Keith Rossiter credited Wexford's knockout mentality after landmark win over Galway

Wexford manager Keith Rossiter said his side brought a knockout championship mentality in their landmark eight-point victory over Galway in yesterday's Leinster Hurling Championship encounter in Chadwick's Wexford Park.

The home side had minimal room for error after their shock two-point loss in Belfast the week before and ripped into their lethargic opponents with abandon, cutting loose in the second half after Rory O'Connor's goal established a four-point gap.

Unlike in Corrigan Park, where Lee Chin carried almost the entirety of the scoring load, their star attacker had ample support on this occasion, with O'Connor and Conor McDonald rampant in the inside forward line.

Though they were forced to play the final 20 minutes with 14 men after Cian Byrne's sending off on a straight red card, their lead was never seriously threatened late on, and they ran out eight-point winners, securing their first championship victory over Galway since 1996.

For Rossiter, it was a first championship win at his third attempt. The manager attributed the performance to the realisation that their season was on the line.

"It was a matter of lose and we're out, as such. It’s knockout championship," Rossiter told RTÉ Sport after the game.

"It keeps the dream alive and keeps us in the hunt. It’s a great win. We’ll enjoy tonight.

"A lot of good performances on the field that we were sort of waiting for the last two weeks."

As with last year, when Wexford secured a final round victory over Kilkenny to secure their Liam MacCarthy status, the influence of a raucous home crowd was heralded as a major factor.

"I’m just delighted for the players that they put in the performance for the supporters that came out to see us today.

"The easiest thing for the