Eight of last year’s first-team regulars are named in the Wexford senior football 15 to face the Dublin Institute of Technology at Kilanerin in Sunday’s opening Group D game of the O’Byrne Cup tournament.

New manager Aidan O’Brien makes his top-level bow in this fixture, for which he and fellow selectors Leigh O’Brien and Toirleach Leacy retain the experience of Graeme Molloy, Aindreas Doyle and Brian Malone in defence, while David Murphy switches from his customary centre-back role to midfield, where he will partner Daithí Waters.

Wexford’s player-of-2012, Adrian Flynn is moved from wing-back to the left wing of attack having demonstrated his scoring prowess last season, and he is joined upfront by Shane Roche and PJ Banville, while Paddy Byrne starts at full-forward after seeing his involvement curtailed in last summer’s championship owing to injury.

Joey Wadding makes a welcome return at corner-back after an injury-plagued 2012, and he will be eager to maintain his exciting form from St. Fintan’s run to the final of the Leinster Club Junior championship last November.

Wexford host the Carlow Institute of Technology on Wednesday evening in the next round of the Cup, before travelling on Sunday week to face a Kildare side now aided by Jason Ryan.

Wexford (SF v DIT) – Brendan Redmond (Clongeen), Joey Wadding (St. Fintan’s), Graeme Molloy (St. James’), Brendan Mulligan (Sarsfields), Barry Hearne (Horeswood), Aindreas Doyle (Parnells, Dublin), Brian Malone (Shelmaliers), Daithí Waters (St. Martin’s), David Murphy (St. Mary’s-Rosslare), Conor Carty (Castletown), Shane Roche (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Adrian Flynn (Gusserane), Kevin O’Grady (St. James’), Paddy Byrne (Kilmore), PJ Banville (Horeswood).

Subs: Rory Quinlivan (Parnells, Dublin), Robert Tierney (Glynn-Barntown), Seán Culleton (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Craig Doyle (Glynn-Barntown), Killian Kehoe (Gusserane).