Grinding out a win in awful weather a clear morale boost

SATURDAY’S SUCCESS for the footballers in the howling wind and sheets of rain down in Dungarvan was ugly to the naked eye, but perfect in terms of character-building. Many years from now, when some of these players gather in a social setting, I’ve no doubt the slug-fest will be recalled with no little satisfaction, because to win in such trying circumstances is always a considerable morale boost.

‘Do you remember that night in the storm when we beat Waterford?’ It will be a question that will evoke memories of a game that was nigh on impossible to play in, but those encounters are made all the sweeter by the pleasing outcome.

For those of you unfamiliar with the location of Fraher Field, it’s directly across the road from the Colligan River, making it a somewhat inhospitable spot even at the best of times.

Any breeze at all can be whipped up into a biting wind blowing directly down the field, although it was swirling in various directions for our first visit in four years last Saturday.

The rain was relentless, and the small crowd huddled together in the stand had visions of the roof taking flight as any corrugated iron in the structure rattled from first whistle to last.

After the game, when I turned to go down the steps heading for the exit gate, I was pushed back by the force of the wind. And when I turned left after managing to steady myself and return to flat ground, I was practically lifted along by the howling gale to my car.

Sometimes it’s easy to sit in the relative comfort of a stand and be critical of players, but that short journey I undertook afterwards highlighted just how difficult it was even to perform the basics.

I’m sure the squad have endured equally tough conditions on certain nights at training when the rest of us were basking in the warmth of our homes, so credit is due to them - and our hurlers, of course - for their ongoing efforts on the county’s behalf.

The win crowned a very positive 24 hours for football in Wexford after the Under-20 success on Friday, although it was disappointing to note that two panel members who would have been expected to feature had to cry off the squad through no fault of their own.

It emerged early last week that Good Counsel had been fixed to play St. Kieran’s in the Leinster Senior ‘A’ hurling semi-final on Saturday, and that left Emmet Cullen and Jack Kehoe in a most unfortunate position.

That game had to take precedence, so they were unable to don the county colours for the dramatic clash against Carlow.

I suppose it could have been worse, considering the experience of Louth over the weekend. Their two Under-20 players on the Senior squad were pulled from their clash with Offaly as mentors with the latter wanted them to be fresh for a vital league clash the next day.

Louth lost by three points without their two big guns, but there was a further kick in the teeth when the Senior tie was duly postponed due to Storm Ciara. Imagine the frustration if you were one of the players in question, or indeed an Under-20 mentor.

In Emmet Cullen’s case, he had played in all three Andrew Corden Cup games and was in strong contention for a midfield spot.

His commitment was exemplary from the off, with his father, Kieran, a former county Under-21 player himself, driving him all over the south-east to matches and training since the first trials.

It means a lot to families steeped in such a strong G.A.A. tradition to have a son on a county squad, and Jack Kehoe comes from equally good stock in that regard.

If anyone ever had reason to compile a list of the top ten lady footballers produced in the south-west of the county, then his mother, Yvonne (nee Walsh), would be an automatic selection.

No blame whatsoever is attached to Good Counsel who were clearly obliged to play when fixed, and I’m not even sure if there is a solution to a situation that is set to be repeated over and over again.

There’s constant cribbing about fixtures in the G.A.A., but I ignore most of it unless the person giving out has practical experience of working in this particularly difficult area.

I spent many years helping with the Coiste na nOg games programme a long time ago now and, let me assure you, it’s never as simple as some mouth-pieces would have you believe.