Hurlers depleted for Big Apple tie
AS THE Wexford Senior hurlers travel across the Atlantic this week, the welcome news is that Diarmuid O’Keeffe will be available for the 2020 Allianz League campaign.
The St. Anne’s clubman took off on his delayed travels last Tuesday and is currently in Puerto Rico on his initial voyage, but next week he will join up with his hurling colleagues in Orlando.
O’Keeffe had planned on commencing his travels earlier, but with St. Anne’s unexpected run through to the county Senior hurling final, his move was delayed until last week.
With team manager, Davy Fitzgerald, anxious to have a full squad available for the league, the travels of the St. Anne’s clubman will be shortened considerably.
It has been quite a remarkable season for O’Keeffe who recently won his first PwC hurling All Star.
He was also inspirational in guiding his club to the Pettitt’s Senior hurling final, which they lost to St. Martin’s. His one huge disappointment was the relegation of St. Anne’s from Senior football.
Meanwhile, Wexford hurlers will be understrength for their opening game with Limerick in Saturday’s Super 11s New York Hurling Classic in the Citi Field. Kilkenny and Tipperary will play in the second semi-final.
As expected, O’Keeffe will be missing out, and he will be joined by on the list of absentees by Rory, Jack and Joe O’Connor plus Conor Firman, who will be assisting St. Martin’s in the AIB Leinster Club Senior hurling semi-final against Ballyhale Shamrocks in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.