PREVIEW: Dublin v Wexford Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Image Courtesy Matthew Lysaght

A crucial encounter awaits Dublin when they travel to Chadwicks Wexford Park to take on Wexford in Round 3 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday afternoon (4pm). 

There is always much to play for when these two old rivals meet and next weekend is no exception, as the counties look to take a progressive step towards securing a provincial final berth and/or a spot in the All-Ireland series. 

Both teams are under a degree of pressure, with Dublin having dropped a point in their opening fixture against Offaly while Wexford will be hoping to bounce back following their defeat to Kilkenny in Round 2. 

Keith Rossiter’s side entered that clash full of optimism but suffered a 5-21 to 1-16 reverse. 

That defeat makes them an even more challenging proposition on Saturday and recent evidence suggests a titanic tussle awaits between the sides in Wexford.

Lee Chin remains one of the most talented hurlers of his generation while Simon Roche had produced a series of encouraging performances for a Wexford team missing the scoring threat of Rory O’Connor.

Dublin have a settled look to their line-up and have enhanced their options through the return to action of centre-back Liam Rushe, while at the opposite end of the field, David Purcell was an influential figure when introduced off the bench in their Round 2 win against Kildare. 

The Kilmacud Crokes attacker scored one goal and created another for his clubmate Fergal Whitely with his direct style and aerial threat a boost for Niall Ó Ceallacháin as he decides on his starting 15 for Saturday. 

One player likely to be heavily pencilled in by the manager is midfielder Conor Donohoe, who has put two very impressive displays together back-to-back and his direct clash with Wexford’s Conor Hearne could go a long way to deciding the outcome. 

The teams are very familiar with each other and rarely leave supporters disappointed, with Dublin edging Wexford by 3-26 to 4-19 in Parnell Park last year while they played out a thrilling 4-19 to 3-22 draw in the league at Croke Park earlier in the year. 

The current fortunes of either team rarely matters when these counties lock horns, with another tense and tight affair anticipated on a day of huge significance to both teams.