O’Reilly successful on and off the field

WHEN THE evergreen Darren O’Reilly came off the bench for Horeswood in their last round Intermediate football victory against Bannow-Ballymitty, it was a first appearance of the year for a man who made his debut at that level as far back as 1994.

That in itself was a notable achievement, but it was nothing compared to his coaching feat one week later when his Kilrossanty charges forged a very impressive 2-13 to 0-12 victory over longtime championship specialists Stradbally in the Waterford Senior football quarter-final.

Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh and his colleagues were dumped by the O’Reilly-trained victors whose home venue is in Lemybrien, close to the village on the main Waterford-Dungarvan road.

And their prize for the win is a semi-final meeting with Gaeltacht side An Rinn. This ensures there will be a fresh look to the decider as the other side of the draw features two of the more recent winners in Ballinacourty and The Nire.

Incidentally, Kilrossanty is the home club of former Wexford selector Michael Walsh, a long-time member of the St. Martin’s club, who captained his native county in the Munster Senior championship during the 1980s.

O’Reilly is one of several members of the ‘old guard’ who have returned to assist Horeswood’s bid to make an immediate return to Senior ranks after last year’s relegation.

Well-known rugby referee Gary Conway is also part of the squad, and word has it that the London-based Ciarán Deely will also make himself available whenever possible.

His presence on the sideline as manager of the exiles will add a little spice to Wexford’s first-ever trip to the re-developed McGovern Park in Ruislip for a National League game on February 10.

The impressive stand was a mere pipedream when the Slaneysiders last visited the capital city for an easy All-Ireland qualifier victory in 2010.