By Cian O’Connell

As an educator John Hegarty knows all about the value of learning. So the new Wexford manager is fully aware that a journey is commencing.

When starting out as an inter-county footballer a couple of decades ago, Hegarty vividly recalls talking to the late former Wexford footballer John Harrington.

Wexford had endured demanding days. Hope was all that sustained them. Through sheer hard graft, though, Wexford became relevant again on the Leinster and national stage. That is the mission Hegarty wants to accomplish.

"John Harrington was a great Wexford stalwart, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago very young. He was coming to the end of his days with Wexford, I remember him saying to me that he played for Wexford for 12 years and won two Championship matches,” Hegarty says about the conversation.

In the following years Wexford’s improvement was significant. Hegarty, though, doesn’t forget how the story unfolded.

“We were starting from a really low ebb,” Hegarty adds. “Over time, and I mean over six or seven years the same group of players stuck together. We took learnings, we took the beatings, we came back the next year and implemented where we had come up short.

“Eventually we were getting to League finals and beating the likes of Tyrone and Galway on a regular basis, Armagh too.

“Even after that, it continued after I retired, they ran Dublin close, for a couple of years they were Dublin's toughest challenge.”

Hegarty has perspective about what can happen. Still, it isn’t an easy road. “I've seen both sides of it, I think right now we are trying to draw on the first part - just getting confidence, getting buy in, belief,” Hegarty acknowledges.

“That changes a lot with these players. While their age profile is young, they have slogged it out for a couple of years together. I'd hope that builds confidence.

“Perceived wisdom will tell you that it is not possible to break into Division One, that it is not attainable for a Wexford. I'm always hesitant to say other counties, but for a Carlow, Wexford or a Wicklow, I'd beg to differ.

“If the structures are right, if the right people are in place, and you are prepared to stay at it because it won't happen very quickly.

“Kerry can put Jack O'Connor in place, in year one they can win an All-Ireland. Look at what he is building on top of. For counties who are coming from further back it does require time and it does require a sustained commitment to it.”

Maximising the resources available is critical. In Wexford the vast majority of club players participate in Gaelic Football and hurling. Hegarty remains adamant that the county hurling and football outfits can both flourish at the same time.

“That is always a sensitive topic,” Hegarty says. “In Wexford because we don't have half the county playing football or hurling, everybody is playing everything.

“So on the current senior hurling team you'd have probably five or six lads who have played inter-county football before they played inter-county hurling, that is including Lee Chin, Liam Óg McGovern played for a few years, Simon Donohoe, Oisín Foley, Conor Devitt.

“You have lots of players there. It is very easy to slip into if hurling is doing well football won't or if football is going well, hurling won't. I think that is too easy a narrative. You have plenty of players out there.

“If you get enough of them to buy in I don't think it has to be one or the other. Sure you have lads playing hurling I'd love to have, there are certain lads playing football that the hurlers would love to have. It doesn't have to be one versus the other.”

Innovative coaching work has been carried out in Wexford recently. Hegarty accepts that offers encouragement, but also stresses the importance of the flagship teams performing.

“The only problem is the minute you think your structures are good, because it is continuously evolving,” Hegarty says.

“What was good five years ago has been bypassed at this stage. So it is an ever evolving process. I think there is fantastic work going on at underage. It is remarkable the number of kids out trialling at the moment for U14 hurling and football.

“We are up in the Centre of Excellence on a Saturday morning, that is really heartening and encouraging to see. I think for it to kick on you really cannot underestimate the importance and value of a high performing top team.

“It becomes the thing to be doing and cool. The best thing we can do as a senior football team for the long term evolution in the short term is to be successful, to show that there is a future playing football for Wexford.”

Forging a bond with supporters and generating momentum is part of the process too for Hegarty. “That was probably the biggest frustration for the lads in the first night against London,” Hegarty says.

“It came the week after the Walsh Cup game under the floodlights at Wexford Park. That was a great occasion. The following Saturday night we had London, there was a fantastic crowd.

“The fact the lads didn't perform really frustrated them because that is where they long to be - getting that kind of a support and following.”

Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division Four triumph over Leitrim illustrated Wexford’s potential. An opening weekend draw with London was followed by a loss against Laois. Even at an early stage of the campaign, Hegarty accepts the Leitrim game was a vital encounter. “It was, there was no getting away from it,” Hegarty responds.

“I felt uncomfortable saying it beforehand, but it was a must win game for us which is terrible to think in your third ever game and you have to say must win because of how the previous two had gone.

“We were frustrated after the first night, we hadn't done ourselves justice in front of a big crowd and then a last minute goal caught us. Then we were better the second day.

“It certainly was a must win, I think that was probably the main difference between the two teams. I think Leitrim with four points - no matter how you try to stress that it is an absolute crucial game to win - there is a big difference when somebody has a need and desire to have to get a win.”

Ultimately, while the schedule is hectic, Hegarty is simply relishing operating in the inter-county arena once again.

“The step up from club management, even though the Shelmaliers club I was coaching for the last couple of years, we were at a reasonably high level getting to Leinster semi-finals, it is still a quantum leap to go from there to inter-county,” Hegarty states.

“There is just so much more that goes with it and it is hectic. The environment you're working in is really important. It is not different to a work environment, in the school where I work - they are busy and hectic environments.

“You are dealing with multiple people and it is really important that you have a good culture. That there is a good bond between the people. You are spending a lot of time with them, it is a pressurised environment, it is pretty hectic.

“If you have the right culture with the backroom team, I think the players will feed off that. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, the people involved with me have been a fantastic support.”

Saturday's away fixture against Waterford is next on the agenda. Hegarty is connecting the past, present, and future of Wexford football. The adventure has been launched.