John Hegarty and his Wexford Senior Football team have an exciting future in store….
With these six players and several others who almost made this list, the prospects are bright. Next season could be a big one for his side as they could cause some serious trouble in the Tailteann Cup and even take some scalps in Leinster.
Paul Hearne, 21 (Shelmaliers)
Paul is a wing forward for his club. Paul was a late developer into the senior set up. He never played minor or U21 for the county. This young man has been a main stay on his club side for the last two years. He is twenty-one years of age. Hearne was the man that kicked the winning point in the county final last year and netted a goal to ensure victory for his side. He is very pacy and has a good eye for a goal. He is an excellent finisher whether it’s raising the white flag or going for goals.
Cian Hughes, 20 (Kilanerin)
Cian is a well-known player in GAA circles in the county. He was on the team from Gorey CS that won the All-Ireland B title 2-3 years ago. He has also won the fresher player of the year with DCU. Cian was also part of the Sigerson cup team, along with being a member of both minor and U20 setups in Wexford since he finished in GCS.
Hughes is a half/full forward line player. The north Wexford man has some great skills and can kick off both feet along with an excellent dummy solo, which is his signature move. Like Hearne above, this young man has an exceptional eye for goal and is an excellent finisher when the chance arises.
James Doyle, 20 (Glynn Barntown)
James is the same age as Hughes above. He attended St Peters College and played for the senior team for two years. Doyle was wing back on this year’s county U20 team and he is an attacking half back with loads of pace and power, but also knows how to defend when needed.
He broke on to his club’s senior side last year and is now irreplaceable in the side. His main strengths include his tenacity, his defending and his ability to take on his opponents and carry the ball forward at every opportunity. For a wing back, he is also very creative and can create an opportunity out of nothing.
Jack Higgins, 21 (Castletown)
Jack is now a member of John Hegarty’s Wexford Senior Football panel. Higgins actually made a couple of appearances for the side in the league and the Tailteann Cup. Jack has played three years for the U20 side and a minor for two years.
Higgins was part of his side’s victory in the county final in 2022 when he gave a great performance against Shelmailers. Along with Hughes, he was also a member of the GCS team that won the All-Ireland. It looks like north Wexford have plenty of half forward as Higgins is another one who plays either ten or eleven. His main attributes are his one-on-one attacking and his blistering pace.
Dylan Cooke Leonard, 20 (Naomh Éanna)
Dylan was another one of the players on the list who has won an All-Ireland medal with GCS a couple of years ago along with winning a fresher all Ireland with DCU this year. Dylan is one of the most versatile players in the county as he has been known to play in a number of different positions. Leonard has lined out mainly half back or half forward, but also wore the county jersey at corner back for the minors along with playing in the full forward line as well.
During the 2024 championship, which sees Naomh Eanna back in the Senior Football ranks after their promotion last year, he is currently playing wing forward. His main strengths lie in the fact that he is a utility player, that he’s left footed and that he can sick scores from distance. This young man has a great eye for a killer pass with his delivery into the full forward line being excellent.
Darby Purcell, 20 (Sarsfields)
Purcell is a current member of the Wexford U21 hurling panel. Darby was a dual player at minor. This man is another left footed player and is well able to hit frees. He plays at eleven or in corner forward for his club, the Sarsfields, in Wexford town. The Wexford town man is a serious player to kick points from long range with that sweet left foot.
Brendan Tobin, 21 (Craanford)
Tobin is definitely one of the up-and-coming plyers in the county. Even though he is playing intermediate A with his club, he had to be mentioned on this list of young players to keep an eye out for in the Wexford Football Championships.
Brendan is a centre forward who attended Carnew CBS, and he was on the Wexford U22/20 team for two years. His main strengths are his ability to kick frees, find and a pass and find the back of the net.
He is a very clever player he is like a quarter back in American Football at times as he gets on a lot of ball. This man is an outlier as he is playing intermediate football, but is good enough to play senior.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you may also be interested in reading our previous article on The Top 6 football players in the Wexford Football League for 2024.
Eoin Horkan
From Mayo, Eoin is now based in the South-East and he has a love for all sports ranging from soccer to swimming.