CLOSER each day – home or away was an easy choice for Lee Chin.
The Wexford star, 32, took an extended winter break in Australia to recharge – and made his return in Sunday’s vital NHL win against Clare in Ennis.
Chin fired 0-5 against the Banner to end their three-game losing streak – and rumours he was staying in Oz for good were off the mark.
But the Faythe Harriers man hopes some winter sun can brighten Wexford’s season after gunning down the reigning league and All-Ireland champions in their own back yard.
He said: “I took a break away. It’s been a long enough career and I thought it was time that I took a bit of time for myself and took a mental break and a physical break at the same time.
“I heard a few bits and pieces but I knew what I was doing and the lads here at home knew what I was doing. That’s Ireland for you.
“We’re all like one big family and everyone hears everything. We’re all so close, in the GAA community especially, but it was just an extended holiday for me and I was happy to be home.
“There were times when you’d question it but hopefully it’ll stand to me later in the year. I’m enjoying being back, training with the lads and working hard.
“It’s not too long away until the summer and that’s what I wanted to do, shorten the winter for myself.”
Chin returned to a different Wexford dressing room in 2025 as old pals Matthew O’Hanlon, Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Liam Óg McGovern all retired from inter-county hurling.
He looked on as they lost three games on the spin against Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny before Sunday’s rousing performance got them off the mark.
Séamus Casey, Richie Lawlor, Cathal Dunbar and Cian Byrne stood up to the mark at Cusack Park.
Byrne fired 0-9 as Dunbar lorded the middle to tear the Banner down, as Keith Rossiter’s men responded perfectly to a bad start.
Clare raced 1-2 to 0-0 ahead inside five minutes as Tony Kelly hit the net, but Wexford rallied to surge 0-15 to 1-9 in front at half time.
Casey’s second half goal paved the way for an impressive six-point victory, and Chin says all eyes are on survival after ending their losing streak.
He said: “It can happen in games, sometimes you can start slow and work your way into the game.
“We got into a rhythm after about ten minutes, we started getting the ball to stick, we started being more efficient with it, our shot efficiency was good and we just kept working hard.
“We got ourselves going and we got in at half-time up by three and it was what we needed going in at half-time too.
“It was just important for us to get a victory. We want to be kind of competing at this level and we want to stay in this division. Hopefully a win like this will be a step towards achieving that.”
Wexford were in freefall after their first three games, but Chin’s return was huge and lifted the team as a whole.
FIRED UP
And the 2019 All-Star hopes it can spark their season ahead of Galway’s visit to Wexford Park on Saturday in round 5.
He said: “Wins like this can bring a bit of morale and camaraderie among the group as well and a bit of enjoyment.
“I suppose in the last three weekends we’ve been out in the National League, we’ve been beaten and beaten relatively well.
“It’s not easy going back into training every week when you’re being beaten for a few weeks on the bounce.
“For ourselves anyway, we needed to get going, we needed to get a performance.
“You don’t get a result unless you put in a performance down in the likes of Ennis, playing the National League champions and the All-Ireland champions.
“That requires a performance and lads turning up and then the result might come, but a win like this can enhance the mood a bit during the week.”
