Rebels face tough Wexford test

THE All-Ireland JFC has had a chequered career since it was first introduced in 1912. Over the years, it has been suspended three times, 1917-1922, 1942-1945 and 1974-1982, and if the powers that be get their way, it will discontinued for a fourth time after this year’s final.

It would be a pity if that happens. It’s a competition that does not impinge on the club scene to any great extent and it affords players who don’t make the senior team the opportunity to taste inter-county activity.

Both managers, Mossie Barrett (Cork) and Paul Bealin (Wexford) are totally opposed to dropping the grade.

“It would be unbelievable if Croke Park was to do away with the junior grade,” said Barrett.

“In Cork, we play club championship and the junior inter-county championship almost side by side. Given the fixture chaos in the county at the moment, people could take a leaf out of the way the junior championship is run.

“It’s a grade that has been very good to Cork over the years. At least 12 of the senior squad play in the grade and that includes Ger Spillane, Alan Quirke and Michael Prout, while Conor Counihan, Teddy McCarthy, the late Mick McCarthy and Danny Cullotty all came through from junior to win senior All-Ireland medals.

“I would argue with any of the hierarchy about the merits of the junior football championship. In my view it would be detrimental to Cork football if it’s disbanded.”

Bealin, who won All-Ireland senior honours with Dublin, is of a like mind. He played with the juniors in 1987 and graduated onto the senior team which contested the National League final against Cork in 1989.

“It’s a great feeding ground for the senior team, and, as Wexford manager, I have found four footballers good enough to be in the senior squad that I didn’t think were in the county.

“After Under-21, it’s the next level up and it would be a disastrous decision to scrap it. The one regret I have about this year’s final is that it’s being played at a totally unsuitable time. It should be played as a curtain raiser to one of the senior All-Ireland games.”

Because of the possibility this could be the last year of the competition, tonight’s final in Fraher Field, Dungarvan takes on an added interest as both counties will be keen to inscribe their name on the cup for the last time.

Wexford and Cork have met in two finals, 1984 which Cork won — this was the home final at the time — and 1992 which Wexford won 1-9 to 0-11. This is Wexford’s fourth final. They lost the home final of 1963 to Kerry 1-12 to 2-7.

The omens favour the Model County. The year they beat Cork in the final (1992) they defeated Mayo in the semi and they also won the IHC title the same year. This year they beat Mayo again in the semi-final and their intermediate hurlers are in the All-Ireland final against Waterford.

To reach the final, they beat Kilkenny, Meath, Dublin and Mayo, while Cork made hard work in seeing off Limerick, Tipperary and Clare in Munster, before easily defeating London in the All-Ireland semi-final.

An All-Ireland football win for Wexford would do wonders for the game in the county but they’ll have to be at their best because this is a very good Leeside team which includes several players with U-21 and senior inter-county experience.