Neil McManus Praises Lee Chin For Gesture Antrim Appreciated After Wexford Loss

Neil McManus hailed Lee Chin for the class he showed during and after Wexford’s Leinster SHC opening round win over Antrim.

The Faythe Harriers dynamo guided Wexford to glory despite being reduced to fourteen men with the dismissal of Jack O’Connor.

Antrim got off to an explosive start in front of a dire 4,774 crowd in Chadwick’s Wexford Park, and led by 0-6 to 0-2 after nine minutes.

Memories of Wexford’s loss to Antrim last year in Corrigan Park resurfaced when O’Connor was red carded after 21 minutes when Wexford were leading by just two points.

But Lee Chin stepped up when he was needed for Keith Rossiter’s side, scoring 0-16 and helped them to what turned out to be a eleven point victory.

Antrim's performance coach McManus praised Chin for his prowess under the high ball as well as his shooting and leadership during the game, ruing the brilliance of the 32-year-old.

Chin scored twelve placed balls and four from play, while Kevin Foley and Cian Byrne scored the goals that sealed Wexford’s victory by 2-24 to 0-19.

"He (Chin) was imperious yesterday," said McManus, the former Antrim star.

"He's the talisman and he's just one of the best players in the game. And we got to see every skill that he has in his locker yesterday. He has all the tricks. He has the balance of a ballerina and hits like a train.

"His striking is just so crisp. His aerial ability is probably above that of everyone in the game now bar TJ (Reid.) They can just land balls down on top of him.

"Antrim were in the driving seat for quite a bit of the game but they always had an outlet in Lee Chin," he added.

McManus also noted how, after the game, Chin made a bee-line to Antrim player Gerard Walsh, offering his condolences after the recent passing of his sister.

Walsh showed bravery to line out in the game having lost his sister Fionnuala last Saturday and McManus praised him for his courage.

"Gerard very sadly buried his sister last week. Gerard played really well for Antrim yesterday in the middle of the park.

"And as soon as the game was over, you see Lee Chin making a bee-line to share his condolences with him. A class act on and off the pitch," McManus said.