Carty named as Wexford ladies boss

AFTER a long search to replace the outgoing Anthony Masterson, Wexford Ladies Football have settled on Paul Carty (St Mary’s, Maudlintown) to fill the role of Intermediate team manager for the next three seasons.

Castletown man Masterson stepped down despite guiding Wexford to the Leinster Intermediate title over Meath in the summer, his sides push for the All Ireland crown was eventually foiled by the Royal County in the quarter-finals.

The county board has now turned to former Wexford Minor manager Carty, who was most recently involved with Starlights in the Wexford senior championship. The Bellefield boys couldn’t repeat the highs of 2018 under his stewardship, falling out of contention with a quarter-final loss to St Martin’s in September.

Carty went back to his native Maudlintown to help out towards the end of their intermediate campaign as they came up short against eventual champions HWH-Bunclody.

It’s not going to be easy, Carty’s first port of call is to try to keep the 2019 squad together. There is still uncertainty about whether the likes of Marica Cullen, Fiona Rochford, Mary Rose Kelly and Bernie Breen will make themselves available or choose to retire while a couple of players in the squad are considering their travel options in 2020.

On top of the turmoil of potential for player turnover, Carty will not have long to put his stamp on things. Wexford are due to host relegated Division 1 outfit Monaghan in Division 2 of the Ladies NFL on January 26.

His side will host Kerry seven days later before travelling to Ulster to tackle Cavan on February 9. Further northern assignments follow for Wexford as they host Armagh before going to Tyrone on March 8.