Wexford’s clash with Louth may have to be moved

WEXFORD G.A.A., it’s speculated, are looking at the prospect of having to move the Wexford v. Louth Leinster Senior football championship game which is scheduled for Sunday week, May 12.

Innovate Wexford Park was stood down following the final round of Allianz National League games in an effort to alleviate the problems which had beset the playing surface. The surface had deteriorated so much that the G.A.A. decided on a major refurbishment, carrying out intensive remedial work.

The embattled pitch has been slow to respond, given the weather conditions and low temperatures, leaving growth following the remedial work and reseeding, at a minimum. Already the Wexford Minor hurling and football championship games have been moved, with Bellefield the chosen ground, but with less than two weeks to the Wexford/Louth game the prospect of moving this game is also high on the agenda, for given the weak surface and little prospect of real growth over the coming week and half, its now believed that a full championship game would erode the work already carried out, with further important championship games coming in June, and a game against All-Ireland champions Dublin later in the month of May should they overcome Louth.

The Wexford pitch has proved troublesome over many years, needing constant treatment and remedial work, but a reported disease in the grass led to further deterioration, and eventual closure of the ground in an effort to carry out the necessary remedial work required. But it now seems as if the project will not meet its required date leaving the County G.A.A. management committee with a decision as to whether to move the Wexford/Louth game or risk the work already carried out been eroded with important championship games scheduled for June.

While Wexford hold out hope that the championship opener will go ahead as schedule, whatever the decision, the county sets out on their championship campaign. As both football and hurling games arrive thick and fast, the burning question being asked is – Can Wexford survive the month of May intact?

Already Wexford Senior football manager Paul McLoughlin is asking series questions as to the time allotted him and his backroom to prepare a side for their championship opener given that four rounds of club championship games were run off during the month of April, a period allotted to the clubs. Should Wexford overcome Louth they have a home fixture with five-in-a-row chasing Dublin in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday, May 25. So one can see the urgency in having Innovate Wexford Park in pristine condition, particularly with two hugely important Leinster senior hurling championship games to follow in early June.

Separately, Davy Fitzgerald has taken his hurling squad to Portugal this week for a sunshine training game in preparation for their championship opener against Dublin in Parnell Park on May 19, with a game against Galway down in Salthill the following weekend.

While Wexford have football as their championship opener, there is only one question on everyone’s lips ahead of the provincial championship. Not surprisingly that is the prospects of the county’s hurlers and their chance of progressing through to at least a provincial final. I’m sure that football is very much down the agenda despite the efforts of Paul McLoughlin and his backroom to generate enough support so as to give his side a reasonable chance of seriously challenging and in-form Louth outfit.

The level of performances in the league, the lack of consistency through the campaign, has given the management team a lot to reflect upon, but the doubts as to the venue will make it all more difficult.

Looking elsewhere to the hurling, Davy Fitzgerald and his squad could not have been handed a more difficult championship opener. Dublin will have a game against Kilkenny the previous weekend, while Wexford will go into the den that will be Parnell Park, knowing they will be playing a side already motivated and knowing what is needed to keep their championship alive.

Wexford will feel that a victory over Dublin is needed. A defeat would put the side under huge pressure, further headaches entering the Galway game, but more importantly the necessity for a result, or else facing into two home games, Carlow and Kilkenny, requiring victories to maintain a championship interest.