Furlong is back at his favourite venue
IT STARTED with a slow drip feed of names, but as the new SSE Airtricity League season looms large on February 22, Wexford F.C. have unleashed a raft of new signings via their social media outlets in the past week.
And there’s no prize for guessing the stand-out name on the list, as Ferrycarrig Park folk hero Danny Furlong from Rosslare Strand has been signed up as the club aims to improve significantly on finishing second from bottom in Division 1 in both of their campaigns since the demise of Wexford Youths.
Although Furlong had stints in Cork, Waterford, Galway and New Zealand, he has always appeared to be most at home and effective in his local ground, and the 29-year-old will be a huge addition to the squad of new manager Brian O’Sullivan.
Kilkenny duo Paddy Cahill and Emmet Nugent have also returned from Freebooters after previous brief stints with Wexford, while 24-year-old defender Ben Brown is a new signing from Clonmel.
Another player from the south Tipperary town to come on board is Jack Doherty, a midfielder with previous experience with Ipswich Town, Waterford United, Limerick F.C. and Longford Town.
Youngster Seán Roche has also joined from our neighbouring Blues, although the squad has lost a trio to first opponents Athlone Town in Ross Kenny, John Morgan and Dean George.
Ex-Sligo Rovers man Mark Birrane is another new arrival, along with Nika Arevadze, formerly of Firhouse Clover, and goalkeeper Joseph Walshe from Portlaoise.
Wexford have played three friendlies against League of Ireland opposition, losing 3-0 to St. Patrick’s Athletic in I.T. Carlow, 6-0 to Waterford in the R.S.C., and 3-1 to Cobh Ramblers in St. Colman’s Park on Saturday when Emmet Nugent scored the consolation goal.
That first competitive game on February 22 is in Lissywollen against the only team to finish below them in 2017 and 2018, Athlone Town.