Wexford's uneasy start to the Allianz Hurling League has taken another uncomfortable turn with confirmation that forward Jack Guiney is no longer part of the panel.
Wexford manager Liam Dunne dropped Guiney in the course of last summer's championship for disciplinary reasons. While he was initially back on board for the 2016 campaign, the player has now declared his decision to step aside for the foreseeable future, citing personal reasons.
There were some conflicting reports about Guiney’s absence for Wexford’s opening game in Division 1B over the weekend, which saw them well beaten by Limerick, 2-23 to 0-15, at the Gaelic Grounds. Guiney was named to start at full forward, only his name was withdrawn prior to throw-in with Shane Tompkins taking his place instead.
The Wexford management had suggested Guiney was suffering from a hamstring injury, although it now appears there may been other factors at play.
Either way it’s unlikely he will feature for Wexford’s hosting of Clare this Sunday, a game they must win to keep alive any chances of promotion in Division 1A.
Dunne’s dropping of Guiney last summer – just nine days before their Leinster semi-final loss to Kilkenny – didn’t sit well with some Wexford supporters. He was Wexford’s top scorer in the league last season when he hit 2-26 in five games.
Guiney, still only 22, had been heading into his fifth season as a Wexford senior although it remains to be seen if he will play any part in the current league or championship campaign. Dunne, in his fifth year in charge of his native Wexford, is likely to now retain Tomkins in the full forward position for the meeting with Clare, who enjoyed a comfortable 2-21 to 0-15 win over Offaly. The Oulart-the-Ballagh duo of Shaun Murphy and Eoin Moore, both introduced in the second half against Limerick, are likely to feature from the start.
Fascinating contest
Division 1B is already shaping up to be a fascinating contest, with Kerry, still rank outsiders for promotion, getting their campaign off to an excellent start with a seven-point win over Laois. Clare are still odds on at 4/5 to win promotion, with Kerry still ranked at 40-1.
Two defeats are usually enough to end a team’s promotion chances from the Division 1B, which ups the pressure on Offaly and Laois.
Given they both lost last Sunday, their clash in Tullamore is crucial to their chances of staying in the promotion race. Offaly beat Laois by four points in last year’s league but Laois turned the tables in the Leinster championship, winning 0-29 to 0-21.
