Kingdom challenge

immediately receive a gigantic boost. A regular in the Carnew starting 15 at Senior level, his free-taking can be mesmerising and he is a big player for Wicklow this coming Sturday.

Other players that will don the jersey with ambition and courage will be Seanie Germaine, native of Baltinglass, hurling with Kiltegan, a fine athlete, very hard to stop with his galloping runs and silky skills.

Carnew’s Jack Doyle, surely one of the finest upcoming hurlers in the county. Guaranteed to nick in for a sneaky goal and whizz over a few points in most games.

Michael Boland, formerly of Bray, now with Ballyboden St Enda’s. This young man helped turn the tide against Roscommon when things were looking bleak.

And there are many more besides. Christy Moorehouse, Terry Healy, Liam Benville, Matthew Traynor, Gary Hughes, Oisin Fur- long, Seanie Maloney, Cormac Whitmore are just some of the names on the Wicklow panel who will either start or certainly feature at some stage come Saturday.

As Seamus Murphy says, Kerry hurling is in a good state. And while Wicklow hurling has major problems in certain aspects there are areas that are functioning well and this under-21 team is one of those areas.

The work of Murphy and coach Michael Neary has to be applauded. Their combined knowledge of the game will stand Wicklow in good stead this weekend as they go in search of All-Ireland honours.

The sweet sound of the final whistle in 2015 will long be remembered by all those who were present. The looks on the faces, the hugs, the pride and the solidarity abounded as Wicklow defeated Meath.

These young men of 2017 go into battle wearing the Wicklow jersey. They have put in the hard yards over the last number of months and they carry with them the support and the dreams of all hurling people in the Garden county.

We, as Wicklow people and GAA supporters, should get behind them and lend them our voices, our cheers, and our support.

Semple Stadium, Thurles, 1pm, Saturday afternoon. See you there.