Tricky league ties for Wicklow sides

DAVY BURKE will send his Wicklow troops out to battle in Aughrim just three times out of the seven National Football League Division 4 jousts between the opener on January 25 and the final round on March 22 of next year.

Home ties against Waterford, Sligo and Antrim certainly cuts down the mileage for the league campaign although there’s a flight to London on the cards when the Garden County warriors do battle with the Exiles in Ruislip on February 29.

Burke will learn how the O’Byrne Cup campaign has benefited his side when they make the short trip to Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday, January 25, for the 7pm throw in against the neighbours.

The Deise come calling on February 2 and it’s Sligo suffering the long journey east on February 9.

Two tough journeys follow, the first to Limerick and the second across to Ruislip before we welcome Antrim in what could and usually does turn out to be a pivotal game in all Wicklow’s league campaigns.

Wicklow’s last league encounter before the semi-final and finals will a short jaunt down to the Model County to do battle with Paul Galvin’s Wexford.

With Eamonn Scallan’s Wicklow hurlers getting their Kehoe Cup underway on December 8 with a clash against Antrim on December 8 there won’t be much time for merry making over the festive season given they face into one of the toughest league campaigns in recent history that gets underway with a visit of Antrim to the Garden County on Sunday, January 26.

The 2019 Division 2B champions face away trips to Meath (February 2), Mayo (February 16) and Offaly (March 1) with a visit from Kerry (February 22) the only break from the road in between for Scallan’s charges in a campaign that will hopefully set them up nicely for their Christy Ring campaign.