Dwyer joins hurlers

Cullen, Rochford among new faces

UNDER-AGE dual star Mikie Dwyer is looking to hurling to further his inter-county career.

The young Fethard clubman is a player in demand not just for G.A.A. but also in the oval ball game, having experienced a spell at club level before opting back to the game of his roots.

Now Dwyer has decided to throw his lot in with Davy Fitzgerald’s Senior hurling set-up.

Also in the thoughts of new football manager Paul Galvin, who had been hoping to lure the excellent attacker to his squad, Dwyer has instead opted to become part of Fitzgerald’s hurling bid for 2020.

He is one of six players to emerge from the club championship whom Fitzgerald has given the nod to, while the only player thus far to miss out for the new season is Ian Byrne of Ferns St. Aidan’s, who will not be part of the squad for the new year.

Fitzgerald knows the importance of extending and improving his squad, with the result that he has introduced six newcomers.

Eyebrows were raised when the name of Andrew Shore was mentioned.

Shore has not figured in inter-county hurling since 2016, in Liam Dunne’s last year as manager, and only figured in a handful of games for his club, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, earlier this year, so it will be interesting to watch his progress over the coming months.

Fitzgerald has quickly assembled his squad following the completion of the club championship.

Two players to emerge from the domestic scene with promising credentials are Jack Cullen (Naomh Eanna) and Aidan Rochford (St. Anne’s).

Cullen has been hugely impressive with Gorey at half-back, and was one of the guiding lights in helping his club to a first Senior hurling title in 2018.

While they were unsuccessful in defence of their title, Cullen was once again one of the outstanding players in the championship, so his inclusion comes as no surprise.

Aidan Rochford emerged following a fairytale championship for his club. In their amazing run to the county final, where they lost out to St. Martin’s, Rochford turned in consistent and skilful displays primarily at midfield, emerging as one of his side’s key players.

His skill set and fitness should help him nail down a permanent position in the squad.

Promising young Faythe Harriers attacker Conall Clancy has also won a call-up, along with Under-20 keeper James Lawlor from Ferns St. Aidan’s who will vie with Eanna Martin to become Mark Fanning’s deputy.

Davy is adamant about the importance of increasing his squad. ‘We will be starting out with a squad of 37/38 players that will be subsequently cut to 34,’ he said.

‘We need those numbers as on many occasions in this year’s championship I was limited for selection purposes through injuries. Given the demands, a strong squad is now more necessary than ever.

‘We will take in the Walsh Cup, which will be preparation for the league, but it’s coming in the middle of pre-season. We will be back early next month in training and stepping up preparations from there,’ he said.

Wexford hurlers participated in the Super 11s in New York on Saturday where they lost their semi-final game, 52-20, to Limerick.

Kilkenny defeated Tipperary in their semi-final and went on to beat Limerick 60-42 in the final.

Wexford have slotted in the first week of December for a return to pre-season training on their arrival back from their extended break in Orlando.