Club bosses mostly in place
Managers ready to hit the ground running when it’s safe
THE ‘NO VACANCY’ sign has been erected outside Wexford Senior hurling and football clubs as officers have confirmed that managers are now in place ahead of the 2021 county championships.
Many new faces are on board, with the hurling clubs looking ultra-competitive both on and off the pitch, as several former inter-county players will go headto-head on the sideline.
Five All-Ireland medal winners will be plotting a way forward for their respective clubs, hoping to wrest away the Dr. Bob Bowe Cup from Shelmaliers, who will once again have former player Vinny Parker at the helm.
Chris McGrath, Colm Parker, Rathnure’s Martin Byrne, and Mick Purcell of Good Counsel fame return as selectors, with Paul Kinsella continuing to look after physical fitness.
Former Wexford manager Liam Dunne will be looking to continue his rebuilding of home club, Oulart-The Ballagh, who came ever so close to a county final spot last year, while ex-Waterford boss Derek McGrath is involved with Faythe Harriers for a second year.
The return of John Meyler, the former Wexford, Carlow and Cork manager, for a second year with St. Martin’s is also confirmed.
Perhaps the most interesting appointment is that of Liam Fennelly who returns to club management. The former Kilkenny All-Ireland medal winner takes up pole position with Fethard, and it will be interesting to keep an eye on their progress under his watch.
Another All-Ireland medalist of 1996, Shane Carley, continues at the helm of home side Glynn-Barntown, with Tommy Roche from Marshalstown-Castledockrell staying in charge of Cloughbawn for another campaign.
Joe Morris is still in place as Ferns St. Aidan’s manager, assisted by Waterford’s Pat Bennett (coach), selectors Pádraig Bailey and Ben Bernie, plus Paddy Rossiter who is in charge of physical fitness.
For Carley’s fellow panel member from 25 years ago, Declan Ruth, it will be a first introduction to club management. The former Wexford centre-back takes over Rapparees, so onlookers should expect a very determined approach from the Cathedral town club.
Newcomers Crossabeg-Ballymurn retain the management team that helped them regain Senior status for the first time since 2000, with Diarmuid McDonald supported by a strong backroom team featuring Michael Cummins, Jimmy White, John Cummins, and coach Kevin Kennedy from Oulart-The Ballagh.
Former kingpins Rathnure are counting on a local trio to drive them towards the helm of club hurling in the county once again, with Michael O’Leary, Damian Quigley and Richie Flynn appointed.
Naomh Eanna, champions in 2018, will introduce former Wexford and Oulart-The Ballagh player David Redmond to their coaching set-up to work alongside Willie Cleary, who steered them to their first title three years ago.
St. Anne’s turn to former player David ‘Doc’ O’Connor as they bid to make up for the county final disappointment of 2019.
He also assumes the role of Senior football manager, with the club having regained top-flight status last year after an absence of just twelve months.
Starlights, the reigning Senior football champions, will be striving to claim backto-back titles, having come out on top last year after an outstanding championship.
They have once again given a vote of confidence to Anthony Russell as manager.
A long-time player with the club, he will be joined by the same backroom team comprising his brother Jason, Maurice Donohoe, Purt Doyle, Patrick Casey and trainer Neil O’Loughlin, the Clare-born secondary school teacher.
Glynn-Barntown have added former Laois player and Wexford town-based garda, Barry Brennan, to their coaching set-up, with Iain Wickham in the role of manager, while Timmy Walsh continues to guide Castletown.
An interesting appointment is that of Micheál Furlong as Kilanerin manager. The St. Patrick’s (Ballyoughter) clubman was a member of last year’s backroom set-up, but for 2021 he steps up to the main role, taking over from Pat Forde.
John Hegarty, the former Kilanerin player, looks set to continue at the Shelmaliers helm, with ex-Wexford manager and Kildare attacker Paul McLoughlin setting out for a second year with Sarsfields.
Former playing colleagues Eamonn Whelan and Shane Cullen are in charge of Gusserane, with the managerial lineup in Senior football also featuring Robert Whelan (Fethard), Mick Walsh (St. James’), Leigh O’Brien (Horeswood) and Bartley Regan (HWH-Bunclody).
St. Martin’s have yet to make an appointment in the big ball code.
On the Intermediate front, 1996 All-Ireland winning captain Martin Storey will set out on a second year as Taghmon-Camross hurling manager, while Waterford city man Michael Casey is their football boss. Casey was part of Jason Ryan’s management during a successful stint for Wexford in Senior football.
Dinny Cahill, former Tipperary player and Antrim manager, will be trying to steer Buffers Alley back into hurling’s top tier.
After a year’s absence, M.J. Reck is back at the helm with the Oylegate-Glenbrien hurlers, and Monaghan native Gerry McQuaid is the team trainer.
Two long-time colleagues of both club and county from Oulart-The Ballagh will be moving in opposite directions, as Darren Stamp will be assisting Declan Byrne with Blackwater, while Keith Rossiter has joined Bartley Regan’s backroom team in HWH-Bunclody.
The much-travelled Eddie Maloney, who has enjoyed stints with his native Our Lady’s Island, along with Kilmore and Clongeen, now finds himself in the Marshalstown-Castledockrell hot-seat with support from John Kinsella and Seamus O’Toole.
The long-serving and successful James Bolger continues as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown Intermediate football boss, which is no surprise given their 2019 success in the provincial club Junior championship, while Mark Roche remains at the helm with his native Kilmore.