Wexford hurling manager provides injury update on Conor McDonald

Keith Rossiter’s Wexford Senior hurlers will host Antrim on Saturday at 2pm in Wexford Park….

It’s the first round of the Leinster Senior hurling championship and anticipation is building ahead of the new season.

The Wexford manager, Keith Rossiter, revealed his panel for the clash on Thursday evening. There are some glaring additions and ommissions on the team. Regarding the additions, Wexford hurling fans will be delighted to see that Liam Ryan has been named on the match-day panel for the Antrim clash.

The full-back has not featured in the campaign this year for the Wexford Senior hurlers, but he will provide a huge boost to the team should he be called upon to feature.

Likewise, Cian Molloy has etched his name into the starting fifteen after some excellent performances for Wexford in the latter end of the Allianz League campaign, most notably against Limerick in the final clash. His addition comes with the omission of Oylegate’s Shane Reck, who is recovering from a minor injury.

Molloy has been named at wing-back, a position where Richie Lawlor was flying in for the whole campaign. However, with Cian’s addition, Lawlor has been moved out to midfield. There was some discussions about Simon Donohoe’s position and whether or not he would be played out the field, but Rossiter and his backroom team have trusted him to hold the full-back position in Liam Ryan’s absence from the match-day fifteen.

Another glaring ommission from the team – a sight we’re not used to seeing in Championship hurling for Wexford – is the omission of Conor McDonald. The Naomh Eanna clubman is recovering from a hip injury. Speaking to South East Radio ahead of the clash, Keith Rossiter provided an update on McDonald’s injury:

“Conor Mc had surgery just before Christmas, maybe early January. Conor is still due. He’s coming on heaps and bounds. He’s really improving. It will be after round 2. It won’t be round 2 – but it’ll probably be round 3 before we see him back. He’s in a good place and he’s moving really well,” he said about Conor McDonald’s injury.

Along with a training camp in Portugal, Wexford also had practice matches against both Kildare and Waterford, along with having in-house games.

The Wexford Senior hurling boss also called on Wexford supporters to attend in numbers, wearing their Purple and Gold, and being in full-voice with Antrim coming to town.

“To get the ball rolling. This is the season. This is what it’s about.”

“It’s the be-all-and-end-all. These games top it all for an inter-county Wexford player. To hear the roar from the crowd – and for the crowd to get behind you, you don’t forget those days. When you’re on the pitch, you hear it all. For the Wexford people to get out this weekend and drive us on. Let’s get a big support out there this weekend, like you’ve always had done. Get out and support us. We’re looking for a big game and we need plenty of support coming out for us,” Rossiter said.

Wexford hurling team:

Wexford will be hoping to get off to winning ways. A win is essential to kick start their campaign, with an away clash against Dublin coming soon after.

Last year, Wexford lost out to Antrim in Corrigan Park; the team will be hoping to right some wrongs from last year’s defeat in the potential banana-skin fixture for the Yellowbellies.