A QUIETLY CONFIDENT WICKLOW CAMP
THIS Sunday afternoon Wicklow will come face to face with Laois in Aughrim in the Leinster Senior football championship and, despite being outsiders to see off the O'Moore County and with some injuries and the suspension of full-back Damien Power, the mood in the camp is quietly confident.
Power is out due to a black card rule and it is unclear as of yet who will take his place. On Saturday afternoon last in a practice match against Ballyboden St. Enda's, Annacurra's Alan Byrne manned the full-back position and he did so extremely well until he was forced off with a knock which is not deemed to be serious.
This position is obviously a major concern for Harry Murphy and his selectors but at the time of going to print no details were available.
“We're all looking forward to it. The lads are really upbeat about it. We've put a good bit of work in since the end of the league and all the lads are really looking forward to it,” said Harry Murphy.
“We're all set to go now. Obviously Power is going to be a huge loss to us but we'll have to get over that one.
“We're hoping Alan (Byrne) will be right. He went off Saturday morning but it was more of a precaution. Ciaran (Hyland) is struggling with a hamstring. Again, we're trying to nurse him at the moment,” he added.
Wicklow's strongest line is most definitely the full-forward line providing Seanie Furlong, Conor McGraynor, and Leighton Glynn start in the last line of attack. Harry Murphy agrees.
“We believe that we've as good a fullforward line as there is in Leinster. If we can get enough good ball inside to the lads (they'll do damage). We're under no illusions, we'll have to be on top of our game. We'll have to play as well as we possibly can. If we do that, if we play as well as we can and get ball in, we'd hope to nullify their size. We've been working all year for this moment. Bookies have got it wrong before. Last year they would have backed Meath. I know they did beat us in the end but it was a freak, hopefully we get a bit of luck,” he added.