Ger Cushe: Wexford's top-tier status could hinge on Galway visit

The Model County is looking down, rather than up, for the second season in succession.

Wexford's Lee Chin dejected after the defeat by Antrim. Pic ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Wexford's 1996 All-Ireland winning full-back Ger Cushe has said the county's season “hinges” on Saturday’s game against Galway, and that if they fail to beat the Tribesmen at home, “we will be under severe pressure to hang onto Liam MacCarthy status”.

Wexford’s shock defeat to Antrim last weekend, following as it did the point dropped at home to Dublin the Saturday previous, has the Model County looking down, rather than up, for the second season in succession.

Wexford have not scored a championship win over the westerners since Cushe’s own playing days in 1996 and the former full-back is extremely fearful if Keith Rossiter’s side are travelling up to Carlow in a fortnight with only a point on the board.

“If we don't get a win against Galway, we are really under severe pressure,” said the former Wexford hurler and selector.

“If we are beaten on Saturday, we will be under severe pressure to hang onto our Liam MacCarthy status because you are going up to play Carlow next, in Carlow, who ran Dublin fairly close. It is not going to be a gimme up there. You'd be going up low on confidence too, you'd basically be at the root of the table.

“As regards Liam MacCarthy hurling, it could be a winner-takes-all game because if Carlow beat you, then you are heading for Kilkenny to try and salvage a win, and you are really putting yourself in an impossible situation.” 

The above scenario and the risk laced within is why Cushe insists that Wexford should be targeting the visit of Galway as their most important fixture of 2024.

Although 28 years without a championship win over Galway, two of their last four meetings in Leinster have ended in stalemate, including the most recent clash at Wexford Park two summers ago.

Cushe also takes confidence from the fact that this Wexford team, while clearly susceptible to being caught by counties lower than them on the hurling ladder, have shown a capacity to live with those further up the ladder.

“That has been the crux of the team for the last number of years. We seem to be able to put the performances in against the big teams. But the teams that are not top of the hurling tree, we struggle. There was Westmeath last year, Antrim this year. Conversely, when Kilkenny came to Wexford Park last year, the lads put in a monster performance. It is consistency.

“Saturday could get the ball rolling. If you get a win on Saturday, you are back into it. You are heading up to Carlow in far better form. And if you get another win up there, you are back in the picture for a top-three place.

“Our season hinges on this. For the season to be good for Wexford, we need a win on Saturday.” 

In assessing their difficult start to the Leinster round-robin, the 1996 winner believes Wexford are suffering in the final stretches for the lack of physique on the field.

Against Antrim, they led by seven in the third quarter. Against Dubin, they led by five two minutes into injury-time.

“Is size coming against us in the last 10 minutes, that physique that other teams have that we don't have. Our team is short of big, strong men.

“I am not saying you can't win with small fellas, but you have to have a certain amount of physique in your team because it seems the last 10 minutes are really catching us out for some reason.

“If you pop Liam Ryan into our six backs, it adds significantly to our physique back there, and strength and experience. He is a vital cog. Diarmuid O'Keeffe is another big loss to us out there, as well. Is it inexperience that is catching us out in the last 10 minutes?”