In the run up to the Wexford senior hurlers' All-Ireland championship clash against Waterford, the message below was posted on the Model County's Facebook page. Reprinted in yesterday's senior football final programme, it illustrates what Wexford hurling means to many of the county's supporters.

Mavis Gallagher
22 July 09:40

Hi there,

If possible can you please share this message with the Wexford hurling team and management?

I would like to say 'thank you' to you for winning against Clare last week. My Daddy was a great minor hurler for Wexford in the 1950's and had many medals including one he won in Croke Park where he scored a cracking goal from the half way line!

He was a passionate hurling fan all his life who I remember often shouting at the TV.

Sadly though my Daddy was earlier this year diagnosed with Cancer and was given just two months to live. Two weeks after his initial diagnosis on Friday 11th July he took a bad turn and we were told he would leave us that day. My Daddy was though a strong willed man wasn't prepared to go that day. He asked us to bring in a radio to him the next day to listen to the big match from Wexford Park (Wexford v Clare). He aimed for that match. As Friday drew to a close he came better and proved the doctors wrong.

Saturday proved to be a good day for him and he sat on the bed in good form chatting. That afternoon we both settled down to watch the match in St. James' Ward and of course he was a few seconds ahead of me listening to it on the radio as we followed it on the TV. I had to tell him to be quiet a few times..... When full time was up he turned to me and said "Mavis, I think I'll get into bed now"..

I helped him in and his breathing started to weaken all of a sudden. As the game ticked into extra time I kept him up to date on the score, his eyes would roll in his head, he was slipping.

When Wexford won I turned to him and shouted "we won" sticking my two thumbs up. With that he gave me one last smile and sadly passed away shortly afterwards.

Thank you for giving a great game and giving me and my Daddy one more great time spent together over a match.

Please hurl like you never hurled before and get that All Ireland......Never give up x

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