Davy expects a major test

Footballers off to Carlow

WITH just three days to go until he takes charge of the Wicklow senior footballers for the first time, Davy Burke has said that he will be keen to see a mix between the old and the new when his team meet Carlow in the O’Byrne Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Burke – who became the younger senior intercounty manager in the country -- took over John Evans as the Wicklow boss in September, after his Kerry-native predecessor resigned from the role after a two-year term, and will oversee his first fixture when Wicklow travel to Netwatch Cullen Park.

Burke (31), who has held a series of trials since the 24th of October with the purpose of selecting a panel for the 2020 season, told the Wicklow People that he was excited to see how the younger players he has drafted in will mesh with their more experienced counterparts.

‘We’ve probably looked at in and around the 50-player mark, at this point, and we’ll still be carrying around 40, so we’re happy with a lot of the guys. Across the board, everyone has a bit of work to do, but we’ll get there,’ he said.

‘We like to think that we have a few names picked up from the club championships and the under-20 championship. We like to think that we’ll have picked up a good few.

‘I like to think that you’ll find a good blend between the experienced, mature players, and the newer boys we’re bringing in.’

While not wanting to be drawn on singling out too many individual names, Burke did reserve praise for the likes of Andy Maher (AGB), Zach Cullen (Avondale), and Cillian McDonald (Tinahely) as players that he has been impressed with thus far.

Meanwhile, Burke confirmed that neither Tommy Kelly (St. Pat’s) nor Seanie Furlong (Kiltegan) will be involved this weekend, although he is hoping to get them involved in time for the National League.

This Saturday represents a short turnaround for the former Sarsfields manager, who has only been able to do pitch-based training with players a handful of times since the 15th of November. While he bemoaned the lack of adequate time he has had to train the team, he reconciled that the O’Byrne Cup would allow him to prepare for the National League, which remains his primary focus.

‘For management of two or three years, it might have been fine, but we’re a new outfit and a new panel. It’s not straightforward.

‘In that regard, we haven’t got a whole lot done. It’s very much, ‘we’ll see how we are on Saturday’. We’re expecting a serious challenge from a seasoned Carlow team. I know that they’ll be missing the Éire Óg players, but I’m sure that they’ll still be a strong, physical Carlow team.

‘We’re very much gearing up for the National League. We’ve three competitive games in the O’Byrne Cup to look forward to and to try out a few players.’