The Wexford hurlers have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the 2016 season with the news that Jack Guiney has abstained from the panel. It will be the second consecutive summer that Wexford will be without Guiney after he was dropped last season for a breach of discipline.
Guiney was named in the Wexford team against Limerick last weekend but was withdrawn ahead of the game. The talented full forward has now confirmed that he will not participate in the squad this season, citing personal reasons.
Guiney's dropping cut ice on The Sunday Panel last year, with Thomás Mulcahy supportive of the young hurler, saying that it was absurd "to lock fellas inside in their pyjamas and their slippers inside door" and deprive them of a "night on the town".
Ger Loughnanne was less sympathetic towards Guiney, saying the Wexford manager Liam Dunne had reason to drop Guiney, and then went about criticising the young hurler:
Liam wouldn't do this unless there was a good reason. Jack has to realise his left hand-side is still very weak, his pace isn't good enough for inter-county hurling. He needs to improve that. And his consistency within games and from game to game needs to improve as well.
Regardless of Loughnanne's pursuit of perfection, Guiney is a phenomenal hurler. He scored 4-5 in a club game for Rathnure (4-4 from play) during his exile from the Wexford squad. Guiney was also Wexford's top scorer in last year's league, scoring 2-26 in five matches.
In Guiney's absence, Wexford were hammered by Limerick in Division 1B, on a scoreline of 2-23 to 0-15. It is not about to get any easier for Wexford, next up is a clash with Clare.
Jack Guiney withdrew from Wexford panel last Thursday night. He made the call. Only 22 but now faces two summers without c'ship hurling.
— Damian Lawlor (@LawlorDamian) February 16, 2016
Guiney is a fine player & Wexford badly need him in attack. Hope he comes back but it might take some time.
— Damian Lawlor (@LawlorDamian) February 16, 2016
