Wexford hurling got a massive boost thanks to the exploits of St Martin’s in winning this year’s Leinster senior club hurling championship.
However, no sooner had the dust settled on a remarkable series which saw them beat among others reigning champions Na Fianna of Dublin and Kilkenny kingpins Ballyhale Shamrocks than the news emerged that club and county star Rory O’Connor is to travel abroad for much of ‘26 meaning he will be unavailable to manager Keith Rossiter.
It is now expected that O’Connor will be in Australia and unlikely to be back to assist the Model Men in their upcoming league or Leinster campaigns.
O’Connor was the talisman in the Martin’s sensational progression through both the county and Leinster championships and would have been the fulcrum of the Slaneysiders attack had he been available.
Wexford begin their 2026 action with an encounter against Laois in the Walsh Cup on Jan. 4 and if they win that game will face the winners of Dublin and Carlow in the next round.
Their initial Allianz League Division 1B game is a home runout against Davy Fitzgerald’s Antrim side on Jan. 24.
