Rory returns to hurling field

O’Connor in contention for Dubs tie on Sunday week

KEITH ROSSITER’S squad should be close to full strength when they get their Leinster Senior hurling championship campaign under way with the visit of Dublin to Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday, April 21.

With Oisín Foley ruled out of the inter-county season due to an ongoing groin problem, the only other regulars that are definitely absent for the provincial opener are full-back Liam Ryan and midfielder Diarmuid O’Keeffe.

Liam Óg McGovern, Conor McDonald, Mikie Dwyer and Conor Devitt all got more minutes into the legs in a challenge match against Waterford, while captain Lee Chin has recovered from the hamstring strain that kept him out of the league games against the Déise and Cork, and the Faythe Harriers man should be raring to go for the championship.

Other positive news is that talented forward Rory O’Connor has returned to the playing field, with the St. Martin’s man seeing action against Davy Fitzgerald’s side as he tries to shake off the cobwebs.

Having attained the chief aim of securing top-flight status in the league, the manager is excited to get his maiden Leinster campaign as Senior boss started, and he feels it’s important to set down an early marker with a win.

“When you look out the window and see the rain that’s falling it’s hard to believe that it’s championship time. It’s nearly upon us now and, with the footballers getting off the mark at the weekend, which was good to see, please God we can do the same when we play in two weeks’ time.

“We’ll want to get off to a good start and Dublin will as well. It’s the same in Leinster and Munster, everybody is wanting to get off the mark with a win. We’ll definitely be doing our damnedest to get off to winning ways,” he said.

With games against Dublin, Antrim and Galway coming in quick succession, the hectic schedule is something which can take its toll on both bodies and minds, and Rossiter says that, while it’s far from ideal, he’ll just have to juggle his pack to suit.

“They talk about player welfare out of one side of the mouth and then you realise you’re playing three games in 13 days. It is what it is. It’s the same for everyone. It’s where your squad comes into play really,” he said.

A victory against Micheál Donoghue’s men is probably a must if Wexford harbour hopes of securing a Leinster final berth or, even taking third spot, which would ensure an extended championship run, and Rossiter is hoping that Model County supporters can help his side secure a precious triumph.

Dublin have had the measure of Wexford in the past two seasons, coming out on the right side of tight matches, while the sides played out a stalemate in 2019, when the Slaneysiders went on to claim the Leinster crown, and Rossiter is expecting another close contest.

“It’s always been nip-and-tuck with Dublin over the last few years. It’s always close and I think there’s been a draw or two in there as well.

“It’s hard to separate the teams, but you’d be hoping in Wexford Park, if a good crowd turn up, the home advantage might help us to get over the line,” he said.

The Oulart-The Ballagh clubman is adopting the same approach of taking it one game at a time as he did throughout the league, and he’ll see where that leaves his Wexford side after five rounds of matches.

“Dublin are first and we won’t look beyond Dublin, it’s as simple as that. The match is at 2 o’clock on the Sunday and at 4 or 4:30 we’ll start looking at Antrim.

“The Dublin match will be history at that stage, and you move on to the next one and that’s the way we’re going to play it. Just focus on the team that’s ahead of you,” he said.

In the past two seasons Wexford have gone into their final round robin game against Kilkenny with a lot riding on the result, winning in Nowlan Park in 2022 to reach the All-Ireland series, and avoiding the drop to the Joe McDonagh Cup with a thrilling 4-23 to 5-18 victory in Chadwicks Wexford Park last year.

The manager may not be making any grandiose predictions for the Leinster campaign or setting out any particular targets, but one thing he will admit is that he doesn’t want to face the Cats, who they again play in the final game, with quite so much at stake.

“Hopefully we’ll have plenty to play for, but it will be on better terms than it was last year. I’ll put it that way,” he said.