Mary Leacy on Wexford’s big game against Cork on Sunday..

MARY LEACY is already looking at the positives prior to Wexford’s big National League Division One showdown with Cork at Oylegate on Sunday. The 2007 All Ireland winning captain and regular centre-back for the Purple and Gold says a win or draw will give them maximum points in Group Two and will send them through to the league final against either Tipperary or Kilkenny, else they will find themselves in a three-way play-off with Galway and Cork.

“”The advantage of our situation is that we can’t lose. If we get over Cork we are in the league final, if not, we will have a couple of more matches. We haven’t been in a league final since 2007 when Cork beat us by a last minute goal, so getting to the final is our focus at the moment.””

 

The Slaneysiders went on to turn the tables on the Leesiders that year, going on to capture their first All Ireland senior title in 32 years.

“”That was great and the memories are dear, but we were going here and there with the Cup, so we never really got going last year. We are more enthusiastic now. There is a much better buzz and we are revitalized.””

 

Leacy says they took great heart from their league win over Galway a few weeks ago.

“”We hadn’t much hurling done. It was more endurance. A lot of our girls were involved in the Ashbourne which meant we hadn’t done a whole lot of collective training either. So that was a big result for us.””

 

The star that day in Ballinasloe was Mary’s sister Una who came on as a sub and scored the winning goal. However, the younger Leacy might not be available for the crunch game on Sunday.

“”Una is having a problem with her foot. She is getting treatment, but she really doesn’t know what is wrong. Hopefully, she will be able to play some part,”” she adds.

 

However, there is better news for the Wexford followers. With a few new faces having freshened up the panel, manager Stellah Sinnott is also expecting back 2008 All Star Catherine O’Loughlin and Noelle Lambert from their travels. Both girls should rejoin the panel over the coming weeks.

 

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