NEW WEXFORD SENIOR hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has included forward star Jack Guiney in a winter training squad of over 40 players.
Fitzgerald has also confirmed the make-up of his backroom team – with former county star Keith Rossiter and ex-Kilkenny goalkeeper PJ Ryan set to play key roles.
2015 Leinster club winner Rossiter, who will line out for Oulart-the-Ballagh against Offaly champions St Rynagh’s in next Sunday’s AIB Leinster senior club hurling championship tie, will be involved in a part-time coaching capacity, with 2009 All-Ireland final man-of-the-match Ryan brought in to coach the Wexford goalkeepers.
Former U21 manager JJ Doyle is the local link but Fitzgerald is also bringing two of his own former backroom men with him – Páraic Fanning and Seoirse Bulfin.
Bulfin worked alongside Fitzgerald at third-level with Limerick IT, and also with the Waterford and Clare inter-county teams, while Fanning was a member of Fitzgerald’s backroom team when he was in charge of the Déise.
Fitzgerald has also enlisted the services of three strength and conditioning coaches – Jimmy Payne, Darren Siggins and Ross Dunphy.
Payne moves with Bulfin from the Clare set-up to join Fitzgerald, while Siggins and Dunphy both worked for Seamus Plunkett during his time as Laois manager.
Dunphy has also worked with the Tipperary and Dublin senior hurling teams in recent times.
The return of former U21 star Guiney is a major boost to Fitzgerald as he looks ahead to his first season in charge of the Slaneysiders.
The 23-year-old forward opted out of the Wexford for personal reasons last April but he will provide a badly-needed extra attacking option next year, if he remains on board for the long haul.
Two other forwards – Rhys Clarke and Kevin Foley – have also returned, further boosting Fitzgerald’s pick.
Foley opted out last December for the 2016 campaign but did feature for JJ Doyle’s U21s, who were foiled in their bid for a fourth successive Leinster U21 crown by Dublin at the quarter-final stage.
Ian Byrne, currently based in Dubai, is unavailable for the foreseeable future and cruciate ligament trio Andrew Shore, Liam Óg McGovern and Shane Tomkins will be sidelined until well into the New Year.
Shore and Tomkins, who both underwent surgery on the same day in June, are targeting returns in March while McGovern is aiming for a summer comeback.
After overseeing pre-season strength and conditioning work, Fitzgerald is planning to whittle down his extended squad in mid-January, ahead of the start of the Allianz Hurling League campaign.
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Arteta bemoans a decision? Never
@colin coady: it was never a penalty
@Micheal Hearne: Relax Mick I wasn’t reffing the game?It was a pen
Stunned that an Arsenal defender can’t headbutt somebody in the box…..
@Mark Anthony McNally: Saliba swung the noggin around like Anto going up against Whacker to catch the last yolk of the night in Coolock!
@Mark Anthony McNally: definitely not in the WSL anyway…
Lego man losing his head! He needs another 800 million!
@Dan The Man: arsenal 5 year spend is 457m, Liverpool 253m, arsenal were further behind so makes set they spent more to catch up
@Joshua Walsh: but that’s nearly double Liverpool’s and they’ve nothing to show for it, Liverpool have won every trophy available at least once and look odds on to add another league title. I think arsenal are stalling under arteta now and I don’t see them winning a league with him as manager.
is that just a boilerplate now for all arsenal related articles?
‘arteta bemoans [insert perceived injustice]‘
An absolute spoofer
@Niall Boyle: how is he an absolute spoofer? I think he’s made great progress with an ok squad. Spent a lot of money but consistently challenging without any global household names..
Two poor Teams