Fixture lists give us hope of brighter times on horizon

FINALLY, THERE’S real positivity in the air. For the first time in four months, it feels like we have something to look forward to in the weeks to come. Take a closer look at the first four pages of this supplement and you will see copious lists of sporting fixtures that are drawing ever closer.

After shipping plentiful criticism recently, much of it totally unwarranted in my view, Wexford GAA has pressed ahead with a detailed master plan that outlines exactly what they intend will happen from July 17 to November 15.

Naturally enough, that comes with an asterisk, because it goes without saying that a second wave of the virus that has stopped the world in its tracks could render this programme null and void.

Let’s not think about that horrible prospect any longer, though; it’s been a tough time since March 12, and we need the hope that a comprehensive list of matches provides to brighten our moods.

As well as the adult GAA plan, it’s good to note that Coiste na nOg officials have organised a condensed championship catering for the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 grades that will run from July 20 to October 11.

We were already made aware of the inter-county Senior fixtures, and now we also know what lies ahead for the Wexford Minor and Under-20 sides.

The club camogie and ladies’ football fixtures are also outlined in detail, while in recent weeks we have carried the list of matches that will mark the return of both men’s and women’s soccer on the domestic front.

These sporting green shoots are appearing everywhere, not least on the golf courses - so busy during the week that we have returned to the usual summer coverage of two pages for the first time in 2020, including a couple of Captains’ drive-ins.

Elsewhere, the likes of greyhound and horse racing are firmly back in the swing of things at this stage, albeit without the usual buzz that a large crowd brings, while it finally looks like our local League of Ireland teams have concrete information to work with in relation to when their games will get the go-ahead.

It’s all very encouraging and exciting for sports fans, but I think the biggest plus of all is that children throughout the county have been returning to the fields to play the games they love with their friends.

Joni Mitchell was on the ball when she declared in her classic song, ‘Big Yellow Taxi’, in 1970: ‘Don’t it always seem to go, That you don’t know what you’ve got, Till it’s gone’.

Something major has been gone from our lives since March 12, but thankfully it’s coming back, slowly but surely. We’ll never take any aspect of it for granted again.

To conclude on a sad note, I wish to remember two former Wexford hurlers who have passed to their eternal rewards.

I had started writing this column yesterday (Monday) morning when I got a text to inform me that Pat Mulcahy had died, following a battle against illness. The Kilkenny native featured in this part of the newspaper just a few short weeks ago when I recalled his brief dalliance with the county team in 1975.

I actually wasn’t aware before writing the first of those two pieces that Pat was ill, and his passing so soon after learning of his predicament came as a shock.

Late last week, I was deeply sorry to hear of the death of Jack Harding, a man who brought fame and glory to the townland of Kilmacoe in Curracloe when he captured an All-Ireland Senior hurling medal with Wexford as full-forward on the 1960 team.

In my personal experience, the vast majority of our Celtic Cross winners are humble gentlemen, modest to a fault and grateful to be remembered for the role they played in our on-field successes.

Jack Harding was a prime example of the type of individual I’m talking about. It’s no wonder we did so well in that golden era for hurling in the county when one considers the calibre of men we had at our disposal.

Ed Rowsome sent me a fantastic photograph to accompany his obituary on page 41, showing Jack and some team-mates on the morning after that 1960 win. I extend my sympathy to his children and grandchildren on the loss of a proud son of the Shelmaliers.