Jason Ryan believes the higher profile enjoyed by the Wexford footballers in recent years is making the game more attractive to youngsters in the county.

The Model County's appearances in the 2008 All-Ireland semi-final and the 2008 and 2011 Leinster finals under the Waterford man has made it more attractive than ever for dual players to choose football over hurling. John Lacey, Lee Chin, Andrew Shore and Michael O'Regan are among the dual stars who are concentrating exclusively on football this year.

"I have noticed that I'm having more conversations with guys. It used to be a straight 'no,' but the conversations are longer now and it's not so emphatic. It's two codes and two identities who are trying to put out their best team and you are going to have cross-over. You just to do the best you can," he explained to the Irish Independent ahead of today's Allianz Football League Division 3 final against Longford.

"I have seen it in Waterford. Growing up there, football was a minority sport, but the success of the hurlers under Gerald McCarthy and others meant that it's gone from a minority sport to one that's fighting for survival really.

"You can put all the money you want into coaching, but if your senior team is successful in a particular code, it goes a very long way. All the kids will have their role models and that's the game they will be drawn towards."

"The great thing about football is its unpredictability. Fitness levels and physicality levels have levelled off and it's increasingly coming down to one or two moments of magic. I was at the league semi-finals and there were some exceptional performances. Conor Laverty (for Down) was superb, a little guy, but he has all the skills. Conor Mortimer (from Mayo) in the first 20 minutes was excellent. I think football is in great shape." Tweet

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