Paul Morris says Wexford are taking a ‘win at all costs’ approach to the league
Paul Morris says relegation being removed from the National League this year isn’t changing Wexford’s approach.
With no relegation from Division 1A this season, given the impending shake-up for the 2020 format, many commentators are suggesting that the springtime competition may resemble shadow-boxing ahead of the championship.
However, after two impressive league campaigns under Davy Fitzgerald in 2017 and 2018, the Model County aren’t buying into such narratives.
“I can only speak from a Wexford point of view, and I can’t say we’re treating the league differently this year from what we are any other year,” explained the Ferns man. “We prepared the same for the Limerick game this year as we did for games last year in Division 1A. It’ll be no different this weekend. We’ll be coming [to Cork] trying to get two points, win at all costs. You can’t say it’s taken the edge off the game.
“I think for the league this year, it’s important for Wexford to broaden our panel. Probably last year, that was one of the things that we probably were a little bit criticised for in the championship last year, that it wasn’t broad enough.
“The weekend just gone by, we had three or four newcomers come in who acquitted themselves very well.
“We have our strongest panel this year that we had under Davy. We’ve 32 lads and everyone is capable of acquitting themselves in league or championship. It’s about getting game time into these lads in the coming weeks and months and put us in good stead coming into the championship.”
“We have our strongest panel this year that we had under Davy.”
Morris feels Wexford are in a good place
The Yellowbellies are entering the third year of the Davy Fitz project, as they aim to kick on and continue to make progress. While many feel that 2019 is a make-or-break year for Fitzgerald in the southeast, Morris opined that they are moving in the right direction under the charismatic Clare-man.
“I think Davy has done a fantastic job with us since he’s come in,” he explained. “Little tweaks and changes [are needed] here and there to keep it fresh, but nothing majorly different. At the end of the day, it’s the players are the ones going out on the field, you can’t expect Davy to do it. It’s out of his hands. It’s in our control and once you bring the right attitude and application to the games, I think tactics and different things like that should happen for you.
“Davy is so passionate. He absolutely lives and breathes it. He maybe comes across as a bit mad on the sidelines, but behind the scenes, Davy is a calm guy. He’s actually very cool and collected behind the scenes. He’s just passionate. He probably thinks about hurling 24/7. He’s a great guy, he’s great for the game and he’s great for Wexford. The panel absolutely love him.”
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For Morris, Wexford’s goals for the year are clear:
“As any sportsman, whatever field it is, not just hurling, your goal is to win medals. Your goal is to win trophies. But we don’t go out and say, ‘we’re going to win the All-Ireland this year’.
“It is a process and we have to take the league for what it is, and we have to broaden our panel in the league, we’re going to have to find a consistent level of performance to put us in good stead coming into the championship.
“You can’t do any more than that. If you start thinking ahead and looking at getting up steps and lifting cups and winning medals, it’s probably not going to happen for you if you think that far down the line.”
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