By John Harrington

Liam Dunne’s emotional interview after Wexford beat Cork in the All-Ireland Qualifiers two weeks ago told you just how redemptive a win it was.

He and his team were roundly written off when they were beaten in the Leinster Quarter-Final by Dublin by a 13-point margin.

At that stage it looked like all the gains that were made when Wexford qualified for the 2014 All-Ireland Quarter-Final had been washed away.

Dunne’s five-season tenure as manager was spluttering to a damp-squib finish, and hard questions were being asked about the ability of a talented generation of U-21 players to make successful transition to the senior grade.

Dunne has always been a fighter though, and his young team have since proven they share the same flinty traits as their manager. They beat Cork because they were tougher mentally and physically, and team captain Matthew O’Hanlon believes it was high time the group showed their true worth.

“I suppose as a group of players we've always remained united,” says O’Hanlon. “Always had each other's back and always remained motivated and wanted to do our best for Wexford. I suppose looking at this season in its entirety, until the Offaly and Cork game we haven't really set the world alight. An indifferent League, a poor performance against Dublin.

“So, rightfully so, people in Wexford were asking questions. And we felt we owed the supporters one. And we owed Liam one as well because he stood by us for the past four or five years. And we've had our ups and downs but we were delighted to get over the line and prove we have it within us to win a big championship game and get a bit of momentum.

“And, look, who knows where it can take us now.”

What was most impressive about Wexford’s win was the way they found a response when Daniel Kearney’s goal pushed Cork into the lead eight minutes from time.

Wexford’s David Dunne had earlier missed two glorious goal-chances, so when Cork hit the back of the net against the run of play it looked like a decisive psychological blow had been struck.

The Slaney-siders simply refused to be beaten though, and the manner in which they closed the game out displayed tremendous resolve.

“We had said to ourselves before the game that no matter what would happen we'd keep going and keep the momentum up and for 70 plus minutes we'd give it our all,” says O’Hanlon.

“Obviously the couple of goal chances David Dunne would put in any other day so it was a bit of a let down. But then other guys stepped up and David worked very hard won four or five frees for us. Lee won a few big puck-outs and then Liam Óg came into it for the last ten minutes and Conor was very good from the frees too.

“I suppose over the 75-plus minutes I felt we were the better team. It was a pity not to get another goal or two to put a bit more of a margin between the team. But, look, a win is a win, we're not going to complain.”

If you are a Wexford fan, the hope would be that the win over Cork can be a real come of age moment for this young team. Many of them won three Leinster U-21 titles in a row, but this was their first major win in the Senior Championship hurling. O’Hanlon believes it can be the catalyst for more to come.

“Yeah, without doubt. Obviously for the last three or four years we've had several very good U-21 teams and a lot of those guys have embedded themselves in the panel and are getting game-time. The likes of David Dunne and these guys.

“So it's great to see them do it at the senior stage. That breeds confidence for younger guys coming through again so hopefully the conveyor belt will keep going. It inspires us older players as well to see these guys coming in and giving it a real cut. They demand more of us and as a team we're growing in confidence.”

Players who have been on the scene for a few years now are more mature and have developed into real leaders. The stand-out in this regard is Lee Chin who led the charge all day against Cork from centre-forward and finished with four points from play.

“Lee is a phenomenal athlete first and foremost,” says O’Hanlon. “Back when he was playing dual he worked really hard on his hurling skills and since then he has improved year after year and it's only this year he's really started to see the fruits of his labour now.

“He's an exceptional player and a real leader for us. It's great to have someone of his strength and stature in the half-forward line to win ball and drive on the team. But there's other guys there who are stepping up as well. Liam Óg McGovern has been around for a while playing really well, Diarmuid O'Keeffe is playing really well, Conor McDonald is getting some great scores for us, and then you've got the likes of Paudie Foley who's still only 20/21 as well and manning the centre-back position. A lot of young guys there, but a lot of strength and character and they're really stepping up to the plate.”

Wexford are very much the underdogs going into Sunday’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Waterford, but they tend to reserve their best displays for just such occasions. Despite even longer odds at the time, they could and probably should have beaten Waterford in the League Quarter-Final in April. O’Hanlon admits they are quietly confident they can qualify for their first All-Ireland Semi-Final since 2007.

“I suppose as a group of players we were last there (in the quarter-final) in 2014 after beating Clare and Waterford and going into the Limerick game full of confidence, but this year feels a little bit different in terms of we've had two good wins but preparations have been low-key.

“We're not getting ahead of ourselves. And, look, Waterford will present a big challenge. We beat them in the 2014 Championship but they're a very different team now. Derek has done a great job with them.

“They're the top two or three teams in Ireland at this moment in time. One bad performance in the Munster Final doesn't make you a bad team overnight and they'll be looking to redeem themselves against us, big-time.

“Look, we're quietly confident, full of belief, we'll be giving it our all and who knows what will happen. There's never been too much between us. If you look back at the League quarter-final there was only a point in it in the end. So, look, it'll be a good game.”

O’Hanlon has been plugging away with Wexford for a good few years now with little reward, and he knows it’s high time he and his team-mates earned some return on that investment.

“God, it's six years now since I started,” he says. “I suppose, looking back on it now, six years is huge investment of time and I along with several other guys in the panel would love to get a bit of tangible reward now.

“We've had some big championship wins but no silverware and that's the aim if ever county team. But, look, we're there for the right reasons. We're there because we love the sport, we're there because we love playing for Wexford.

“But it would be great to give something back to ourselves and this group for the effort that they've put in and for the Wexford supporters who are the best in the country without doubt.

“On the back of the last two performance I expect a big crowd of them to come, especially with our minors playing Limerick before us.  If we can build up a bit of belief and get that crowd behind us, they'll see us home, hopefully.

“Hopefully this performance and the minors doing well will pave the way for younger guys coming through and get the conveyor belt going and get more young hurlers playing for Wexford.”