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20th May 2016

Twenty things that have happened in Wexford since 1996 All-Ireland triumph

Vigilantes, motorways and moustaches but no dancing at crossroads

Mikey Stafford

Saturday night in Croke Park the Wexford hurlers begin their Championship campaign with a Leinster SHC quarter-final against Dublin (7.45pm).

The county footballers are also in action at Headquarters, against Kildare (5.15pm), but it is a particularly poignant anniversary for the hurlers.

This marks the 20th anniversary of Wexford’s epic 1996 All-Ireland victory. Bar a couple of brief highs, it has been two decades of disappointment in the Model County.

Twenty years is a long time, to give you an idea how long, here are 20 events to have occurred since Martin Storey raised Liam MacCarthy aloft.

1. Gordon D’Arcy made Brian O’Driscoll look good for a decade and a half

The Ferns native couldn’t be in Croker that fateful day as he was working in one of Liam Griffin’s hotels. Then a schoolboy in Clongowes, D’Arcy would make a career of backing up a messianic figure with hard work.

Guinness Series, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 9/11/2013 Ireland vs Samoa Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

2. Billy Walsh emigrates

This is recent but seismic news. Olympian, boxing coach and all around sound skin, the mastermind behind the Irish High Performance Unit has upped sticks and moved to Colorado to work his magic on those struggling Americans.

World Boxing Championships Press Conference, National Stadium, Dublin 26/9/2013 IABA's High Performance Head coach Billy Walsh Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

3. County goes off gold

We were led to believe it was a beauty to behold,  but the gold is slowly being removed from the purple and gold. Not near enough moustaches either. For that matter.

All Ireland Final 1996 Wexford v Limerick Martin Storey Wexford and Mike Nash Limerick © Tom Honan/INPHO

4. Leinster minor finalists are born

Get your calculators out. Not one of these scamps was born in 1996. Best of luck lads.

5. Conor McDonald learned to walk

Nowadays the Naomh Eanna forward is chasing a fourth straight Under-21 title and getting on the end of wonder goals, but 20 years ago he was stuck in a buggy: “I was watching it and there’s a small little clip of me in a buggy, at the homecoming in Gorey. Wild Swans playing music up on top of a pub, crazy scenes now.”

6. ‘Dancing at the Crossroads’ made it on to CD

Speaking of Wild Swans… “Damien Fitzhenry, Ger Cushe, Sean Flood, Rod Guiney, Liam Dunne…” You’ll be amazed how many of the Wexford team you’ll be able to name once you hear a few bars of that number one hit, which was only released on cassette at the time (a plastic ribbon filled thing that used to fit into stereos). The frequency with which it is blasted out at weddings is proof of its longevity and owes much to it finally being committed to CD three years ago.

7. Kevin Doyle played for Ireland

Wexford native makes his debut in 3-0 friendly win over Sweden at Lansdowne Road.

International Friendly 1/3/2006 Republic of Ireland vs Sweden Ireland's Kevin Doyle is tackled by Sweden's Petter Hansson Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Honan

8. Kevin Doyle scored for Ireland

His first goal came against San Marino in November of the same year, but this is a thunder-bastard he prepared against Slovakia a year later.

9. Border folk gritted their teeth as Kilkenny won the All-Ireland… ELEVEN times

Tensions can run high around New Ross in September when the Cats (infuriatingly classy winners) come to town to buy brasso for their latest batch of Celtic Crosses.

Henry Shefflin celebrates winning his 9th All Ireland 30/9/2012

10. Minor footballers got some modicum of revenge

Hitting them where it hurts, their industrial football project.

11. Gizzy Lyng came and went

A non-playing substitute when Wexford won their last major title in 2004, Diarmuid Lyng emerged as one of the most talented hurlers in Ireland and retired during the fallow period that followed.

12. Mattie Forde

While we’re on the subject of sidelines…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgPyCObxuV8

13. Bertram Allen conquers the equestrian world

Who needs hurling when you have horses? This young lad could win a gold medal in Rio. Then we’ll be dancing at the Crossroads.

14. 2008, or was that a dream?

Down and Armagh were left in Wexford’s wake as they made it to the All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone, losing to the eventual champions by 0-13 to 1-14. That was a hell of a ride.

Football Championship Qualifier, Round 3 2/8/2008 Wexford vs Down Wexford manager Jason Ryan (R) celebrates at the end of the match Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

15. The Arklow bypass opened

In 1997 Wexford fans on their way to Croke Park were freed from the notorious south Wicklow traffic black spot. Burger Hill was missed, but it was worth it.

arklow

16. The Gorey Bypass opened

A decade later the trip up the N11 to Croker skelpings got even quicker.

All Ireland Senior Hurling Semi Final Wexford 15/8/2004 Dejected Wexford fans Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

17. Wexford hurlers stop playing at Croke Park

Good thing they built all those motorways. When the hurlers lost the 2008 Leinster final to Kilkenny, nobody could have imagined it would be EIGHT years before they played Championship hurling at Headquarters again but, amazingly, Saturday’s quarter-final clash with Dublin is the first return for summer hurling.

Bord na Mona Walsh Cup Final, Croke Park, Dublin 30/1/2016 Dublin vs Wexford Wexford’s Matthew O'Hanlon with Chris Crummey of Dublin. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Grealy

18. Gráinne Murphy swims her way into nation’s heart and out of Wexford

Ballinaboola teenager wins loads of medals, gets scholarship to University of Limerick and commits full time to her sport. Has lousy luck with illness and injury and retires earlier this year.

2015 Irish Open Swimming Championships, National Aquatic Centre, Dublin 3/5/2015 Women's 1500m Freestyle Grainne Murphy Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

19. Wexford Youths are formed and flourishing

Thanks to Mick Wallace TD, the county now has a Airtricity League team. Not only that, they are Premier League, yes they are Premier League.

20. Larry O’Gorman became a vigilante

Last St Stephen’s Day one of the heroes of 1996 was driving down Wexford’s Main Street when he saw a man throw a brick at a shop window. The Faythe Harriers man sprung to action, apprehending the vandal and keeping hism apprehended until the Gardaí arrived.

Wexford Hurling Feature 7/8/2003 Larry O'Gorman ©INPHO/Patrick Bolger

And one for good luck… That goal

Yep. Michael Jacob. The only man to make Brian Cody kneel in the last two decades. That 2004 Leinster triumph (following on from Bob O’Keeffe wins in 1996 and 1997) remains the county’s last title.

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