Key Wexford hurler returns to the fold and is “training well”

Wexford hurling fans will be delighted with this news…

Wexford full-back Liam Ryan is currently back in training with the Wexford Senior hurlers and he has been for the past number of weeks.

In this week’s Wexford People, Wexford Senior hurling manager Keith Rossiter told reporter Dave Devereux that:

“He’s training really well at the minute, but is it coming back too quick? I’d be looking at it thinking you might not see Liam Ryan on Saturday, but if it was the championship, he would probably be ready to play,” he said.

The news will be sure to delight Wexford hurling fans. The fact that Rossiter stated that he would be ready if it was a Championship match should be music to the ears of Wexford hurling supporters. It shows that he’s ready for action – and that he’s doing well in training – but that manager Rossiter is simply erring on the side of caution.

Wexford were depleted with injuries for the start of their Allianz Hurling League campaign, hampering their chances of remaining in the top-tier. Although it wasn’t the primary reason, it certainly was a major contributing factor which ultimately led to their relegation to Division 1B.

In a polar-opposite contrast to John Hegarty’s Wexford Senior footballers, who earned promotion with games to spare, the Wexford Senior hurlers were relegated with one game to spare.

Next weekend, the Wexford Senior hurlers will take on Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds.

All you need to know ahead of Limerick vs Wexford Allianz hurling League clash

The match itself, from both a Wexford viewpoint and from a Limerick viewpoint, holds no bearing on the rest of their Allianz Hurling League campaign. Limerick cannot reach an Allianz League final, while Wexford have been relegated, despite whatever result happens on the weekend.

Earring on the side of caution, and judging by Rossiter’s comments, it appears that Liam Ryan will not feature on the starting fifteen against Limerick. At the same time, it would be no surprise to see the dominant Rapparees full-back take up a place on the match-day squad and get some match-day minutes near the end of the game.

With the game against Limerick holding no bearing, Rossiter’s focus for Liam Ryan is solely on the Leinster Championship. For Wexford hurling supporters, most would agree that this is the correct course of action too.

While a lot of Wexford supporters would like to see Ryan back soon, most would agree with Rossiter’s sentiments and would absolutely prefer to see him fully back and available for our upcoming Leinster Championship campaign.

Ryan’s absence in the full-back line was felt for the majority of the Allianz League campaign. His addition to the team, where he will likely walk back straight into the full-back position, cannot be overstated. The Wexford full-back line was an area which was often troubled throughout the Allianz Hurling League in his absence.

There’s no doubt that his return will be a welcomed and much-needed boost for the Wexford Senior hurling team. Whether that happens in the final minutes against Limerick next weekend, or in the opening game of the Leinster Championship, remains to be seen.

Wexford’s Leinster Championship campaign for 2025 will be a difficult one. Their opening match takes place at home against Antrim on Saturday May 19th when former Wexford manager, Davy Fitzgerald, returns to the place he called his second-home for five years. It provides Ryan with another four weeks of training and the opportunity to return to full fitness.

Another player that will not feature against Limerick will be Cian Byrne. Byrne received a red card against Clare, his second in one year, and must serve a two-match suspension. Already serving suspension for one game, Byrne will miss next weekend’s clash against Limerick, but like Ryan, he will be likely slot straight back into the starting fifteen once he’s available again.

In the other games of the Leinster Senior hurling championship for 2025, Wexford will take on Dublin (away), Galway (away), Offaly (home) and Kilkenny (home) in the final game.

The last time Wexford were in a Leinster Senior hurling final was in 2019. In previous year’s, Wexford’s inconsistency has let them down; it’s an area that the Wexford Senior hurling team will be hoping to address this year. The Leinster Championship is wide-open; the Senior hurling team will be hoping to get off to an excellent start. In my view, the opening two games are the most important for Wexford’s hopes of progressing.

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