Wexford Youths boss responds to criticism of Lee Chin choosing All-Stars over relegation battle

There was an air of inevitability that as soon as Wexford's fate was sealed, the focus would shift towards Lee Chin.

Sure enough, when Drogheda United defeated Wexford Youths 3-0 in the second leg of their promotion/relegation play-off on Friday night, talk turned towards the Wexford hurler. Chin signed a short-term amateur contract to help the team after several players left for New Zealand, and scored in the first-leg of the play-off on Monday as Youths ran out 2-0 winners. However, while Youths were letting a two goal advantage slip on a brisk night at United Park, Chin was at Dublin's Convention Centre for the GAA All-Star ceremony, where he was nominated for an award. His decision not to play for Youths wasn't well received by some. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/794502455925100545?lang=en Youths boss Shane Keegan addressed the backlash Chin received during a brilliant interview with Daniel McDonnell of the Independent shortly after full time on Friday night. He admitted being perplexed by the criticism, especially considering that Chin wouldn't have made the starting lineup anyway.

"Chinner wouldn't have started tonight. He started on Monday because Gary Delaney wasn't fit. He'd admit that himself. If everybody is fit and available is he in the first eleven? No. And he knows that. He's not a make or break player for Wexford Youths and I don't intend to be derogatory when I say that."

Chin had told him when he agreed to sign the contract that hurling would always come first, something Keegan was completely on board with. At no point did Chin figure into his plans for the second leg because he understood his player needed to attend the ceremony.

"I understood that was going to be the situation. Initially, he was going to Asia for the Asian Games this week. If the All-Stars weren't on this week, we wouldn't have had him for either game. That was the initial understanding I brought him in under - if we went to a playoff we wouldn't have him for either game. Then the All-Stars came up." "At no stage was him being available an option for us. I just think it's mad, the reaction is mad but it's coming from outside - not inside. It's not coming from anyone involved with the club. He played a part in putting us in a very commanding position so for him to ship any of the blame is preposterous."

Keegan declared that he would be eternally thankful for Chin's "cracking goal" in the first leg and his contribution to the team overall. Who are the winners of the much-coveted 2016 Wooly Awards? Find out in our GAA Hour Special