MODEL IN A MUDDLE

O'Gorman worried Wexford don't have talent to get back on track

- BY PAT NOLAN

LARRY O'GORMAN says he fears the drop to the Joe McDonagh Cup for Wexford, with even Kildare posing a threat to them next year.

Wexford have flirted with demotion to the hurling’s second tier in the recent past, with only a heroic victory over Kilkenny two years ago preserving their status in the Leinster Championship following a shock defeat to Westmeath.

They have stabilised under Keith Rossiter in the last two seasons but failed to make the knockout stages this year after a spate of retirements, with Galway and Dublin moving ahead of them in the Leinster pecking order and Offaly now snapping at their heels.

O'Gorman was one of the stars of the Wexford side that won the All-Ireland in 1996, their first in 28 years, though that isolated success will be three decades old next year and it's difficult to see where the next title will come from just now.

Their best chance since 1996 arguably came in 2019, when they lost a commanding lead in the All-Ireland semifinal to 14-man Tipperary, who went on to win the title.