Jacob issues Wexford rallying call

Wexford captain Michael Jacob has urged his side to throw everyting into Sunday's Leinster SHC final.

The Slaneysiders face a Kilkenny side - who put a record 6-28 past Offaly in their Leinster semi-final three weeks ago - in the Croke Park decider (throw-in 3.30pm).

Wexford, with manager Seamus Murphy in his first year in charge, were economical at best in their last four defeat of Laois and now a big effort will be needed to retain the title they bagged 12 months ago.

Jacob's late goal was key to their 2-15 to 1-16 LHC semi-final victory over the Cats in 2004.

"We deserved to be Leinster champions last year. This is a very different year but we will be doing everything we can to retain it," said Jacob, who struck 1-2 in the 2004 final against Offaly.

Jacob knows the Model men cannot afford even the slightest of slips against Brian Cody's Cats this weekend.

"There's no doubt Kilkenny are the form team," conceded the corner forward.

"They hammered us in the National League, they hammered Clare in the League final and they hammered Offaly the last day but we'd still feel we've a real good chance if we hurl to our ability."

Whoever prevails on Sunday will be lifting a new Leinster SHC trophy. The old O'Keeffe Cup has been retired to the GAA's museum due to wear and tear.

The new trophy, which was made in 1894 and sourced by the Leinster Council in Dublin's Temple Bar, was originally a racing cup and has been out of use since 1920.