Lee Chin praised for emotional gesture to GAA star whose sister died that shows he's ‘class act on and off the pitch'

The Irish Sun

22-04-2025

LEE CHIN was praised for his gesture to Antrim star Gerard Walsh following the death of his sister.
The
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Lee Chin starred as Wexford beat Antrim
Credit: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
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He was praised for a gesture to Gerard Walsh
Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
After the game, Chin approached Gerard Walsh to give his condolences after the recent death of his sister Fionnuala.
The gesture was revealed by Antrim performance coach Neil McManus on The Sunday Game.
He said: "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.
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"A class act on-and-off the pitch.'
While Kevin Foley and Cian Byrne got the goals for Wexford in the 2-24 to 0-19 win, it was Chin who was the key to victory.
Wexford boss Keith Rossiter said: 'The start that Antrim got could have been a lot worse for us.
"They hit the ground running with three or four points on the board before we could blink, but the lads dug in.
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'We were hurling fairly well when Jacko got sent off but credit to the lads, they kept fighting away, which is what you want.'
Antrim boss Davy Fitzgerald was not as happy speaking to media at the end of the game as he lamented some of the officiating.
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The sharp Saffrons led 0-6 to 0-2 after nine minutes but went scoreless for 15. Chin was everywhere as he hit four on the spin, followed by back-to-back scores from Rory O'Connor to see their side two up.
Their momentum was halted on 22 as O'Connor was spotted taking a swing back at Joe Maskey and Colm Lyons flashed red.
James McNaughton ended Antrim's barren spell as he began to build his own tally, but Chin had the final say of the half to give Wexford a 0-14 to 0-10 lead.
He extended the gap from a free upon the resumption with Boyd yellow-carded for a drag-back, but Antrim then enjoyed a nice spell with McNaughton pointing either side of one from Walsh to narrow the gap to two.
Chin continued to knock over frees with Rory O'Connor and Cathal Dunbar also on target, while at the other end, Mark Fanning got down to divert a Keelan Molloy shot up and over.
Still, Antrim were in it with Walsh and Molloy bringing them back to within four, but from Fanning's long puckout, Foley rose and his momentum took him clear to blast home.
It got worse for the visitors in the 58th minute as Boyd picked up a second yellow for a loose stick on Foley, with Chin pointing again.
The game was put away three minutes later as Cian Molloy burst out of defence through the middle and found Byrne inside to finish.
The sides added three points apiece late on, but it is Wexford who gained revenge for their defeat in Belfast 12 months ago.
Fitzgerald said: 'We hurled really well for 20 minutes in the first half and the first 15 of the second half.
'I'm not saying the frees weren't frees, but it has to be the same for both sides. That is not a true reflection on that scoreboard out there.'