Every inter-county panel goes through periods where injuries test the panel depth, but Keith Rossiter's missing list for Wexford makes for some reading.
Sunday’s victory over Waterford maintained their unbeaten run in the Allianz Hurling league and guarantees the Yellowbellies 1A status for next year.
Rossiter’s side began sluggishly at Walsh Park but a purple patch in 15-minute spell before the hour mark where they outscored the Déise by 1-07 to 0-01 was crucial to victory.
In his first year in charge, Rossiter has managed to build performances with a serious injury list to contend with
With six weeks to go until championship, Conor McDonald, Lee Chin, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt, Jack O’Connor, Rory O’Connor, Liam Óg McGovern, Dee O’Keeffe, Conal Flood and Oisin Foley are among those sidelined.
Rossiter's hand has been forced, but those called in have more than ably stepped into the breach. Some are likely to make way for the Leinster round-robin opener with Dublin on 21 April, but perhaps not as many as previously thought.
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Conor Foley, Corey Byrne Dunbar, and Cian Byrne were all part of Rossiter’s U20 team that fell to Offaly in last season’s Leinster final and have caught the eye in the early stages of the season.
Full league debuts have been given out to Eoin Ryan, Cian Molloy, James Byrne, Tomás Kinsella and Richie Lawlor, while Niall Murphy has been an ever-present at corner-back.
Prior to the spring campaign, Séamus Casey, who picked off three points from play as well as continuing on free duties against Waterford, was without as outfield start for the Model County in five years.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, Ursula Jacob says the new crop of players coming through is having a huge impact on both the panel and expectations surrounding the team.
"Keith and the management team are rewarding the guys that are taking their opportunities now," she said. "That’s what I really like about it.
"He’s giving them the chance and exposing them to this level of hurling. The transition to playing senior from U-20 is not easy. It doesn’t automatically just happen, it’s a huge set-up. The more games they get at this level, the better for them.
"It’s a positive headache for Keith. I would have said in the last few years that maybe we didn’t have the same options on the bench as other teams.
"There is loads of experience in that group (injured) of players. Will all of them get back into the starting fifteen?
"At this present moment in time, they wouldn’t."
Jacob has been particularly impressed by the form of forward Cian Byrne, who picked off five points from play against the Deise and has put his hand up for championship selection.
"Look at the fearless performance from him at corner-forward," she said of the Fethard St Mogues man.
"I’ve watched him the last couple of years with the Under-20s and he’s playing with maturity beyond his years. For such a young guy, he’s taking responsibility and ownership. He’s not afraid to win dirty ball.
"He got five super points from play, set up a few scores and won a few frees."
Darragh Egan’s final season in charge of Wexford was a huge disappointment, winning just one league match and escaping relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup by the skin of their teeth.
The shock defeat to Westmeath in the Leinster Championship was a low point as they finished fourth in the group stages, but Jacob feels that there the early season promise under the new man in charge has supporters looking ahead with expectation rather than simply hope.
"They are a joy to watch at the moment. Confidence is growing and momentum is growing."
Watch Galway v Dublin in the Allianz Football League on Saturday from 2.45pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
