Hurler Nolan moves to Ballyboden
WEXFORD inter-county hurler Stephen Nolan is on his way to join up with Dublin dual champions, Ballyboden St. Enda's.
While Nolan is set to link up with his new colleagues this week in what is a major pre-championship boost for them, his transfer is a severe blow to Wexford town club, Faythe Harriers.
Nolan has applied for an inter-county transfer from the Wexford side who are not expected to oppose the move.
Nolan, who has had spells both in defence and attack for Wexford, took this year out from inter-county hurling owing to work commitments. Now based as a teacher in Dublin, the Wexford town player is the latest to take flight to Dublin.
Players from other counties, particularly Laois, have thrown in their lot with Dublin clubs over the past number of months. Nolan will be joining up with his Wexford inter-county colleague, Malachy Travers.
Last year Castletown's Diarmuid Kinsella transferred to St. Sylvester's in Dublin, while Shane Roche also joined up with the Dublin club last year. Already former Taghmon-Camross player, Adrian Morrissey, is playing with Kilmacud Crokes with whom he has won county, provincial and All-Ireland club medals.
Nolan will be linking up with a side that will be chasing a fourth consecutive Senior hurling title this year. A U.C.D. graduate who represented the college in the Fitzgibbon Cup, he has missed lengthy spells of the past two inter-county seasons through injury, suffering from a thumb injury in 2008 and a groin problem the following year, which saw him miss out on the provincial championship.
Nolan is not part of Colm Bonnar's plans for this year and will now be concentrating solely on club hurling.
The movement of players to Dublin recently led to Leinster Secretary, Michael Delaney, speaking out on a situation which is now beginning to clearly affect rural clubs. But there is little the Provincial Council can do to prevent the transfer of inter-county players to the capital, particularly when unemployed players are placed in jobs as an incentive to move.
Nolan's decision to move will be a huge blow to Faythe Harriers, who themselves are struggling to make an impact on Senior hurling in the county. His defection could prove more crucial this year under the new championship plan, with three teams now to be relegated from Senior back to Intermediate.
- BRENDAN FURLONG
