Father and son take to the field with Wicklow hurlers

A FATHER and son combo took to the field for Wicklow hurlers for the first time on Sunday when Jonathan ‘Bosco’ O’Neill senior was joined by 18-year-old ‘Bosco’ junior.

In 2015, Wicklow hurling legend ‘Bosco’ Senior hung up his intercounty boots at the ripe old age of 40, while still playing club hurling for his local Glenealy side.

‘Bosco’ Senior was tempted out of retirement when the Wicklow B hurlers were struggling with injuries ahead of their clash against Louth.

While the father and son had both previously played alongside one another at club level, this was the first time they represented the county together.

‘It was a proud feeling when my son came on. He only just turned 18 so he is only now playing at adult level. He has been improving as a player all the time.

‘It was nice as well for him to have a winning start to his Wicklow career. He’s a good player and is always willing to learn. Hurling is in his blood. You can ask any of the lads that have played alongside me with Wicklow down through the years. Even as a kid, he used to attend every match and every training session. He’d travel on the bus with us to away games and was pretty much our mascot.

‘Like I said, hurling is in his blood, but then it’s like that for every child growing up in Glenealy. They all end up clutching a hurley from a young age.’