Larry O'Gorman thrilled with Wexford's Rossiter appointment
Former Wexford hurler, Larry O'Gorman, pictured at the launch of the Leinster GAA Beko Club Champion initiative.
By John Harrington
Wexford hurling legend, Larry O’Gorman, believes the county board have made a great choice by appointing Keith Rossiter as the new Wexford senior hurling manager.
Rossiter managed the County U-20s for the past two years and previously served as a selector with Davy Fitzgerald between 2017 and 2021.
He succeeds Darragh Egan, and is the county’s first native manager since Liam Dunne stepped down from the role in 2016.
“We've been asking for it for the last number of years,” says O’Gorman of the decision to hand the management reigns to a native of the county.
“It's no disrespect to who's been there in the past, but I think the people of Wexford also wanted that choice. Was there anyone there in the past number of years who were good enough to step up to the plate? Maybe not, really, to be honest. I don't know whether anyone had the qualities that especially Davy would have had.
“Liam Dunne was the last Oulart man in charge and now another Oulart man steps in. It's going to be interesting, a lot of people are very positive about it which is great. Keith himself is a great hurling man, a great club-man for Oulart, he knows all about winning and he's been involved for two years with the U-20s.
“It is a big step-up, it is a big ask. There's no question about it. From a neutral point of view within the county, we're delighted that we have our own flesh and blood in. That's what people wanted to see.
“You've (Damien) Fitzhenry in the backroom team as well, and David Franks who we all know is a top-quality coach, and Frank Flannery is in there as well. So it's positive down in Wexford.
“On the other side of it is, do we have the quality of players to keep going for another two or three year programme or whatever it is? You'd have to come up with new ideas and new plans and introduce some young blood into the team as well.
“I'd say the first year will be tough. I think after that he'll find his feet if they all pull together. We're all aware that Keith would have played with some of the older lads, Liam Ryan and all these lads.
“He would have been very friendly with them when he was playing, so now he has to step up to them, open up his chest-bone, and say, 'Look, I'm the boss here now, lads. Just do what I ask and we'll get on well together'.”
Wexford looked in danger of relegation to the Joe McDoangh Cup last year when they were beaten by Westmeath in the penultimate round of the Leinster SHC.
But they displayed their Jekyll and Hyde nature by subsequently beating Kilkenny in the final round of the provincial campaign to secure their place in next year’s Leinster Championship.
Newly appointed Wexford senior hurling manager, Keith Rossiter.
O’Gorman believes that “consistency has to be number one” for Wexford under Rossiter, and you can understand why.
“I’m not quite sure what’s missing, whether it’s attitude or preparation,” says O’Gorman. “It’s all about getting your whole programme right from the start. You target whatever teams you are going to target, I don’t think beating a team by 30 points is any good to you either, it’s about getting consistently good performances all the way up because when it comes to the closer end of the championship, that’s when you are either in or out.
“It looked like we were trying to save ourselves for one or two of those big games.
“But in terms of under Keith, I’d expect the team to be very consistent, he will put a lot of effort into them, they’ll have to earn their place, it doesn’t matter who was there before they will have to show me that they are good enough to win the jersey. Sometimes fellas are nearly bigger than the team, they are nearly sure of their place on the team, you’ll have to earn your place now.
“Kilkenny proved that, if you are hurling well you are on, if not then somebody else will step in. Keith will have to bring that and he’ll have to drive it into players as well.
“Just because you are a Lee Chin or Liam Og McGovern or Liam Ryan, you have to prove to me you are in good form and you are willing to be a team player as well, which is most important.
“It looks good at the moment, everyone is happy with what's after happening. But, as I said, there will be question-marks floating around in terms of have we got the quality? Can we got a couple of steps further than we did last year?
“Can we improve and be constantly in top form in all games, that we're not just going into a game, lose, then produce a good performance, and then drop off again.”
