Déise delight over Hartley’s comeback

THE news that the man who captained Waterford to Munster senior hurling championship glory for the first time in almost 40 years in 2002 is set to make a sensational return has taken virtually every Déise follower by surprise.

Thirty three year-old Fergal Hartley, an All-Ireland U21 medal winner in 1992, hasn’t worn the county jersey since Waterford exited the All-Ireland championship in the qualifiers against Wexford at Nowlan Park on July 19, 2003, a game which also marked the end of the inter-county road for Peter Queally and Brian Greene.

He is expected to immediately rejoin Justin McCarthy’s extended panel of 40, which will be reduced to 24 before the National League on February 21. Last year, Hartley resisted several appeals to reconsider his retirement decision. However, he had set up his own hugely successful recruitment company, Hartley People, and felt he couldn’t give the required commitment.

Justin McCarthy has given Hartley no guarantees, but the Ballygunner man is reportedly in great shape.

Throughout last year’s county championship, he was a model of consistency with Ballygunner and turned in a marvellous display at centre-back in the county final despite going under to arch-rivals Mount Sion.

A trial game involving up to 40 players has been arranged for next weekend and it’s likely Hartley will take part. The news has been warmly welcomed by county board secretary Séamus Grant, who believes that had Hartley, along with the suspended John Mullane, been available for the All-Ireland semi-final last year against Kilkenny, the game might have thrown up a different result.

Grant said: “he is a naturally gifted player, always in great physical shape, and it is my belief that he will be a huge addition to the panel.”

The Waterford secretary said Cork’s Brian Corcoran is an example of how players can successfully make a comeback. “If Fergal can make the same impact as Corcoran we’ll all be happy,” Grant added.

While centre-back has been his natural posting throughout his illustrious career, the management may see him as the answer to the problems that beset the full-back line last year.

Darragh Ryan will know within the next three weeks if he will play any part in this years All-Ireland hurling championship. The Wexford full-back will have a cartilage operation on his knee with the results deciding if he is on course to make a comeback.

Manager Séamus Murphy has ruled him out of the National League campaign and is fearful his outstanding defender could be under considerable pressure to make it back for Wexford’s opening championship game against the winners of Laois/Dublin in Croke Park on June 12. Meantime, former Wexford hurling star Larry O’Gorman has turned down the chance to take over as Wicklow hurling manager.