‘We’re back in the hunt’ says Wexford’s Keith Rossiter after vital victory over Henry Shefflin’s Galway

A 1-28 to 0-23 victory, earned by a lion-hearted display at Wexford Park, left Rossiter “delighted” for the players who needed a good result to stay in contention for a place in the All-Ireland series.

“I always knew it was in them, we’d a couple of good performances throughout the league, got a couple of players to get back, and Liam Ryan was a massive one to get back today as well. I suppose you can’t see the future, but I always knew there was a performance in the lads.

“They hit the bar a little bit over the last couple of weeks, let Dublin back into it, seven points up against Antrim, let them back into it; you know, over 150 minutes-plus of hurling, there’s been 10 minutes bad for us.

“We could have come out with results out of that, but look, we had a point on the board before today, we’ve three now, which is brilliant, we’re back in the hunt again. And we’ve Carlow next, it’s nice to have a two-week break, after three on the trot.”

With 1-6 from an on-fire Rory O’Connor and 0-11 off their captain Lee Chin, Wexford were better for most of the tie despite losing Cian Byrne in the 51st minute, sent off by Seán Stack after a heavy challenge on Donal O’Shea.

“I don’t think it was a red card,” said Rossiter. “I think [he is] the smallest man on the field, there’s not a bad stroke in the chap. He’s heartbroken over it. To play 20 minutes without him was fair going and we kept the scoring ticking over.”

Just 6,170 turned up to see the tie, a poor crowd for a Wexford home game.

“In fairness I think the genuine, honest supporters came out to support us. The people who really have our backs. You are going to get your keyboard warriors, there was a lot of talk during the week, but the genuine Wexford supporters came out today and I am delighted for them,” Rossiter remarked.

“We looked a bit dead on our feet,” said a despondent Galway manager Henry Shefflin. “We’re still left in the championship. It doesn’t feel like that at this moment and it won’t feel like that for a long number of days, but if we can win our next two games, we have a chance in the championship. It was very, very disappointing.”

Galway head to Corrigan Park on Saturday week, and finish up with a home tie against Dublin. Shefflin welcomed the two-week break after three games in quick succession.

“We did look tired today,” the manager noted. “I know this group and it’s very disappointing and I know for the Galway public, it’s not what they want to view. But I know the effort they put in and how much they want it, too much sometimes, and I think that can weigh a little bit on them.

“It’s a very, very quiet and hurt dressing room. Straight away, going to Corrigan Park is going to be a difficult task the way we’re playing at the moment.

“It’s championship hurling now. We’re not playing like championship at the moment.”