to Clare by 3-15 to 3-7. This will be Waterford’s first ever qualifier game.