SHANE Keegan took some persuading to give it another season at Wexford Youths, but now the south-east side are one of the front-runners for the First Division title.
Keegan (pictured above) is bullish ahead of a clash with top-of-the-table Finn Harps, a game that could see Wexford leapfrog Ollie Horgan’s side at the summit.
Wexford haven’t won in their last two outings with a scoreless draw at Shelbourne following the previous week’s 3-1 loss against Athlone Town.
But, with just five points separating the top four in the Division, it’s very much all to play for.
“We’ve put ourselves in a great position,” said Keegan.
“It’s been a long building process for the best part of three-and-a-half years to get to this stage, so hopefully we can keep it going and get over the line.
“It’s ridiculously close and I think we will be heading into the final two games of the season with four teams still looking to possibly even win the League.”
Wexford came fourth in 2012, fifth in 2013 and were fourth again last season.
During the winter months, Keegan had a frank discussion with the senior members of his squad before deciding to give it another go.
He said”: “We collectively agreed that if we are going to do it, it will only be if we genuinely think we can go and win the League. We were not interested in aiming for third place, but to win the League.
“I think this felt like the year due to a combination of us getting better and I think we have the most continuity, in players and management terms, and we’ve developed our game-plan as well.”
Keegan’s squad contains two Donegal men in goalkeeper Seamus Houghton and midfielder Jonny Bonner (a former Harps player).
As he welcomes Harps to Ferrycarrig Park, the importance of home form is very much on the Wexford manager’s mind.
He said: “It may not quite be the title decider that both clubs hope the final game will be but it’s certainly going to have a major say in things.
“One thing that could be a huge help to us over the remainder of the season is that six of our remaining nine games are at home.”
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