Wexford manager JJ Doyle says his side haven’t reached their goal yet, despite annexing their third Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under 21 hurling title in a row at Innovate Wexford Park on Wednesday night.
The Slaneysiders trailed by a goal after just 14 seconds, after Liam Hickey netted for Kilkenny, but Wexford stormed back registering 3-05 without reply in a 25-minute spell, on the way to a 17-point win.
“We had a goal this year and it hasn’t been achieved yet!,” Doyle said.
“A lot of the lads who lost to Antrim two years ago are still in or around the squad. 10 of them from last year are back, and 10 of them are underage next year again, so every year there’s new lads coming in and adding to it.
“We don’t know who we are playing in the semi-final. I didn’t even look at it yet. I don’t even know when it’s on yet! I presume the end of August like it normally is.
“We’ll really enjoy tonight and the next few days and we’ll push on then. We have a long wait though until an All-Ireland semi-final, and if it was a bit closer it might be better, but we’ll enjoy it until then.”
Doyle was hugely thrilled with his sides character on their way to delivering a 17th provincial crown.
“Periods like our response to Kilkenny’s goal certainly don’t come around too often, especially in finals.
“If you are going to perform, the place to do it is in a final and the guys did it in fairness to them.”
“I don’t think we could have expected or got a better performance out of the lads. Every one of them stood up, and guys across the pitch stood up, and that’s all we can ask from any of them.”
Senior player Conor McDonald was Man of the Match on the night, scoring 1-10, but Doyle was keen to point to the overall team performance.
“It was a team game. You don’t score 4-17 with just two or three players playing well. It’s a full team game, and the inspirational point that Jack O’Connor got on the sideline in the first couple of minutes just settled us down.
“It shows what we are capable of doing, and the guys believe in each other, and believe in themselves.
“We knew with that combination and the ability that they have, that the team would go a long way.”
Doyle was delighted his side delivered in front of a large home support, after what was a bleak weekend for hurling in the county, with the Senior side suffering an eight-point loss to Cork in the All-Ireland qualifers on Saturday at the same venue.
“The crowd that was here from Wexford was staggering, considering what has gone on in the last few weeks and that, but they turned up tonight.
“There’s a lot of kids going out of here wanting to play hurling for Wexford and wanting to go to the Cúl Camps and that tomorrow, and it will be absolutely brilliant the buzz that is going around.”
Doyle will be hoping that buzz around Wexford continues until September, but before an All-Ireland final can be thought of, there’s a mid-August All-Ireland semi-final against the Ulster champions.
