Barry keeps dual role going

Wexford football manager Paul Bealin received a boost to his pre-season preparations as dual player Redmond Barry has committed to play under the new regime. Although Barry intimated recently he would focus on just one code in 2006, it now appears hurling will not be dispensed with either.

Barry, also a notable schools rugby player with Roscrea, switched between the county's football and hurling intercounty panels this year after an agreement between respective managers Pat Roe and Séamus Murphy. Bealin is of a like mind.

"Redmond is definitely going to play football this year but whether he plays hurling or not is up to him. I think the hurling guys had been on to him to play and that's fine with me. I was talking to him at training last night (Wednesday) and he said football would come first. Naturally this is a huge boost as he is the kind of player you want on board.

"He was the first player I rang when I was ratified in the position eight weeks ago as, after hearing all the talk, I was afraid I might miss the boat. He said he needed time to think, which was fine with me, but he has since made up his mind."

Selector Pádraig O'Gorman and trainer Paul Carty, assisted by Jimmy Barrett, join the former Dublin midfielder on his first intercounty management team. Another Wexford native will be ratified as selector in the coming weeks.

"We started back on Saturday after the lads returned from a holiday (in Cyprus) and we'll have another session on Friday before a trial match this weekend. I have inherited the panel that was already here, while Rory Stafford and Leigh O'Brien are back involved."

Barry had an eventful year with the county in both codes, reaching the National Football League final and coming on as a replacement in the Leinster hurling final defeat to Kilkenny. After recovering from a broken jaw - sustained playing football for club St Anne's - he rejoined the UCD hurling panel en route to the provincial club final.

In the modern game, playing both codes has proved a considerable drain and, as Barry learned last year, it is only a matter of time before the clogged championship fixture list forces a choice.

In July, the Wexford County Board, on Barry's behalf, sought round two of the football qualifiers to be rescheduled, as they fell 24 hours before the Leinster hurling final. On that occasion, the GAC granted the request.