We catch up with Evans and Murphy
SANTA CLAUS will be bringing a dose of common sense to the powers-that-be if Seamus Murphy has his wish.
The Wicklow hurling boss is far from overjoyed at the prospect of rousing his players for a low-key tournament between Christmas and the New Year.
Murphy has split his panel into two separate squads with one competing in the Kehoe Cup and the other participating in the Walsh Cup and training is underway for the 2018 season but at the moment they’re light of a few bodies and light of intensity.
“It’s early days yet. We haven’t really trained properly because we had Glenealy involved in Leinster only up to a fortnight ago or less. We’ve a few players with long-standing injuries from last season and a couple of lads got married and between the jigs and the reels, it’s all a little bit off but we have to move on and keep working. We’re reasonably happy the way it’s going but it’s terrible conditions what we’re trying to put players through at the moment - any outdoor work we’re doing is very difficult with the weather.
“There’s a few decisions up in the air (about players retiring). We’ve a few fellas who’ve had dif- ficulty with work and a few caught up with college stuff so we’re giving them time to reconsider. We’re not forceful about it but some of those won’t be available until after the new year. “
If and when those players decide to don the Wicklow jersey again, competition for places will be severe with two full squads currently being prepared for the Kehoe Cup and the Walsh Cup.
“We decided that we’d try and put two teams in so that we could give lads game time. I don’t think these competitions are as good as they used to be. There’s a lot of fixtures out in front of these people that they have to arrange but it’s not comfortable to be playing matches on the 30th of December. I honestly think that one more week would make an awful difference because people could get over the Christmas period. They want to be at home with their families when they’re off work.
“There needs to be a bit of breathing space. Teams like Glenealy and Rathnew were playing up to a couple of weeks ago and my god they’re trying to turn in now for the 30th of December again for what’s a low competitive game. It’s difficult.
“We were doing a bit this morn- ing and you could feel the mood about it that they weren’t happy but you have to go with it.”
With all fixtures set to take place at the same time, Murphy will be calling upon his staff to split between the two sides which will hopefully all lead to a stronger Wicklow team when the serious stuff starts in a few months time.
“We’ve two great men with great hurling careers with club and county and they’ve been great servants to the game and that’s Michael Anthony O’Neill of Glenealy and Timmy Collins of Carnew. Both are great warriors for the game and both are still yielding the hurl.
“When you put two teams in, it’s up to you to sort it out. It would’ve been easier had one of the games been on the Saturday and one on the Sunday because it would’ve given the whole management crew to watch both matches and we’re all the one bunch of players too. Just because somebody will be playing in the Kehoe Cup, it doesn’t mean that they can’t play a part in the national league later down the road.”