Ryan plays key role in Wexford's renaissance

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIERS:HE'S LESS than three years in the business but Jason Ryan has fast earned himself a reputation as one of the best football managers around. Still only 33, he's one of the youngest, and his reputation will soar if Wexford beat Cork in Sunday's third round All-Ireland football qualifier.

They’re not without a chance, having taken the scalp of Galway last weekend, and they’ll enjoy home advantage in Wexford Park. Cork’s position as favourites for the All-Ireland title may only have taken a slight knock after their Munster semi-final defeat to Kerry, and yet this is a game they’ll be acutely wary off, particularly given Ryan’s record against the bigger, stronger teams.

Ryan has so far orchestrated championship wins over Meath, Laois, Down, Armagh, and now Galway – and should have seen his team beat Dublin in last month’s Leinster quarter-final. But having scored 5-33 in their two qualifier games so far, against London and Galway, they clearly have the firepower to match the best of them – spurred on in no small way by Ryan’s obvious gusto for the job.

Yet when Ryan was appointed in November 2008, most people’s reaction was Jason who? Even those within Wexford. He did boast some credentials from guiding Wexford club Clongeen to their first county football title, although at the time Ryan was really only known in Waterford, as a member of their football team, his native county, and where he still lives and works.

“It’s his enthusiasm, really, I think that speaks for itself,” says Wexford chairman Ger Doyle, who was among those who approved Ryan for the job ahead of the 2008 season. “Sometimes it’s not all about having the big pedigree of an intercounty player or manager. Man-management skills are just as important as knowledge of the game. I’m not saying Jason does not have a great knowledge of the game but he’s got the other skills to go with that. We really felt he was the man. The enthusiasm, in the interview, that time, it was like he was bursting to get into the job. And it was a great choice when you look at it now. He’s also prepared to get his hands dirty, as the saying goes. He’ll ask the players to go the extra mile, and he’ll go with them . . . That’s what players respond to really.

“And he’s meticulous about everything. He was even on to us on Monday to make sure we had as many Wexford kids there on Sunday as possible. He’s not just interested in the team. He’s interested in everything to do with the team. He really does give it everything, at every level.”

In 2008, his first season in charge, Ryan took Wexford to a first provincial football final in 52 years, and while they were given a hammering by Dublin, they came through the back door to reach the All-Ireland semi-final – where they lost to Tyrone (ultimately going further than Dublin).

Almost inevitably, 2009 proved a tough year, and after losing to Kildare in Leinster, Wexford exited the championship against most predictions when losing their qualifier to Roscommon, after a replay. “Jason was never going to walk away after that,” says Doyle. “Not after the brilliant year we had in 2008. Sure, 2009 went a little pear-shaped, but he was always going to have another go at it. We were certainly happy to see him go on, as was he.”

Truth is Wexford’s season could have gone either way after they failed to put Dublin away in the Leinster championship, despite enjoying an eight-point lead going into the second half. Drawing London in the first round of the qualifiers was just the tonic they needed, and after racking up 4-22 in Ruislip, they were bound to give Galway a good run in Pearse Stadium last Saturday.

“Conditions were tough,” says Doyle, “and a lot of people were saying afterwards we didn’t really win it, but Galway lost it . . . if Galway should have won it then they should have been further ahead, because in a situation like that a late score such as a penalty can change it. You get those breaks some days. Cork is probably the toughest draw this weekend. But we believe the players are capable of going that extra step.”