Fitzy pleased with schedule
Round robin over six weeks
TWO YEARS on from his initial appointment, Davy Fitzgerald is looking forward to a productive 2019 season.
The early battle will begin on the last Sunday in January when Wexford will welcome All-Ireland champions, Limerick, to Innovate Wexford Park for their opening round Allianz League Division 1A game.
Wexford know what is needed to remain in Division 1A having successfully surmounted that hurdle this year, but 2019 will see Fitzgerald tweak the system in an effort to have players primed and with fuel left in the tank for the championship campaign which is a daunting one.
The provincial title race will be spread over six weekends, with each side having to play on no more than two successive weekends, giving the players that much-needed one-week break.
‘I was delighted with the round robin aspect of the championship this year except for the fact that some sides had to play on four successive weekends. From day one I said that was not feasible, and I called for a change in this system, to give the players a real chance,’ he said.
‘I’m delighted with the new format, the championship being played off over six weekends. I’m really looking forward to the championship, but there is the matter of the league first.
‘It’s great that we are still playing out of Division 1A. Last year we played some 14 games, winning nine.
‘We have beaten all of the top teams but the well being of Wexford hurling is continuing playing out of Division 1A. That’s how we will make progress,’ he added.
Before preparations for the new season get under way, Wexford travel to Boston along with Limerick, Cork and Clare next month, for the Fenway Classic.
‘This will not be an easy trip, we have games along with some fundraising ventures, so there will be little time to enjoy, perhaps three days,’ Fitzgerald said of the event, that will see Wexford taking on All-Ireland champions Limerick first.
Having put this trip behind them, Fitzgerald will then look towards getting his pre-season preparations under way.
‘We will commence pre-season on December which is later than last year, and even more late than the previous year. I am approaching it differently as I want plenty of juice left in the tank come that championship.
‘The Leinster championship is going to be a minefield. We have Dublin away in our opening game, then travel to Salthill for Galway.
‘We could not ask for tougher but these sides have to be taken on whenever. No team is coming back to the pack any time soon, so we just have to get up there and compete.
‘I think we have played Dublin in three competitive games since I took over and won all three. That changed what had been happening prior to that, when Wexford were regularly losing to Dublin. But it’s going to take a lot of hard work, and going to take a supreme effort to take the two points away from Parnell Park.
‘We’ve come up against Galway, beaten them twice in the league, but losing the championship clash. This is another huge test but hopefully we can take momentum from the Dublin game into this. That will be hugely important,’ he said.
Wexford need no reminding of the threat Carlow will pose. Our neighbours recorded a victory over us in the league when Colm Bonnar was in charge of the Model county, with the Tipperary native hoping to turn the tables this time as the Barrowsiders’ boss.
‘I will be giving Carlow the same respect as the three other sides. They are always confident when meeting Wexford, so the players must realise this will be equally difficult.
‘Hopefully we will be well placed when Kilkenny visit us in our final round robin game. As always, that will be a massive game,’ he added.
Round robin fixtures – May 11/12: Galway v. Carlow; Kilkenny v. Dublin; Wexford bye; May 18/19: Carlow v. Kilkenny; Dublin v. Wexford; Galway bye; May 25/26: Galway v. Wexford; Carlow, Kilkenny, Dublin bye; June 1/2: Carlow v. Dublin; Galway, Kilkenny, Wexford bye; June 8/9: Wexford v. Carlow; Kilkenny v. Galway; Dublin bye; June 15/16: Wexford v. Kilkenny; Dublin v. Galway; Carlow bye; June 29/30: Leinster final.
Meanwhile, Wexford were second out of the drum when the Leinster Senior football championship draw was made.
They have been handed an away opening round game with Louth, but an even more daunting task awaits the winners, a home quarter-final game with the reigning All-Ireland champions, Dublin.
While Leinster Council have ruled out the possibility of Louth having a home fixture, should Wexford succeed the game will be played in Innovate Wexford Park.
Also on the same end of the draw are Wicklow and Kildare, with Longford awaiting the winners in the quarter-final.