About 12 years ago, Liam Dunne was appointed as the first manager of Lee Chin for the Wexford hurling squad. Chin was primarily known as a Wexford footballer back then, possessing an understated aura of vigorous energy. Indeed, his potential was untapped; he was a raw talent. Dunne, however, saw something unique in him and decided to mentor him exclusively. To kick-start this, Dunne set up a meeting at the Maldron Hotel, confidently ignoring all traditional persuasive techniques typically seen on Dragon’s Den.
Dunne recalls, “I boldly told Lee Chin that I was actually superior to him in football. I maintained that at least I could play football with both feet, a skill I hadn’t observed in Chin. All he did was to fist pass the ball. This was possibly a rough start to my relationship with an established Wexford senior footballer whom I was trying to convince to join hurling.
“Eventually, I said, ‘Lee, if you remain a footballer, you will always be average. However, if you dedicate yourself to hurling, you could transform into a marvellous player, potentially one of the outstanding ones. That’s what I see in you.’”
Chin deliberated on this and went onto embody a dual player, however, his transition was short-lived. As forecasted by Dunne, he emerged as one of the best in the hurling field.
Around two days after Wexford’s victory against Kilkenny in the previous year’s championship, Dunne rang Chin, marking a strong victory which could have otherwise seen Wexford demoted from the elite tier of the hurling championship. Facing such a harrowing prospect and the ensuing pressure was quite stressful. Above all, it was Chin who vehemently staved off such a disastrous situation in history.
Former Wexford manager Darragh Egan says, “It’s not common to see one individual single-handedly sway the sentiment of a county like Chin does.”
Dunne nostalgically recalls, “As a young teenager of 16, I used to watch Tony Doran play in the Croke Park, making me realise my deep-rooted aspiration to hurl for Wexford. I expressed that to Lee saying, ‘Watching you on Sunday made me reflect on why I was so keen to hurl for Wexford.’”
Without coverage from either GAAGo or RTÉ, the match was ripe for myth-making. However, RTÉ provides all of its match recordings to county teams via Google Drive. Here, the game can be seen in its entirety, devoid of commentary or captions, providing a pure portrayal of the unfolding events – the action forms the narrative.
Let’s quantify Chin’s performance: He netted three points from the field and 1-7 from dead balls without a single miss. He also forced four turnovers and created 1-3. Against the country’s second-ranked team, such performance is indeed remarkable. Beyond the numbers lies the indescribable energy Chin transmitted to the field, electrifying the Wexford players. For close to 80 minutes, Chin was a relentless powerhouse.
Darragh Egan, who managed Wexford for the two preceding years, describes Chin’s performance as astounding. Egan vividly recalls Huw Lawlor and Tommy Walsh, among others, trying desperately to keep up with him. There are moments when he is simply unbeatable on the pitch. Egan marvels at Chin’s impressive influence over not only the Wexford team, but the entire county. Such impact is seldom seen, Egan argues.
Every team has its motivational forces, but in truly great teams, this duty rotates. On the Wexford team, though, this responsibility remains centered on Chin. According to Egan, who attended many of Wexford’s games this year, Chin’s performance is remarkable and improving.
Chin’s journey here has been long and not without bumps. His hurling skills weren’t always as polished as they are now. It’s much like a Pixar animation: the final product is magical, but the extensive, laborious process behind it is often overlooked. The continuous attribute is Chin’s persistent hunger for self-improvement – everything else gets moulded by this drive.
Egan asserts that even though Chin’s innate abilities weren’t exceptional to begin with, his unparalleled determination to better himself is what sets him apart. According to Egan, Chin, who is now 31, continues to work on and improve his skills, which is a rarity amongst intercounty players who, by their late twenties, have typically reached their peak. Chin has been given unlimited access to Wexford Park for independent practice, and Egan reveals that Chin frequently spends unsolicited hours there, particularly during game weekends.
In an article for The Sports Chronicle, Chin opened up about his solitary training, stating that he would often visualise himself in a packed-out Croke Park, reacting with gusto to each successful shot. Through this solitude, he hones his focus and mindset for games.
Chin hails from The Faythe neighbourhood of Wexford town, in Wolfe Tone Villas. Born to Voon For Chin, a Malaysian emigrant who established himself in Ireland as a chef in the early ’90s, and his Irish mother Joanne Black, Chin was deeply ingrained in sports from an early age. He was a part of the local hurling club – Faythe Harriers, as well as Sarsfields, the nearest Gaelic football team. Boxing was another integral part of his upbringing, with Wolfe Tone Villas being the birthplace of numerous Irish boxing titlists, including acclaimed Olympic coach Billy Walsh.
Walsh, who coached a young Chin in Gaelic football alongside his own son, recognised Chin’s potential early on. He recalled pitching the idea of getting Chin into the boxing club to Joanne, Lee’s mother. However, she promptly dismissed it, insisting that boxing wasn’t a suitable fit for her son.
Lee and I regularly interact,” I once told him, ‘Had I been able to coach you in boxing, you could have been a world champ.” In 2012, Chin joined Jason Sherlock on The Late Late Show to discuss racial harassment in GAA. Chin was racially abused by two players in a club football match that season, leading to an eight-week suspension for both. In the interview, Chin conveyed his childhood experiences of abuse, both in school and in public, and questioned whether things would ever change.
Fast forward to last year, during a challenge match in Carrick-on-Suir, a Tipperary supporter racially abused Chin. A brawl on the sidelines led to the incident being filmed and shared on social media. The culprit was recognised and handed a 48-week suspension.
Chin received an apology letter from the man, which led to subsequent phone dialogues. Over a year later, they continue to maintain contact. According to Egan, Chin dealt with the incident in a specific manner. Despite the wrongdoing, Chin remained kind; being accustomed to Chin, he still keeps in touch, and their relationship is excellent.
He received an apology from the man, which Chin gladly accepted. He was relieved that regret was expressed, and I know for a fact that Chin forgave him. Chin’s handling of the situation speaks volumes about his character.
Chin, who will be turning 32 in October, is injury-free for the first time in a while. There was a posterior cruciate ligament rupture in 2019, and complete knee reconstruction was suggested. However, the recovery could take up to two years, potentially ending his intercounty career. There was a discussion about the potential long-term impact of not having the surgery, and it was decided to undergo rehabilitation instead. As of now, the feared consequences have not become a reality.
Hamstring tears have haunted Chin over the years, and he injured his shoulder last year. However, this season is completely free of such problems.
Regardless of his physical condition at the close of every intercounty season, Chin dedicates himself to Faythe Harriers. Despite the constant battle against relegation over the years, his presence has been the deciding factor for the team’s fortunes.
In 2020, the former manager of Waterford, Derek McGrath, was invited to head the team, a move initiated by an advance duo that included Chin. McGrath recalls his four-season tenure, highlighting his interactions with Chin and Tony Walsh, a former Wexford player known as Sack Walsh. The conversation underscored a distinct quality in Chin – a genuine commitment to the club. According to McGrath, unlike others who feign dedication, Chin’s leadership was authentic and evident in his efforts for the Harriers.
McGrath paid tribute to an instance when Chin was the star guest at his annual summer camp at De La Salle. His presence made a profound impression on the children, not specifically for his words but for his demeanor – he carried himself like a movie star, emanating a certain charisma that proved hard to define.
With an imminent match against Clare, where Wexford are the underdogs, the question arises if they have a fighting chance. The answer, it appears, lies in the unique qualities Chin brings to the team.