'We had backs to the wall' - Brilliant O'Connor inspires Wexford to turn around Leinster campaign

Wexford have kept their championship hopes alive with a stunning home win over Galway.

Wexford's Lee Chin tackles Jack Grealish of Galway. Pic ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Leinster SHC: Wexford 1-28 Galway 0-23

WEXFORD may have been beaten by Antrim seven days earlier but they bounced back fighting as they stormed all over Galway with a magnificent second-half display for a rousing eight point victory in this Leinster Round-Robin third round senior hurling clash at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Never was there more gloom in the county over the previous seven days but the players responded to lift Wexford hearts in the 6,170 attendance as they put that nightmare performance behind them.

The much-needed two points keeps their championship hopes very much alive. They now join the Westerners on three points, along with Dublin. While Kilkenny will head the group should they see off Carlow in their third round game, the race to the top has now been thrown wide open.

Galway manager Henry Shefflin, who as a player and manager has suffered many disappointments at the Model County venue, said: "It's not an easy place to come and play, but really we are disappointed. Look, we could not match the Wexford's second-half aggression but we are going to have to take a long look back at the game.'

Wexford received a boost with Liam Ryan returning to the defence for his first outing since December, while up front Rory O'Connor sparkled all over the pitch as he ripped open the visitors' defence finishing the game with 1-6 from play.

Even Niland pointed Galway in front with a free inside 30 seconds, but Wexford missed out on an early goal chance when Conor Hearne flashed his shot across the face of the goal.

Through the opening fifteen minutes, the sides were level on four occasions, with defender Cianan Fahy and Conor Cooney putting Galway into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead, while Wexford's response was led by O'Connor and Lee Chin and a Mark Fanning long free, to tie the sides at 0-5 apiece.

Wexford hit a purple patch with a surge of hurling that Galway were finding difficult to counter, moving into a 0-9 to 0-5 lead after 21 minutes, Conor McDonald, Chin (free), centre-back Damien Reck and Rory O'Connor lifting the home crowd with delightful points.

Somehow Galway managed to emerge from this patch bringing the sides level 0-9 each through Ronan Glenon, freetaker Evan Niland, Conor Whelan and Gavin Lee.

Wexford then strived for a lead to take in at the break as Chin and O'Connor pointed the way, but three closing Niland pointed frees kept the westerners in touch, as Wexford led 0-15 to 0-13 at the interval.

Wexford set the tone for what was to follow five minutes into the second half, when Richie Lawlor moved a pass onto Rory O'Connor, whose strong drive finished in the corner of the net, giving them a 1-15 to 0-14 lead.

Galway manager Henry Shefflin during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Wexford and Galway at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Galway were struggling all over the pitch, as Wexford produced a string of points courtesy of keeper Fanning , Liam Og McGovern, Cian Byrne, Chin free and Rory O'Connor to lead 1-20 to 0-16 on 49 minutes.

But they then had Cian Byrne straight red-carded for a head-high tackle on substitute Donal O'Shea. But as the sides exchanged scores, the home side never lost their composure, as panic was evident all over the challengers.

Tom Monaghan, Gavin Lee and Nilan free brought Galway within five points, 1-23 to 0-21, but it was Wexford's Rory O'Connor who capped a magnificent display with two huge points off the sideline.

Wexford manager Keith Rossiter said: "I just think it was a great day for Wexford hurling because what we saw out there today was the real Wexford. We knew it was a big game, we knew we had to deliver, for a defeat would really have backed us into a corner.

"We played with passion and pride, played quality hurling particularly through the second half. Even when reduced to fourteen for the closing twenty minutes we never lost our composure, kept on dominating. Our hurling stepped up a level, and we now look forward to Carlow in two weeks."

Man of the Match Rory O'Connor told GAAGO it was hard to figure the scale of Wexford's turnaround in form: "It's tough to explain. It was a tough week. We knuckled down after Antrim's deserved win last Saturday.

"We knew our backs were against the wall today. It was a proper championship game, we had to win it.

"We're going to have to figure out why it only comes out in us when our backs are against the wall. We're trying to find that consistency.

"I wouldn't like to be a supporter of Wexford hurling."

WEXFORD: M Fanning (2 frees); M O'Hanlon, L Ryan, S Reck; C Foley (0-1), D Reck (0-1), E Ryan; C Hearne (0-1), R Lawlor; J O'Connor, R O'Connor (1-6), C Byrne (0-2); L Og McGovern (0-1), L Chin (0-11, 7f, 1'65), C McDonald (0-2). Subs: M Dwyer for Chin (temp. 13-16), C Dunbar (0-1) for J O'Connor (38), M Dwyer for McDonald (69).

GALWAY: D Fahy; P Mannion (0-1), F Burke, J Grealish; G McInerney, C Fahy (0-1), D Burke; T Monaghan (0-2), R Glennon (0-1); G Lee (0-2), E Niland (0-10 10 frees), J Cooney; C Whelan (0-1), C Cooney (0-2, 1f), B Concannon (0-1). Subs: D O'Shea for Glennon (48), A Tuohey for Grealish (48), J Glynn for O'Shea (inj. 51), J Flynn for McInerney (65), D McLoughlin (0-1) for Concannon (69).

Referee: S Stack (Dublin).