Redmond will be a big help to U-17s

IT’S ALWAYS encouraging to see recently retired inter-county players getting involved with under-age county teams, and that trend is happily continuing. P.J. Banville is already on board with the Under-20 footballers, and there was a further positive move in that direction at the February County Board meeting when David Redmond was ratified as an Under-17 hurling selector.

The Oulart-The Ballagh stalwart, who gave the best part of the last decade to the Wexford hurling cause, will be assisted by manager James Sheil from St. Mary’s (Rosslare), as well as Eddie Cullen (Ferns St. Aidan’s), ex-Senior player and successful manager John Conran (Rathnure), and Liam Roche (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).

The backroom team will be completed by Dara Kissane (strength and conditioning), the younger of the Banville brothers, Eric (video analysis and stats), and physio Pat Quigley.

Meanwhile, the Under-20 hurling mentors were also ratified at the meeting.

Glenmore’s Tom Mullally is manager, with Shane Carley (Glynn-Barntown) and Tom Foley (Rathnure) as selectors, while the coaching and physical preparation will be looked after by Billy Byrne (Naomh Eanna), well-known athletics coach Paul Kinsella, and Eamonn Scallan (Ferns St. Aidan’s).

In another interesting development, David Tobin (Askamore-Kilrush) was put forward as the Chairman’s new nominee for Secretary of Coiste na nOg.

A number of sub-committees were also ratified, and they will be chaired by the following: P.R. and I.T., P.J. Howlin (Duffry Rovers); Development, Cathal Byrne (Ballyhogue); Refereeing development, Philip Howlin (Duffry Rovers); Football Advisory and Hurling Advisory, Micheál Martin (Volunteers).