As our senior footballers face into their opening match of this year’s League, manager John Hegarty has paid warm tributes to three players who won’t feature in the upcoming campaign, following their recent retirements from the inter-county scene: Conor Carty (Castletown), Kevin O’Grady (St. James’), and Michael Furlong (St. Abban’s Adamstown).
Hegarty described the trio as standard-bearers who helped shape the culture and competitiveness of the county side for well over a decade. All three were members of the U21 side that won the Leinster title in 2011, with Carty having already made his senior debut in 2010, O’Grady doing so during 2011, and Furlong joining them in the senior ranks in 2013.
Both Carty and O’Grady have well over 100 competitive appearances each for the county side, while a couple of unfortunate injury setbacks along the way prevented Furlong from doing the same, as he finishes on 98.
Hegarty said however that the contribution of the three players went far beyond appearances and statistics. He praised their leadership, commitment and willingness to put the team first during both good spells and more challenging periods.
“Any manager is lucky to work with players like Conor, Kevin and Michael,” he said. “They gave everything they had to the Wexford jersey. They trained hard, they played with honesty and pride, and they set standards that younger players could follow.”
Conor Carty was praised for his consistency and football intelligence, with Hegarty noting how he could always be relied upon. Whether starting games or coming off the bench, Carty’s understanding of the game and calm influence were invaluable within the panel. “Conor was a great player to work with,” Hegarty said. “He read the game brilliantly and was always willing to do whatever was asked of him for the good of the team.”
Kevin O’Grady’s impact was felt just as strongly in terms of workrate and competitiveness. Hegarty described him as a player who set the tone in training and matches alike. “Kevin drove standards every time he togged out,” he said. “He never took a shortcut and he demanded the same from those around him. That kind of mentality lifts a whole group.”
Michael Furlong, meanwhile, was praised for his resilience and loyalty to Wexford football. Despite injuries and setbacks during his career, the former team captain continued to battle back and make meaningful contributions. “Michael showed what it means to persevere,” Hegarty said. “He had some tough times, but he himself is as tough as they come, and he kept coming back and giving his all.”
Hegarty acknowledged that replacing the retiring trio will not be easy, but he believes their legacy will live on. “They leave the jersey in a better place,” he said. “On behalf of everyone involved with Wexford football, I want to thank Conor, Kevin and Michael for their service and wish them every success in the next chapter of their lives.”
