Four forwards out of tie with Carlow
Wednesday February 24 2010
WEXFORD MANAGER Jason Ryan will be hoping to get the balance right when his side takes on Carlow in the O'Byrne Shield Senior football final at Tinryland on Sunday next (1.30 p.m.).
While Ciarán Lyng and Shane Roche are both cup-tied, Ryan will still have to plan without Adrian Morrissey, who is undergoing treatment for his shoulder problem.
A further setback for the Wexford manager is an injury to corner-forward Paddy Byrne. The Kilmore clubman damaged a knee at training over the weekend. They are still awaiting the result of x-rays to ascertain the real extent of the injury, but he is likely to miss out on Sunday's game.
With Sligo coming up the following weekend in the league, Ryan looks on this as ideal preparation for such a daunting clash.
'With the exception of those mentioned we will basically be working off the squad of players that was available against Offaly. There will be enforced changes, while we will also be looking to try to give some other players in the squad game time.
'We have four important league games on the trot so it's important that all players are on top of their game. This is ideal preparation against Carlow who are improving under Luke Dempsey.'
After they narrowly held off a late Offaly surge, Wexford will now be anxious to build on that game and come away from Carlow with a victory.
'The players trained well over the weekend and are looking forward to the game ahead,' Ryan said.
Incidentally, Dowdallshill was a happy hunting ground for one Wexford man on Sunday last. Twenty-four hours after the Under-21s capitulated, Shane Roche played a starring role for D.C.U. in their 1-15 to 0-17 O'Byrne Cup final win over Louth at the same venue, scoring the last four points from a total of six to reverse the outcome of last year's decider.
