Who will grasp the nettle and tackle football problems?

WHO IS going to lift the spirits of Wexford football? The devastating qualifier defeat to lowly Waterford is likely to have far reaching consequences for the ‘big ball’ game in the county.

This defeat came on the back of a dismal National League campaign, with just a final round Division 3 victory over a practically second string Armagh side.

Hopes were somewhat lifted as the result of a huge provincial championship display against Laois, a game they looked like winning and should have done, only to lose following extra-time.

The mood did not seem great going into the Waterford qualifier, as football is off the radar. Hurling is the only show in town, a show that is protecting the image of the association in the county, for the time being at least.

The mood in Wexford football has been low all year and it hasn’t picked up over recent months. Coupled with the lack of Senior success, the county has had a dismal Under-17 football campaign so far, asking serious questions of manager Paul Carty and his backroom.

Wexford had an Under-20 set-up struggling under the new rules. They lost one and won one championship game, before bowing out of the title race against Dublin on Saturday.

They have been hampered by the loss of key players under the rule that an Under-20 player who plays Senior inter-county championship cannot play with his age-group, leaving Wexford without three quality players in Eoin Porter, Barry O’Connor and Martin O’Connor.

Whoever is responsible for such a ridiculous rule is only protecting the stronger counties and their own committee status.

We are a very proud football county. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of that historic four All-Ireland titles in a row, 1915 to 1918, but it’s somewhat annoying to see the way football is being treated in the county.

It takes a huge amount of work to reach an acceptable level in any sport. One wonders what Board officers give to Wexford football?

They were certainly not inspired by the heroics of that four-ina-row side, honoured with the unveiling of a plaque in Innovate Wexford Park, with even the media in the press box not informed of the occasion taking place during the Wexford versus Laois championship game.

We had an uninspiring programme to mark the occasion, with no relevant background interest therein regarding the achievement, just a synopsis of the games played. There was also a special Mass on Friday week, with no information passed through the local media.

We had occasion this year not to participate in the Leinster Junior football championship. This is a grade that brought two provincial titles recently, something not to be baulked at in a success-starved football county like Wexford.

It’s a case of Wexford ignoring a grade that has brought silverware. Whether it was financial or otherwise has yet to be explained.

When Wexford set about their search for a successor to Seamus McEnaney as Senior manager, it took considerable time, before deciding on a rookie in Paul McLoughlin. An excellent former Kildare player, and a possible manager for the future, he was thrown to the wolves without any experienced back-up.

Look at the strong backroom at Senior hurling level. This should prompt football people in the county to wonder why they hadn’t a similar support base. The Wexford backroom was both inexperienced and lacking the quality needed for this level of football.

Early last year, football was in a healthier position having won promotion from Division 4, but the warning signs emerged after a dismal 2017 championship. The confidence was eroded, resulting in relegation back to Division 4, and a championship that now leaves Wexford on the bottom rung of football in the country.

The only way to get out of this rut is to give football the same detailed attention as hurling.

Wexford football is dead. We have now dropped to a possible 30th in ranking terms. Football clubs should be up in arms, asking serious questions. But unless football is brought to an equal level as hurling, we should no longer portray ourselves as a serious dual county.

Questions need to be asked. Serious answers must be received, with no hiding behind throwaway responses at County Board level.

Wexford football is in a serious place. But who is going to grasp the nettle?