Balancing act gives Wexford captain the look of a dark horse

Leinster final:At several points in conversation with Wexford hurling captain Nigel Higgins yesterday we had to stop and ask were we hearing him right.

Such as his memories of playing Kilkenny? "Being beaten . . . "

So you've never actually beaten them? "No, never, not at any level up along."

And didn't you opt out for while there? "Just too many work commitments, still a lot of work commitments. Just trying to fit it all in."

So what is it you do? "Four different businesses actually. A haulage company, a retail business, an import business, and a stud farm, as well."

Four different businesses? "Four different businesses."

Where do you get the time to hurl? "Eh . . . I rejigged things at work, got some help from family and friends to give me that bit more time, to finish early, and get to training in the evenings. But to get the jersey back was great, every hurlers dream in the county."

We're not talking nine-to-five then? "Nine-to-five? I'd love to see one of those days. I haven't seen one of those days in a long, long time.

"This week, say, I've been starting every morning at 4.30, 5.0. Then 9.30, 10.0 in the evening I'd finish. And you try to get something to eat after that. When it started first it was tough, but at this stage I'm used to it. I can jig my body to work around it. And I'll be well rested for Sunday."

Time seemed precious for Higgins ahead of this Sunday's Leinster final against Kilkenny, especially when he added that his next port of call was the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. Yet, as a guest of championship sponsors Guinness, he didn't shy away from the hard questions surrounding the latest meeting with their old Leinster rivals.

"Kilkenny are red-hot favourites for the Leinster title, favourites for the All-Ireland title. So it's a huge task for us. It would be spectacular for us if we come out with a win on Sunday. But if you didn't believe then there's no point in going up to Croke Park. You have to have the confidence.

"We made a lot of simple mistakes against Dublin, which we'll have to get right for the next day. We started well, but let it slip. So we're talking about upping it 100 per cent on the Dublin game, just to be there or thereabouts with them.

"But even if you get a head start on Kilkenny they always seem to come back at you. They never say die. Even when they get a few points ahead they don't stop. They put you away. I can't fault any team for that. If you're that good, go ahead and win. But hopefully we can turn the tide on Sunday."

Wexford did turn the tide three years ago when stunning Kilkenny in the semi-final with a late goal, but it's 1997 since they last beat them in a Leinster final, with Kilkenny chasing a ninth title in 10 seasons on Sunday.

Higgins didn't play in the last two Leinster finals between the teams, dropping out of the panel just 10 days before the 2005 final, and actually announcing his retirement from intercounty hurling at age 25.

He played no part in this year's league either, but having helped Rathnure capture the county title, he hadn't drifted off the radar of new manager John Meyler.

And Meyler re-approached Higgins after Wexford endured a 15-point defeat to Kilkenny in the league semi-final, realising the value of his pace and skill in strengthening the Wexford attack. He started at left-corner forward in the Leinster semi-final win over Dublin and is now seen as one of the key players in their chances of winning on Sunday.

The discipline required in balancing work and hurling is something he's used to from his previous days as a dual jockey-hurler: "I spent a few years there as a jockey, rode point-to-points for three or four years, and rode work in England. That took serious discipline, especially weight-wise. I'm over 12 stone now, and when I was riding I was nine. But it's a love I have, hurling and horses.

"If I'd could be a jockey I'd love to be out where Kieren Fallon or Frankie Dettori are, but my body doesn't let me do those things. But I'm still involved with the breeding and training, trying to knock a few quid out of them here and there."

Which begged the question - dream of an All-Ireland with Wexford, or a Grand National with a horse? "Individually a Grand national, with a team, though, the All-Ireland."

Only one of those remains a reality.