HURLERS AND FOOTBALLERS BOTH ONE WIN FROM PROMOTION
Attacking options increase as Jack gets goal on return
THE BIGGEST cheer of the afternoon in Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday was reserved for Wexford substitute Jack Guiney who ended a two-year absence from the inter-county scene with 1-1 as the home side eventually coasted to a 15-point victory over Kerry.
However, manager Davy Fitzgerald is wary of the massive challenge facing his side when they visit O’Connor Park, Tullamore, next Sunday to take on Offaly with promotion in sight.
Guiney, a 47th-minute substitute, slammed the door on the doubters with a splendidly-taken goal to mark his competitive return which came seven days after appearing against Waterford in a challenge in Kilmore.
While he still has a way to go before he claims a permanent position in the starting side, he certainly will give Fitzgerald serious options for the remainder of the league campaign.
The Clare man was clearly happy to have the Rathnure attacker back in the fold.
‘Jack has worked hard with us over the last number of months. He had an injury which set him back some seven weeks.
‘While he has still some way to go he is working hard to get there. There are also several other players striving to get back to fitness, so hopefully we will have a full squad shortly.’
With two victories under their belts and promotion in their own hands, Fitzgerald was not overly unhappy with the first-half display.
‘We played very well in the firsthalf into the wind, created four goal chances but took none of them. What I was unhappy with was the way we finished the half. We were coasting at 0-7 to 0-4, but conceded three points to go in level.
‘We addressed that problem at half time. We were more clinical in the second-half but still missed some easy chances from in front of goal.
‘There are areas of our play that we need to improve upon, but hopefully that will come against Offaly. That is going to be a massive a game in Tullamore.
‘We now look ahead to what will be two serious games, Offaly next Sunday and then Laois. Offaly beat us last year so that should be motivation enough for the lads.’
Having beaten both Limerick and Galway, along with Kerry, Fitzgerald feels his task is to have the players right for the remaining two games.
‘That’s my job, to have the players properly prepared physi- cally and mentally for the final two group games. They should need no motivation for Offaly. We lost to them last year which should be motivation enough.
‘We have no further injury concerns so we look ahead towards Offaly, who are going to bring everything to the table seeking their first victory.’
Meanwhile, Wexford senior footballers maintained their one hundred per cent league record under manager Seamus McEnaney and now look certain for promotion with eight points from four games played.
It’s always easy to think that being in Division 4 produces handy games, but that is in stark contrast to has been witnessed so far, as McEnaney’s charges have had to battle for the points in every outing.
It’s those battling qualities along with the effort put in by the players which should see them clinch promotion with a victory over the London side managed by Horeswood’s Ciarán Deely in Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday week.