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You are > Home > Camogie boss JJ unveils his new backroom team
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07 January 2010
Camogie boss JJ unveils his new backroom team
THE NEW Wexford senior camogie manager JJ Doyle has unveiled his backroom team, and the Marshalstown man is already busily preparing for the season ahead.
The 34-year-old will be assisted by selectors Joe Brennan (Naomh Éanna) and Tommy Roche (Marshalstown), together with Monaghan native Gerry McQuaid, who will oversee training, while Bridget Moran (Oulart-The Ballagh) has been retained as team medic. Fr. Odhran Furlong, who worked with the county senior hurlers in recent years, has been enlisted as Mental Fitness Coach, taking care of the psychological side of preparations.
“I was allowed to pick the backroom team myself, and I knew Tommy and Joe very well,” says JJ, who played with Naomh Éanna for a spell, during which he was heavily involved in the camogie section along with Brennan. “We had interviews for team trainer, and Gerry (McQuaid) came very highly recommended, while Bridget’s work as a medic is well regarded, and we’re pleased that she remains.
Fr. Odhran has done a lot of good work behind-the scenes with the Wexford hurlers, and I am delighted that he is part of our team now.”
Tommy Roche has a strong background in Wexford camogie, and he managed the intermediates (then known as ‘junior’) in 2004, helping them to capture Division 2 league honours.
Joe Brennan, a native of Laois, is a retired member of the Gardaí, and was stationed in Gorey, where he has contributed richly to the local Naomh Éanna club.
Gerry McQuaid now resides in the Rathgarogue area, and works as a Physical Education teacher in Waterford.
He trained the Cloughbawn senior hurlers last year, when they enjoyed a fine championship campaign following a number of difficult seasons.
McQuaid has previously helped out the senior footballers of both his beloved Monaghan as well as Dublin.
The selectors, who take over from the successful team of Stellah Sinnott and company, are presently in the getting-to-know-you stage with the players, which they continued last Saturday during a fitness assessment.
“We start training tonight (Wednesday) and from there we’ll be building towards the first game of the league,” JJ says, with reference to a home clash against Dublin on February 28th next.
The manager is keen to stress that competition-for places will be intense, explaining: “Our big goal is that everybody gets a fair chance of being on the senior team, and for that reason there should be absolutely no preconceived ideas about how this year’s team might look – it’s a completely clean slate now.
“We (the selectors) spotted a few new faces ourselves in recent years, and we’re also bringing in players from the under-16 (All-Ireland ‘B’ championship winning) and under-18 county teams to help freshen things up and improve our options.”
He pays tribute to the fine deeds of the previous management, saying: “We are looking to build on what is already in place. Wexford went very close to championship success last year, so clearly we are not starting from scratch; there is a very good base to build from, and we’re hopeful with the proper commitment and dedication that we can continue to compete strongly.”
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