INJURY WORRIES ABATE
Hurlers are ready while footballers draw Monaghan
WEXFORD MANAGER Davy Fitzgerald is expected to be able to choose from a full squad when he sits down to select his side to face Galway in the Leinster Senior hurling championship final in Croke Park on Sunday (4 p.m.).
Injury doubts Shaun Murphy and Conor McDonald took part in light training during the week and are expected to be fully fit.
The Oulart-The Ballagh sweeper has fully recovered from a leg injury received in training, while McDonald has made considerable progress with his ankle problem, casting aside any lingering doubts as to his fitness.
Long-term casualty Damien Reck is still out of consideration having undergone an operation for damage to ankle ligaments. He could still be out of the game for four to six weeks, while Liam Og McGovern’s season is over with a cruciate ligament injury.
While the Wexford management team have much to ponder ahead of the game, it will be a surprise should they move away from the starting 15 that laid the foundations for the victory over Kilkenny.
Fitzgerald is cautious ahead of the game. ‘ Galway believe they can hammer us. They believe they can put us to the sword. They just don’t rate Wexford.
No doubt, it will be a tough ask of Wexford, but we will be ready for it, ready to give it one huge lash,’ he said.
Wexford are not expected to name their team until later in the week.
Meanwhile, following the footballers’ exploits in beating Limerick in phase one of the qualifiers, manager Seamus McEnaney has been left with much to ponder following Monday morning’s draw.
Wexford were first out of the drum, paired with McEnaney’s home county, Monaghan. Wexford will have home advantage with the game to be played on Saturday week, July 8, in Innovate Wexford Park at 3 p.m.
Monaghan suffered a shock Ulster semi-final defeat to underdogs Down on Saturday evening, so will be out to get their championship campaign back on course in what should be a hugely interesting game.
Wexford, having been promoted in the league, got back to winning ways following a barren spell during which they suffered four successive defeats with an impressive victory away to Limerick on Saturday.
Now ‘Banty’ must spend the next two weeks planning the downfall of his native county, having once managed them before a stint in charge of Meath.
The full phase two qualifier draw is: Wexford v. Monaghan; Westmeath v. Armagh; Carlow v. Leitrim; Cavan v. Tipperary.
Sunday’s Leinster final showdown marks the start of a bumper four days for Wexford G.A.A., as the Minor footballers will host Louth in the penultimate round in Innovate Wexford Park on Tuesday, July 4, at 7.30 p.m.
Twenty-four hours later, Nowlan Park will be the venue for the provincial Under-21 hurling final against Kilkenny. CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL: 20 PAGES INSIDE