If they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, that certainly seems to be the case with Wexford and the Bob O'Keefe cup. The Model County are Leinster champions, and you have to be delighted for them.
They put in a tremendous performance against Kilkenny in the decider, displaying all of the characteristics you want to see in champions. They were courageous, dogged, skilful, and dug deep when required.
The final whistle was met with an outpouring of emotion from both players and supporters. That is not even to mention their manager.
Davy Fitzgerald has done an incredible job, and he will rightly be given plenty of credit for leading the county to this point. Speaking to RTÉ after the game, he paid tribute to his players and the people of Wexford.
Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald pays tribute to his players are they beat Kilkenny to end a 15-year wait for the Leinster Hurling Championship. #rtegaa #WEXKIK pic.twitter.com/wnScOqayIO
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 30, 2019
I think you can see it outside, the emotion is unreal. I suppose that's one of the things that keeps me going, I love to see people happy, I love to see people smiling.
It's been a long time. I know when I went to Wexford that the passion was incredible, the supporters have been very good to us.
You know what, if I told you what I put them lads through you wouldn't believe it, and I am so happy for them today. I am so happy that they got over the line and I am delighted for them. There will be a lot of happy people in Wexford for a while...
This bunch are never beaten, if you look at our games all year we were never beaten. We kept coming back, even when we were down. I'm just so delighted for them that they got their rewards and I want them to enjoy every minute out there.
That's the great thing about hurling, anything can happen.
Talk will now inevitably turn to Wexford's All-Ireland hopes. While they would have been considered major outsiders at the beginning of the year, this victory ensures they will be labelled as contenders.
None of that chatter will matter to Davy, however. The Liam McCarthy is the last thing on his mind at the moment.
Listen, whatever they're talking about, winning or losing, I don't really care to tell you the truth. Whatever is to come I will worry about that during the week, I haven't a notion about worrying about any of that now.
I'm going to enjoy this and that's for sure. We will think about whatever is coming down the road, but certainly we are going to go back to Wexford and let the people of Wexford enjoy this.
