Footballers need our support for clash with Laois

PAUL McLOUGHLIN has been given plenty of food for thought in his first year as Wexford Senior football manager.

Ahead of his first championship game in charge, at home in Innovate Wexford Park, to Division 4 league champions, Laois, McLoughlin has had to endure a torrid national league campaign in Division 3, winning just a single game, and that against a depleted Armagh outfit in their final outing, at a time when they are already doomed to an immediate return to Division 4 league football for next season.

With no further experienced players returning to the fold, McLoughlin is charged with bringing a young and inexperienced side in the fray of championship action, mainly going with the squad he had for the league campaign, which showed how short they are of competing at this level of football.

But it has long been acknowledged that McLoughlin has had to go with youth, in what has been a huge transition for Wexford football, perhaps one of the greatest transitions to take place ever in the ‘big ball’ game in the county. With so many of the more experienced players deciding to depart the inter-county scene for a variety of reasons, McLoughlin was left with little alternative but to stretch his eyes towards the young players in the county beginning a rebuild of football in the county.

One also has to acknowledge that this transition has not been helped by the lack of under-age success, with Minor and Under-21 making little progress at provincial level, while he also lost two high-powered players, Colm Kehoe and Michael O’Regan to the hurling set-up, which proved another huge blow. With so many hurlers also capable of holding their own at top level football, but having decided on hurling as their chosen game, one immediately feels for McLoughlin having to enter championship action, not just with an inexperienced squad, but without the services of so many quality footballers.

But now it’s crunch time for Wexford football and that means a substantial step-up for so many players. While Division 3 was a big slog, Wexford now face a Laois side that may have just jumped back from Division 4 football, but still a side with far more experience and quality than Wexford possess at the moment.

While the lure of championship football will help attract a big Laois following to Innovate Wexford Park, the home players have seldom been afforded the opportunity of playing before a large support base.

Perhaps now is the time for the Model army, as Wexford supporters have so favourably been recognised on the hurling scene, to broaden their horizons and hand out the hand of support to the big ball players.

The lure of the club will never be lost on the players but it has to be said that the month of April has been a disastrous month for the club players. While they may have been handed some championship action, Wexford clubs will still feel hard done by. The deciding factor, and one would have to appreciate the concern of players and clubs, has been the mixed up fixtures plan regarding games, and now into the first day of May they have been sent home not knowing when their services will be required again.

Last Sunday we had a series of Under-20 hurling games. Having attended and reported on soccer games over the weekend, I could hear of players being informed of their games both at youth and adult level for the coming weeks, but this was in stark contrast to what one could hear at the Under-20 hurling games.

On completion of the St. Martin’s and Faythe Harriers hurling game, I listened in amazement to a team mentor informing his players, he did not know when the next game could be. ‘We could have a game thrown at us next weekend, but highly unlikely,’ he told his players, ‘wishing them well in their exams’.

One could see the amazement on the players faces. Club members present felt that it’s a crucial and hugely important period for clubs. But what’s facing them is how to manage their players and maintain their interest over the summer months when so many will be devoid of game time.

In truth the club player means to little to the G.A.A., both from the top to the bottom. All their interests will be focused on the inter-county scene over the summer months when the ordinary club players is left isolated and feeling unwanted.