Clare's Podge Collins was on Monday’s OTB AM and spoke about Wexford’s narrow loss to Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Things were looking good for Wexford at the 50-minute mark when they were up by five points, with the Premier County’s John McGrath having been sent off only five minutes beforehand.
However, Tipperary responded strongly and clawed their way back to win by two points and set up another All-Ireland final with Kilkenny, much to the dismay of the Wexford supporters.
“Letting that slip is going to be disappointing for them. They’re going to be thinking about it for a long time.
“People always comment about how getting a man sent off can either increase performance or decrease performance, you don’t know how it’s going to go. I’m not buying that.
“Wexford are going to be kicking themselves big time,” Collins said.
Wexford seemed to recede back into their shell as soon as Lee Chin scored the Slaneysider's second goal with Tipp capitalising on Wexford's inability to build on their lead.
“Diarmuid O’Keefe and Liam Og McGovern were getting on so much ball up to that point in the wing-forward midfield position. They were influencing the game and then that element completely went out of their play.
“Should they have played the sweeper more with the last ten minutes of puck outs and kind of build the play, as they were doing throughout the game? As opposed to going direct which killed them,” Collins commented.
There were several controversial moments in the match, most notably Tipp’s disallowed goals as well as a strong penalty claim for Wexford.
Many pundits reckon that the game is played at too quick a pace for one referee to control, with a second referee or the introduction of a video assistant referee among the suggestions.
Collins sympathised with Sean Cleere, the man in charge of Sunday’s clash, but recognised that he struggled to get to grips with the game.
“He’s a really nice fella… but yesterday is probably very difficult for him this morning. I haven’t seen Twitter but I’m sure if you go on Twitter it’s going to be all commentary around his performance.
“He’s one of the refs you can actually talk to on the field and ask him about decisions but yesterday he found it difficult. So should he get assistance? Probably. Would the VAR thing work? Maybe,” Collins said.
Tipperary will go on to face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling final for the fifth time this decade. Wexford will play no further role in proceedings this summer but can hold their heads high after their best season in a long time.
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