For years, Offaly hurling looked trapped in nostalgia while Wexford carried the reputation of a group who could mix it with the best on their day.
Yet as the 2026 championship landscape begins to take shape, the trajectories of both counties appear to be moving in opposite directions.
Offaly are rising with purpose, energy and belief.
Wexford, meanwhile, continue to ask the same uncomfortable question - are we good enough to compete right now?
The contrast is becoming impossible to ignore.
Wexford's record in the Leinster round-robin era paints the picture of a county stuck in neutral. Since the format was introduced in 2018, they have repeatedly shown enough quality to compete but rarely enough consistency to genuinely threaten for Liam MacCarthy honours.
They have produced memorable wins, dramatic draws and chaotic campaigns, none more so than in 2019 when they should have beaten Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final.
And if the opportunity arose on final day, who knows what could have happened?
But too often, their championships drift toward disappointment by the final weekend of the Leinster round-robin.
The frustration for Wexford supporters may be their tactical identity. For long stretches, Wexford have played a style that sits awkwardly between traditional and modern hurling.
They are not an ultra-physical pressing side in the mould of Limerick at their peak, nor are they a slick possession-heavy outfit capable of controlling games by playing the ball through the lines.
Instead, they often become dependent on emotion and momentum.
When confidence flows, Wexford can look electric. When matches tighten or the quality of opposition increases, structure can disappear alarmingly quickly.
They seem to get caught in the headlights and are not sure whether they should play it short and work it out or else just lump it into the mixer.
More often than not, they opt for the former and when players look up to deliver quick ball, there is simply nobody up there to find.
The uncomfortable question is whether this is tactical or simply a personnel issue. The answer is probably both.
Wexford still possess excellent hurlers but compared to the leading counties they no longer produce enough top-class inter-county athletes simultaneously.
The great Wexford teams traditionally had physically dominant players right through the spine - powerful midfielders, commanding defenders and elite ball winners.
That conveyor belt has slowed. The county remains capable of producing class forwards, but the modern game punishes imbalance. No county can look to one player to pull them through a ruthless provincial campaign.
Some from Wexford may agree, some may now be saying 'worry about your own county not qualifying'.
Fair enough. But as a hurling fan, I would love to see Wexford back competing with the best and qualifying for the knockout stages of the All-Ireland Championship on a more consistent basis because of the hype and colour that accompanies them being competitive.
Offaly, on the other hand, are heading in the opposite direction and this is no fluke either.
The most encouraging aspect of Offaly’s resurgence is that it has not emerged from nowhere.
It is rooted in several years of underage development and a generation that has grown together through successful minor and Under-20 teams. Their All-Ireland Under-20 success provided tangible evidence that the county was finally rebuilding properly.
Now those players are carrying belief into senior level. The backbone of this resurgence is obvious. Players like Adam Screeney, Charlie Mitchell, Dan Bourke, Ciarán Burke and Killian Sampson have brought athleticism, confidence and fearlessness to the senior set-up.
Burke himself has spoken about how this younger generation learned hard lessons quickly at senior level while physically developing for elite competition.
What stands out about Offaly is their clarity. They know exactly what they are trying to become.
Their hurling is direct without being reckless. Their work-rate is exceptional. They attack with pace and trust their younger players to take responsibility.
Most importantly, there is visible collective hunger. Offaly sides of the past decade often looked burdened by history and expectation. This current group looks liberated by opportunity. Supporters can sense it too.
The excitement around the county’s emerging talent has been building, particularly around the underage teams that reignited belief among supporters starved of success and they can see this transferring into their senior squad now.
There are still limitations. Offaly do not yet possess the panel depth of Galway, Cork or Limerick.
Former great Pádraig Horan has already warned that one successful generation alone will not restore Offaly permanently to the top tier.
But the foundations now appear far stronger than they have in 20 years.
Crucially, Offaly are improving at the exact time Wexford seem uncertain about their direction. That matters in Leinster.
Kilkenny remain the province’s standard-bearers whilst not reaching those heights this year. Until they are dethroned; they will remain that, while Galway and Dublin continue to fluctuate between dangerous and inconsistent.
Beneath them, however, the gap is narrowing rapidly. Offaly no longer look intimidated by established counties. A consistency in their performances has strengthened belief that they belong back at this level.
Wexford, on the other hand, increasingly resemble a county who have more questions than answers as to where they are going.
That does not mean collapse is inevitable. Wexford still possess enough talent to remain competitive, but unless they develop a clearer tactical identity and produce greater depth, they risk becoming trapped as permanent middle-ground contenders or worse in danger of being relegated.
Offaly’s rise feels different. It feels organic, youthful and upward-moving. For the first time in a generation, Offaly supporters can realistically look ahead rather than behind.
Watch a provincial hurling double-header, Dublin v Kilkenny (2pm) and Cork v Clare (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport
