McGee’s goal the Wicklow highlight as new faces stake claim

WICKLOW WEXFORD 1-12 1-10

SUNDAY wasn’t a day for much outdoor activity, but the senior footballers of both counties continued their preparation for the upcoming O’Byrne Cup and National league with a challenge game in Rathnew nonetheless.

Anthony Nolan did call a halt to proceedings with 15 minutes to play as the pitch was by now getting a serious doing and player safety was quickly becoming a concern.

Both John Evans and new Wexford manager Paul McLoughlin are in the early stages of forming a panel and plenty of new faces were afforded game time and the chance to stake their claim.

The highlight from a Wicklow perspective was the fabulous goal scored by Cathal McGee in the first half.

He gained possession from a Mark Jackson kick out and carried the ball forward, a swift exchange of passes with Seanie Furlong and the young Bray player finished clinically to the Wexford net.

Seanie Furlong, some accurate free taking by goalkeeper Mark Jackson and overlapping Mark Kenny all pointed during the first half and Wicklow led by 1-06 to 0-07 at the break.

Ciaran Hyland started in the corner where his experience helped Hollywood’s Harry Wilson settle at full back with Eoin Murtagh in the other corner. Kiltegan’s Stephen Farrell and Mark Kenny flanked Dean Healy in the half back line. Kevin Murphy is back in the squad and started in the middle while there was also a welcome return to county action for Darren Hayden. The Eire Óg man brings a wealth of experience with him.

Avondale’s Conor Byrne also got on the scoresheet as did Rory Finn with a couple of great longrange points while John McGrath also added to the Wicklow tally before the end. Others to see game time were PJ O’Keeffe with the Hollywood man showing well in the half forward line where Pad- raig O’Toole got another chance.

Baltinglass pair Dan Kelly and Pat Burke, Rathnew’s Jamie Snell, Blessington’s Gavin Murray and Martin Shannon, Darragh Fitzgerald from AGB and An Tóchar man Brendan Kennedy all got minutes on the field.

There will be another couple of games before Carlow are the first team Evans will face in official competition on December 30th.