GAA: After Limerick's well-reported heroics last week in recording a first victory over Kerry in a major competitive fixture since the 19th century, the achievements of the Wexford footballers have been more quietly received.

Yet if they can win one of the remaining fixtures against Meath or Carlow, Wexford will be promoted to Division One of the National Football League for the first time since the restructuring of the competition.

Some competitive teams at underage levels in recent years and the success of New Ross school Good Counsel have given the county new confidence.

Manager Ger Halligan was a selector three years ago when the county similarly came to the brink of promotion only to lose the chance after a controversial match against Cavan, which saw then manager JJ Barrett suspended for two years for striking referee Mick Curley.

Delighted with progress, Halligan nonetheless regrets the position in which emerging counties like his own and Limerick find themselves in concerning dual players.

"Hurling and football teams should be able to sit down and thrash things out, with players playing with the hurlers one week and the footballers the next.

"Instead, hurlers are being told that they're not to play with the footballers so it's up to them to make a choice.

"It would make a big difference to us if we could have one or two players who would like to play both, but who aren't allowed at the moment."

Without dual players like Darragh Ryan or "Doc" O'Connor, Halligan has managed well in the current campaign, and Wexford are currently top of Division Two B with five wins out of five, including a crucial victory over promotion rivals Laois.

The team has been helped by former Dublin manager Tom Carr, who trains the Dublin-based players and directs the training schedules for the whole panel. "He was appointed in November or December after we talked about the need to bring in someone with experience of the top levels of the game," says Halligan.

Remaining fixtures see Wexford entertain their other principal rivals Meath in a fortnight and travel to Carlow a week later.

Meanwhile, Peter Canavan of Tyrone yesterday received the Vodafone Player of the Month award for February. This was in recognition of his starring role as the county made a flying start to the league, with victories over Galway, Dublin and Roscommon to top Division One A.