McLoughlin makes plans
Additions to football squad and backroom
TWELVE MONTHS ago, Paul McLoughlin was facing a daunting task in reshaping the future of Wexford football.
There was still some hope that most of the experienced squad members would make themselves available for at least one more season, but with a rapid set of departures, McLoughlin was eyeing into a storm.
He had to re-focus and introduce so many newcomers to his squad that it was going to take something special even to survive in Division 3.
Wexford had a bigger turnaround of players than any other county. With a new management also in place, few were expecting McLoughlin to bring about a transformation and survive the Division 3 league campaign, and set themselves up for the provincial championship.
Wexford went into the 2018 season with their eyes wide open but it quickly became clear that it was going to be one huge struggle.
As it transpired, they had just one league victory, in their final game at home to already promoted Armagh, while they lost their championship opener to Laois following extra-time, to be followed by a disastrous qualifier defeat to lowly Waterford in their opening round game.
Following a hugely disappointing 2018 campaign, McLoughlin and his backroom team have set about getting ready for the new season, and they have been boosted by several new players making themselves available.
Preparations have already got under way for the O’Byrne Cup campaign which will start next month, and the upcoming National League where they will be playing in Division 4. Michael Furlong of Adamstown will captain the team, while Conor Carty (Castletown) has been selected as vice-captain.
Players coming into the squad are Jonathan Bealin (Castletown), Michael O’Regan (Glynn-Barntown), Seán Barden (Adamstown), Kevin O’Grady (St. James’), Thomas Byrne (Kilmore), plus Kilmore duo Conor Devitt and Niall Hughes.
O’Regan returns following a season with the Senior hurlers, while O’Grady, who played with New York in this year’s Connacht championship, is home following a period travelling.
James Stafford and Barry O’Gorman have opted out of the squad, while Guserane’s Mark Rossiter is recovering from a knee injury. Full-back Jim Rossiter is also recovering from a cruciate knee injury received in the defeat to Laois and will miss the entire league campaign.
‘The loss of Jim is a huge blow. He was playing excellently at full-back against Laois until the injury, curtailing the threat of Donal Kingston. Hopefully, we’ll have him back for the championship,’ McLoughlin said.
Regarding the availability of Colm Kehoe, who is no longer part of Davy Fitzgerald’s hurling squad, McLoughlin said: ‘I have spoken with Colm and we’ll be talking again’.
However, McLoughlin has sounded a note of warning regarding the return of experienced duo Brian Malone and Daithí Waters.
‘We are not drawing any conclusions regarding Brian and Daithí. They should be back for another season. I’m hopeful they will be back as I would be delighted to have them again and hoping they will be involved. We all know the massive contribution they have both made to Wexford football.
‘We saw what Brian can still deliver in the two county final games where he was simply outstanding. Daithí also owes nothing to Wexford football and he’s a real warrior.
‘Last year when we were doing the warm-up for the Laois game I did not know at that late stage if Daithí would be able to play. He was still in on the treatment table having his knee syringed but still went out and gave a marvellous display,’ he said.
‘Even during the game he suffered a bad jaw injury but still saw out the game. They are wonderful role models for our game so hopefully they will be back to help us continue our rebuilding through the new season,’ McLoughlin said.
‘We start next month with an O’Byrne Cup game against Louth, but our emphasis will be on the National League. The Leitrim opener will be a real championship game for both sides as the result carries huge significance. A win would set either side up for the remainder of the year, that’s how important it is.
‘Looking back on last year it was difficult. We were losing games, but by small margins, but losing nonetheless. So having put a season behind us, we now realise how important a result against Leitrim is.
‘Last year when we took over we realised we were undertaking a massive job, that it was not going to be a smooth line, we would have some bumps, and we had them last year.
‘But I’m hopeful of making progress this year. I saw players in the latter stages of the championship, players like Barry O’Connor and Martin O’Connor, players who may not have been ready at the start of the league, but are now ready following a full season.
‘We are also away to Derry and London, two further huge challenges, like the opener against Leitrim who will be seeking a positive result for their new manager, Terry Hyland.’
It’s a season with many challenges for Wexford. ‘We are in Division 4 for a reason. We are there simply because we didn’t win enough games, but I believe we are much more down the line tactically and with drills.
‘Both physically and tactically we are a long way further down the line. The first training session last year, the dressing-room was quiet, as many of the players did not know each other. That has all changed with a real buzz now having returned to training.
‘Last year the players put in a huge effort. We are taking 35 footballers to Munich on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of this month for a bonding exercise. We will have gym sessions along with training,’ McLoughlin said.
‘The players themselves raised the majority of the money for this exercise. We ran a golf classic in Rosslare which was a wonderful success, bringing in some 38 teams and more than €10,000. We put our case to the County Board and they gave the go-ahead,’ he added.
‘There’s no excuses for last year. Some people did not care last year about Wexford football regarding the position we were in. I’m not making excuses but the new year will not see the lack of effort. We are really looking forward to it while the players are buzzing to get started.
‘We play a hugely important game on January 27 away to Leitrim. So I hope our senior players, Brian and Daithí, will be back, as they still have a huge amount to contribute to Wexford football.
‘We also have John Morrison in to do some coaching sessions, while his son, Patrick, will assist our goalkeeping coach, Wayne Russell, through some sessions.
‘John, who has unbelievable experience both with his native Armagh and Donegal, is in as a performance coach. It’s part-time but he will be in for sessions over the next five months. The quality of a person like that, the expertise he will bring, is huge.
‘He will be helping us develop what we are already doing, and bring more to the table, which we will carry on.
‘His presence should be a huge boost to the players and show them what we are trying to do to develop their game,’ McLoughlin said.
Wexford Senior football back
room team for 2019: Paul McLoughlin (manager); Mark Roche, Gordon Ward (selectors/coaches); Gordon Ward (strength and conditioning coach); Donal O’Connor and Andrew O’Brien (sports injury treatment); Mick O’Toole and Jordan Broaders (strength and conditioning assistant coaches); John Morrison and Patrick Morrison (supplementary coaches); Jim McCarthy (administration); Arthur Dunne (nutritionist); Ian Costigan (video and analysis); Tom Murphy and Ciarán Hillery (GPS stats); Wayne Russell (goalkeeping coach); Dr. Kevin Byrne (doctor); Dan Brosnan and Jack Farragher (kitmen).