‘We knew there’d be a battle but we didn’t match their intensity’ - Phelan

LAOIS minor manager Brendan Phelan was bitterly disappointed after his side’s loss to Wexford on Saturday in Round 2 of the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship.

While it was just a second competitive outing of the year for Wexford, Laois have had a tough slog to get to this stage of the competition and this was their fifth game in six weeks.

Speaking after the game Phelan said, “We’re fierce disappointed, we thought we had a great chance coming in. We’ve played them over the years and there’s been nothing there between the two of us.

“I don’t want to make excuses, they were far superior on the day but maybe the fifth match in six weeks maybe caught up with us. We just didn’t have the energy that we’ve brought to previous matches.” Wexford brought a huge amount of physicality to the game and they were very dominant over a Laois team that looked to be carrying heavy legs after the tough schedule.

“We knew what they were like under high balls and their physicality, we have a few physical lads ourselves,” said Phelan.

“This time last week when we walked off the pitch we were after competing with Galway who are the favourites for the All-Ireland then you go to a performance like that.

“We tried to keep it calm and fresh during the week, we knew what Wexford were bringing so nothing what they did today shocked us. We knew there’d be a battle but we didn’t match their intensity.

“Lads are disappointed, no one goes out to lose like that.

“They’re good hurlers and they’re resilient, we told them that today shouldn’t define our year, we’ll go again against Westmeath.

“We’re not completely gone out of the championship.” Wexford made a blistering start to the game, racking up 2-10 in the opening fifteen minutes and Phelan said, “They got the start that we wanted.

“We worked in training and we talked a lot about getting a good start, but look today it just didn’t happen for us and it was Wexford that got the start.

“We had one or two chances early and if we got them it would’ve settled and it might have been different,” he reckoned.

“Fair play to Wexford they were on top form today and we just weren’t, at this level if you’re off your game you’ll be shown up.” Phelan added further to his thought on the schedule in saying, “Lads will say you can’t beat matches and that’s true to a point but you’re asking lads to go to the well.

“Especially the last three weeks there as well, the Antrim win was very good, they’re a serious team and would be looking to compete in Tier 1.

“Last week again you’re looking for a performance against Galway, another serious team, and then again today.

“For one reason or another we just weren’t at the level today.” Their next game against Westmeath is a must win if they are to have any hope of progressing to the knockout stages and Phelan reckons they’ll have another challenge on their hands.

”Westmeath are a serious team themselves, they made a couple of mistakes at them and Kilkenny got a run at them but we know they have serious hurlers.

“They had a team in the Leinster Schools A semi-final this year so they’ve been a serious outfit and they’ve a decent coaching team.

“We wouldn’t be taking Westmeath lightly but they’ll be in the same situation as ourselves, playing for the fifth week in a row. It’ll be down to who reacts well on the day and it’ll be all to play for.”