Roche full of hope
Optimistic manager eager to return
WEXFORD SENIOR football manager Shane Roche is optimistic about the team’s chances entering a condensed inter-county 2021 season.
When the New Ross native spoke about what the season might look like a few months ago, it wasn’t an absolute certainty that there would be space for the Allianz Leagues to take place before the commencement of the championship.
At that time, he was prepared to accept whatever it would take in order to get the inter-county season up and running.
The delayed start to the GAA season and the desire to fit in championships at inter-county and club levels meant that the league was looking more dispensable than would usually be the case.
And now, while disappointed that there will be no Tailteann Cup, with the championship for lower-tier teams failing to get off the ground for a second successive season, Roche accepts the hand he has been dealt.
‘Given the time constraints, and the times we live in, there is no perfect format. We are just delighted to be getting back,’ he said.
‘While it will be a short time together in preparation for the league, it’s just great to be getting back as a squad, meeting everyone face to face, and moving on.
‘We’re going to be very positive about the season coming up. It will be our desire to go out and win games, not just compete.
‘There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be positive. We have a lot of work to do to get back up the divisions but we have a great group, a mix of youth and experience.
‘Now that we know what sort of year we have, the time has arrived just to get on with it. We will gather for a first time in the Ferns Centre of Excellence on Tuesday evening, April 20.
‘This will be our first gathering together as a squad, something we are all looking forward to.’
While it is possible there will be no outright divisional winners given the compacted timeframe, it’s going to make each game in the split divisions of equal importance.
Wexford have just two matches in their section of Division 4, with London unable to participate. They will be home to Waterford and away to Carlow, victories that would be seen as real progress given the nature of the season.
Roche and his backroom are entering a second season in charge, having taken up the managerial mantle for their final two league games, and one championship outing, at the end of last season, so they are well aware of what is needed if they are to take one of the promotion spots.
Despite all that has gone on over recent weeks with both Dublin and Monaghan, following on from the earlier pre-season gatherings of Cork and Down, Wexford will be hoping that they will enter the Division 4 league campaign on a level playing pitch.
Wexford experienced a difficult finish to their league and championship, coming after the departure of Paul Galvin, but Shane Roche and his two selectors, Philip Wallace and Anthony Masterson, are building a squad blending youth and experience.
‘We will be looking to develop as a team. Our main focus at the moment is on the league,’ Roche said.
‘The lads have put in their own individual programmes. They have gone to real expense setting up gyms in their own homes, getting on with the programme. We have kept in touch individually with players, so we know where they are at.
‘But I’ve no doubt the lads will enjoy the moment when we assemble as a group. They have been away for a prolonged period so they will come back champing at the bit to get fully going again. So I think they will enjoy this.’
Roche commended the players for the effort they have put in.
‘We have 36 in the squad at the moment. All of them have put in a huge effort and they are determined to bring Wexford football to another level.
‘No longer will we be going out to just put in a good performance. We will enter each game with a winning mentality.
‘When we get back each player will be given his opportunity, they will all be challenging for positions.
There are no sure-fire positions in the team.
‘Obviously it’s very important that the players enjoy themselves when they get back. The mix of youth and experience is a real plus as it will help us prepare to impose our own style of play. We will be going for wins, taking the game directly to the opposition.
‘That will declare a clear focus of our intentions and the way we want to play. We will go at it, hard and fast, with quality, so it should, hopefully, make for an interesting season,’ Roche said.
Wexford will be looking to experienced campaigners like Brian Malone, Daithí Waters and Ben Brosnan to settle the side, but with so much emerging talent they will be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Roche accepts that there are still some difficult times in store as the vaccinations are rolled out, but he is looking ahead to the new season with general optimism.
‘I know it’s hard at the moment, but getting people vaccinated so that family and work can resume to normal levels, as well as sport, is the priority.
‘These are great things to look forward to so I hope we can make that type of progress over the coming months,’ he added.