Wexford face Mayo test OSCAR TRAYNOR TROPHY
THE WEXFORD Football League will host the Mayo League in the Oscar Traynor Trophy on Sunday at Ferrycarrig Park with a 2 p.m. kick-off.
It is now in the business end of the competition and this last 16 knockout game is sure to be a tough encounter.
The Mayo League will be backed up by a number of strong Junior sides like Castlebar Celtic, Manulla F.C. and Westport United, and there are strong rumours that the Mayo League are looking to enter into the League of Ireland in the near future.
They had a good victory in Roscommon in the last round and warmed up with a stiff challenge against League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers on Saturday.
Brendan Kenny’s team will be very tough opposition for Wexford and they will be in good shape as their league has only just finished, which has left no distractions for their preparations.
This game will be a good test for both sides, with Wexford losing out to eventual winners Clare in last year’s semi-final.
John Godkin’s Wexford squad will have two sessions this week to finalise the squad for this coming Sunday and have been boosted by the return of Paul ‘Spot’ Murphy and Ricky Fox to the squad which defeated the A.U.L. in the opening game.
Both players are available for selection, and with Gorey Rangers duo Adam Territ and David Behan, and Gary Delaney from North End, also new to the squad, there is a freshness to the side that will give the manager plenty of headaches before Sunday.
Most of last year’s team are still available for selection and there are some quality players in the fold, with the talented Shamrock Rovers trio of Ricky Fox, Ian Sinnott and John O’Connor in their ranks.
Moyne Rangers and North End United, who are still in contention in the FAI Junior Cup, and flying the flag for Wexford are also strongly represented with players of the quality of the Peare brothers, John and James, Conor Bruce and Ryan Mahon, and with Robin, Shane and Kyle Dempsey also joining Dale Flynn and Warren Broaders from North End there is a lot of experience in the side.
The goalkeeping position is more than likely going to be a two-horse race with Lee Walker and Gary McClean fighting it out, and both players have strong shouts to start the game.
Gareth McCurtin of Corach Ramblers, who went off injured in the A.U.L. game, will also hope to get into the starting eleven, and the experienced duo of Seán Culleton and Eoin Rhodes are flying the New Ross Celtic colours in the squad.
With players of the calibre mentioned, Wexford will field a strong, experienced side and more importantly with the strong competition for places will have excellent options from the bench if needed.
This Mayo side are a good, slick outfit and have been preparing for a strong run in this year’s competition, however Wexford will fancy their chances of delivering this weekend, and certainly have the players with the ability to stake a strong claim for this year’s trophy.
The manager and his backroom team of Gareth Larkin, Paul Kirwan and David Kennedy would love to emulate Wexford’s feat of 2010 when the county won the Oscar Traynor Trophy for the first and only time.
The following players will be in training this week before the squad is cut for Sunday: Jason McGuire, Lee Walker, Gary McClean, Dale Flynn, Ryan Mahon, John O’Connor, Gareth McCurtin, Gary Delaney, Ian Sinnott, Warren Broaders, John Peare, Adam Territ, James Peare, Robin Dempsey, Shane Dempsey, Ricky Fox, Paul Murphy, Conor Bruce, David Behan, Eoin Rhodes, Seán Culleton, Kyle Dempsey, Niall Harney, John Staples, Aaron Kehoe.