Preview:After a 10-week break since their last competitive game Wexford will either come out madly excited and play some staggering football from the outset, or take a while to adjust to championship pace and only thrive later in the game.
Manager Paul Bealin has been highlighting the importance of a good start - especially as Louth are coming in off three tough matches against Wicklow. But the lay-off hasn't been all bad as it has allowed Matty Forde and Philip Wallace to regain full fitness after injury.
Wexford hand debuts to Adrian Morrissey at right-wing back, and Ciarán Lyng, brother of county hurler Diarmuid Lyng, at right-corner forward. Forde remains their main scoring threat - and a big threat at that - but the likes of Ciarán Deely and Redmond Barry are providing more able assistance.
Louth should have the scoring threat to match that, especially if they sort out the accuracy problems of the first two games against Wicklow. JP Rooney and Aaron Hoey hit their best form in the second replay, with Mark Stanfield and Paddy Keenan also flourishing later on. Shane Lennon and Darren Clarke also came in late in the game to show what they're capable of.
If one player can make the difference in the end it's Forde, who is determined to leave Croke Park on a high this time after the low of last year.
WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, B Malone; A Morrissey, D Murphy, N Murphy; R Stafford, E Bradley; C Deely, R Barry, A Flynn; C Lyng, P Colfer, M Forde.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; A Page, C Goss, J Carr; D Finnegan, P McGinnity, R Finnegan; P Keenan, R Carroll; M Farrelly, M Brennan, J O'Brien; A Hoey, M Stanfield, JP Rooney.
Louth v Wexford Croke Park Sunday, 2.20
