Keith Rossiter shares goal for Wexford Senior hurling team for 2026

The Wexford Senior hurlers will return to action this weekend…

They will take on Laois (away) in Rathdowney on Sunday in the opening round of the Walsh Cup to kick off the new 2026 campaign.

The Wexford hurlers will be without a number of key players heading into the new season. Eoin Ryan, Charlie McGuckin, and star-forward Rory O’Connor have all opted out of the Wexford squad to go travelling.

Meanwhile, Conor McDonald and Cathal Dunbar are yet to rejoin the Wexford Senior hurling panel, despite manager Keith Rossiter noting in a recent report with the Wexford People that he wants the Naomh Eanna pair involved for the 2026 season.

Other players like Liam Ryan (Rapparees) and Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers) and multiple St Martins players are set to join the panel at a later date, taking an extented break.

With players leaving or returning to the panel at a later date, however, creates an opportunity to blood new players into the panel.

There is a sense that Wexford are now in a transition phase, which can be seen by their recent Walsh Cup line-up for the clash against Laois. Mark Fanning in between the posts, Kevin Foley at corner-forward, and Simon Donohoe named on the bench are Wexford’s longest-serving members. Otherwise, it’s quite a new panel and a perfect opportunity for players to make their mark on the Wexford Senior Hurling team.

Last month, Rossiter revealed on The Wexford Hurling Podcast that “16 new guys have been added to the panel… giving fresh energy to the panel.”

Along with players, David Franks, Des Mythen, and Eanna Martin have all departed the backroom set-up. In the backroom team, Shane Keegan (Coach), Shane O’Brien (Coach), Andy Ronan (Selector), and Chris Coburn (S&C) have been brought in along with former professional boxer, Bernard Dunne, who also will be involved.

Despite the changes in the panel and backroom team, Wexford hurling fans still want and expect the team to be competitive.

Speaking to the Wexford People, Senior hurling manager Keith Rossiter shared a goal for the Wexford Senior hurling team for the 2026 season:

“Of course we want to win, but we need to build a squad as well, espcially with the transition that we’ve gone through in the last two years. We base everything on the Championship and that’s what we all train for – playing big matches in Croke Park and we want to be there on Leinster final day. We’re aligned with what the supporters are looking for; we all want the same thing. We all just have to row in behind it now,” Rossiter said.

Wexford last reached the Leinster Senior hurling final in 2019 when they defeated Kilkenny. Since then, Kilkenny have won all Leinster Senior hurling titles (2020-2025). Wexford’s first game in the Leinster Senior hurling championship will be an away clash to recently-promoted Kildare, which will take place on the weekend of 18/19 April. They will also take on Kilkenny (away), Dublin (home), Offaly (away), Galway (home).

Wexford will also play in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League for this season, which may actually be a blessing in disguise for Rossiter and the Wexford hurling panel as he aims to blood new players into the set-up. Their tougest two games in the Allianz Hurling League will no doubt come against Dublin and Clare, both of which will be away clashes for the Yellowbellies. Interestingly, Wexford’s last game in the Allianz League will be against Kildare on March 21st, three weeks before their first Championship outing against the same team.