Davy Fitzgerald pictured at the launch of the Bord Na Mona Leinster GAA series.
By Cian O'Connell
Already there is a twinkle in Davy Fitzgerald's eye. A smile is etched across the face of the Wexford manager when he starts talking about two 2018 matches against Kilkenny.
Bringing a team to Nowlan Park at any time of the year carries excitement for hurling enthusiasts, but Wexford will travel to the fabled venue in both Allianz Hurling League and Leinster Championship. It is an attractive prospect, a firm reminder of the strides Wexford have taken in the past 12 months.
The new summer format will certainly bring games and glory ensuring Fitzgerald is excited. "Big games," Fitzgerald acknowledges.
"The format of the Championship? I like it, I really do. You take Munster and you take Clare, the last time I think we'd a Munster Championship match there would have been 1993, that's a long time.
"I love that, the fact that the atmosphere around the town will be unreal. It will help the town. Then you look at the kids.
"It's the same below in Wexford. Last year when we played Kilkenny down in Wexford it was incredible.
"So I like the format, the only thing I'd tweak in it a small bit is I think running it in five weeks is just a small bit - if it was six weeks where you get one more break in it, I think it would be great. That's the only thing."
Expectations have been raised significantly in the south east. Fitzgerald and Wexford enjoyed a hugely productive 2017, but now the next chapter must be scripted. "Going down there when I met the County Chairman he said if you can get us promoted and into a Leinster Final in three years we will be more than grateful," Fitzgerald says.
"Where do you go? In my head I would love to stay in Division One, I would. That would be massive. Two you would like to get one of the top three spots in Leinster. You have to have that as a goal.
"If you get into one of the top three spots you are there or thereabouts for quarter-final day, you aren't too far away. They are two things that I've said to myself I would love to do. We will try everything to do that.
"As regards winning stuff if you are managing to them then you are in with a chance of winning stuff. Lets do the simple things first and see after that what happens.
Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald.
"I'm not building castles in the sky because there is no point. I just don't believe in saying we are going to win Leinster and win the All Ireland. I think that is a load of rubbish. I don't think you can do that, we just take it game by game."
Fitzgerald is thinking about the possibilities which exist in May and June - and possibly July and August. "We have a savage Leinster Championship next year, we have Dublin first, Offaly second, Galway then, and then the mother of all battles against Kilkenny," Fitzgerald remarks.
"I know what is coming. That will be an intriguing battle to say the least. We have to go to Nowlan Park twice next year, that is going to be absolutely incredible."
The promising Rory O'Connor underwent surgery on a troublesome knee injury yesterday, while James Breen has opted out due to work commitments.
Fitzgerald, though, is satisfied with the make up of the Wexford panel and hopes the influential Shaun Murphy, Jack Guiney, and Paul Morris will recover ahead of the League.
"Yeah, well I think there is a turnover of nearly 12 or 13 players," Fitzgerald reveals.
"Between me drawing up a new panel, a few guys leaving and bringing in a few guys, I think there are two or three guys that were on the football panel, yeah.
"I suppose there was one guy I had looked for last year, Colm Kehoe. We’d sat down and talked, I’d say he nearly wanted to come last year, but he said ‘let me give a year to the football and then I’d like to give one to the hurling.’ I think he knows he couldn’t do both, so I respect that and he’s giving it a go.
"Then there are one or two other guys, one other guy asked me for a trial for a month and I’ve given it to him. James Breen is gone from last year, but he had nearly told me last year that he didn’t think he’d be able to do it, his body wouldn’t be up to it. He’s a big farmer in Wexford as well, he’ll be a loss to us, without a shadow of a doubt."
