Fenlon’s Christmas cheer for Wexford

ADRIAN FENLON has given new Wexford manager Seamus Murphy a Christmas boost - by making himself available for next year’s campaign.

It is especially good news for Murphy following the announcement that Darragh Ryan is ruled out of the NHL due to a serious knee injury. There are fears that his intercounty career may be in jeopardy.

“It’s almost certain that Darragh will not be part of the national league, while a further scan will be needed to decide his future.

“The surgeon is not at all optimistic about the ongoing knee problems, for he’s had two cruciate operations already. Now it appears as if the cartilage will have to be removed.”

Murphy was happy to confirm Fenlon’s availability for 2005.

“He will not be available until the end of March but will come in for the remainder of the league and championship. We have given him his own fitness programme until then, for with work commitments along with taking a course at Carlow IT, he will not join the squad until after examinations at the end of March.”

While the return of Fenlon is welcome news for Murphy, he has suffered a setback with the news that his Rathnure clubman, Michael O’Leary, who was a substitute on the championship team, has made himself unavailable owing to work commitments. But Murphy is hopeful that the return of Darren Stamp and Rory Mallon will add to his options for the league and championship.

Meanwhile Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has called up nine new players to his squad for the Dr McKenna Cup, and has promised each of them a chance to prove themselves in next month’s pre-season competition.

And the Red Hand boss stressed that the 27-strong panel will be reviewed before he announces a squad to participate in the National Football League.

Three players who were involved during Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning year are back again - defender Brian Robinson and versatile midfielders Ryan Mellon and Peter Donnelly.

Harte will have no shortage of candidates for the midfield slot vacated by the Australia-bound Kevin Hughes, for Brian Meenan of Killyclogher and Galbally’s Michael Murphy both play club football in the central region.

Defensively, Eoin Bradley, who figured in the Underdogs’ famous win over All-Ireland champions Kerry, gets a call-up, as does Ciaran Meenagh of Loughmacrory, in the squad three seasons ago, and a winner of an All-Ireland Under-21 medal under Harte.

David Harte of Errigal Ciaran, a nephew of the manager, is also included, along with Aghyaran attacker Martin Penrose.

And the news all Tyrone fans had been hoping for is that Peter Canavan has committed himself to the cause for another season.

But Dermot Carlin will not feature at all next year, having decided to spend the summer months in the USA, while Gerard Cavlan has withdrawn from the squad.

A year-long trip to Australia also rules out Kevin Hughes, and while Brian McGuigan is also bound for down under for an indefinite period, he will be available for the first three games in the McKenna Cup.