Conor McDonald can be hoping to mark a big private milestone on a excessive word in UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Saturday at 6 p.m.
exford’s gifted attacker is poised for his a centesimal look within the county Senior jersey, practically 9 years after making his debut as an adolescent.
And the Naomh Éanna clubman and his colleagues might want to produce one thing particular on this landmark event because it’s a must-win recreation for the staff.
McDonald has been named at full-forward, with Wexford within the last-chance saloon and trying to bounce again from a poor efficiency in Mullingar final Saturday that led to a 0-21 to 2-15 draw with Westmeath.
There is only one change in personnel, with vice-captain Kevin Foley returning to the beginning 15 as a substitute of Paul Morris.
Nevertheless, additional alterations can’t be dominated out earlier than throw-in, as a result of the health of Liam Ryan (shoulder) and Lee Chin (useless leg) will proceed to be intently monitored.
The total staff is: Mark Fanning; Simon Donohoe, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt; Matthew O’Hanlon, Damien Reck, Pádraig Foley; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Lee Chin (capt.); Jack O’Connor, Kevin Foley, Liam Óg McGovern; Oisín Foley, Conor McDonald, Rory O’Connor. Subs. – James Lawlor, Ross Banville, David Clarke, Cathal Dunbar, Mikie Dwyer, Connal Flood, Conor Hearne, Charlie McGuckin, Paul Morris, Niall Murphy, Oisín Pepper.
Conor McDonald’s Senior debut arrived on July 13, 2013 when he changed Podge Doran within the 69th minute of Wexford’s extra-time loss to Clare by 3-24 to 1-20 within the All-Eire championship part three qualifier in Thurles. It was simply three days after he had helped the county to the Leinster Beneath-21 championship crown towards Kilkenny, the primary in a three-in-a-row, scoring two factors in a 1-21 to 0-21 success after extra-time in a thronged Wexford Park.
He scored his first Senior level for Wexford in that loss to Clare, and he has amassed a staggering 31-254 in his 99 matches to this point. That debut for the Seniors arrived 20 days after McDonald performed at full-forward on the county Minor staff that misplaced the Leinster semi-final to Laois by 1-14 to 0-13.
His 5 factors in that defeat had been registered from 4 frees plus a ’65, however he had actually caught the eye of the Senior selectors within the earlier spherical in Nowlan Park when his haul of 3-4, together with 2-2 from play, resulted in a 3-7 to 1-10 win over Kilkenny.
McDonald’s Minor team-mates in 2013 included Simon Donohoe, Liam Ryan, Pádraig Foley, Conor Devitt and Cathal Dunbar, all of whom are prone to function towards Kilkenny.
Solely two of the Senior facet that he joined for that defeat to Clare on his debut are a part of tomorrow’s squad, particularly Mark Fanning and Paul Morris.
The total staff was: Mark Fanning; Eoin Moore, Tomás Waters, Bobby Kenny; Richie Kehoe, Keith Rossiter, Ciarán Kenny (0-1); Andrew Shore, David Redmond (0-2); Paul Morris (0-1), Eoin Quigley, Garrett Sinnott (capt., 0-1); Rory Jacob, Jack Guiney (1-9, 0-7 frees), Podge Doran (0-2). Subs. – Gary Moore (0-2) for Quigley (34), Harry Kehoe for R. Kehoe (HT), Eoin Doyle for Waters, inj. (63), P.J. Nolan for H. Kehoe (69), Conor McDonald (0-1) for Doran (69), Michael O’Regan (0-1) for Sinnott (76), Ciarán O’Shaughnessy for Rossiter (79).
Kilkenny’s staff for the newest showdown between these long-standing rivals is predicted to be named on Friday night time.
Spectators travelling to UPMC Nowlan Park ought to word {that a} curtain-raiser will happen at 3.45 p.m., with Clara from Kilkenny assembly Borris in Ossory-Kilcotton of Laois within the Leinster Membership League last.