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Replying To Freethinker: "Great news, in my opinion. But he needs to strengthen the squad. He needs more players who will break tackles and burst through to the heart of the D. Also, some kind of coaching incentives to take on long range kicking for points." Was inside in Baltinglass yesterday evening at the Laragh Donard game and if I would say that David Miley from Laragh should be called into the county panel. Lovely striker of the ball accurately, and direct, but my god he could go and fetch a ball out of the sky. Believe he's about 23/24 so a good age profile would definitely be worth a look for Oisin and co.
footballlover (Wicklow) - Posts: 99 - 14/07/2025 08:48:49
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Replying To footballlover: "Was inside in Baltinglass yesterday evening at the Laragh Donard game and if I would say that David Miley from Laragh should be called into the county panel. Lovely striker of the ball accurately, and direct, but my god he could go and fetch a ball out of the sky. Believe he's about 23/24 so a good age profile would definitely be worth a look for Oisin and co." I have heard others say the same about David Miley. Great county players in both sides of that guys family. Many great club players just aren't prepared to commit to the training schedule. Not saying that's the case here but it's odd that he hasn't been picked.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1741 - 14/07/2025 10:17:38
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Replying To StrandedinWW: "Didn't see the AT bray game, but it's appears from
Your comments the possession game doesn't suit them. The flair has been beat out of them at county. I seen the teams on social media, they appear to be missing a few, to my knowledge. They have the forwards if they move quick. Their minors were in last two finals and very few on the team the other night. Where have they gone?
Disappointing with blesso today, rathnew have been together all year. teams that are just coming back together following county ditties are serious disadvantage. Itll be interesting to see what teams are like in next games as they have a 3 week break" Yes, I think they were missing a few for a number of different reasons. I think players that would be on the team or close to the team would be Lorcan Smith, Joe Heatly, James Cardiff, Niall Sheehan, Oisin Cullen, and Matthew Fox. I think they were out through a mixture of injuries and younger lads on family holidays.
On the minor players coming through, I think most are on the Junior A. I counted 15 players between the senior and Junior A over the weekend, with over half the junior team being this minor crop. The two minor teams would be a mixture of different age groups. I think the winning team in 2023 was a team with a few star players, and a lot of the team was still underage in 2024. The group from 2024 (now 17 or 18) were the backbone of the 2023 team but without the star forwards to get them over the line last year. Maybe more along the lines of what the club needs.
Overall, I think people would be pretty happy with the number of these lads still involved. A few of them would have gotten league time with the players away with the county. Hopefully, the younger lads can be kept interested until they are at a level to play senior football. So maybe still a little young to be on the senior team but hopefully will come through.
I guess an issue for us is the lack of players from the ages of 23 to 33; there are really very few on our current teams with that age profile. So lads that were key for the breakout season are now in their mid-30s, and the younger lads are still pretty young. Sorry, not sure anyone needed that answer, but just giving a view from up here. So who know what will happen in the next few years but good position to be in, weirdly in last year championship they won all there tight group games then the one game were looked light they were blowing someone away....... they got blown away, so time will tell.
Groundskeeper5 (Wicklow) - Posts: 41 - 14/07/2025 14:56:43
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Replying To Groundskeeper5: "Yes, I think they were missing a few for a number of different reasons. I think players that would be on the team or close to the team would be Lorcan Smith, Joe Heatly, James Cardiff, Niall Sheehan, Oisin Cullen, and Matthew Fox. I think they were out through a mixture of injuries and younger lads on family holidays.
On the minor players coming through, I think most are on the Junior A. I counted 15 players between the senior and Junior A over the weekend, with over half the junior team being this minor crop. The two minor teams would be a mixture of different age groups. I think the winning team in 2023 was a team with a few star players, and a lot of the team was still underage in 2024. The group from 2024 (now 17 or 18) were the backbone of the 2023 team but without the star forwards to get them over the line last year. Maybe more along the lines of what the club needs.
Overall, I think people would be pretty happy with the number of these lads still involved. A few of them would have gotten league time with the players away with the county. Hopefully, the younger lads can be kept interested until they are at a level to play senior football. So maybe still a little young to be on the senior team but hopefully will come through.
I guess an issue for us is the lack of players from the ages of 23 to 33; there are really very few on our current teams with that age profile. So lads that were key for the breakout season are now in their mid-30s, and the younger lads are still pretty young. Sorry, not sure anyone needed that answer, but just giving a view from up here. So who know what will happen in the next few years but good position to be in, weirdly in last year championship they won all there tight group games then the one game were looked light they were blowing someone away....... they got blown away, so time will tell." That's good to hear that the young guys are mostly still around. Looking at the age profile of the team, you are quite correct. 3 or 4 are over 32/3 and at most the older of the next contingent would be 24 ?? That's a big gap when it comes to hardened seasoned senior players which might explain last years knock out. Seeping players to other clubs could be an issue for you with the supply of talented minors coming through. I probably will be proved wrong but I fear that the lack of 24/30 yr old players just might mean that your lifting of Miley could be a year or two off yet. I would like to see a Dean Healy type player or two around your midfield. To me young Fogarty is the closest you might have to one, but the lack of scoring chances created by not being able to break tackles and even getting fouled where you would be in front of the posts, might prove an Achilles heel for you. Also, An Tochair are, in my opinion, inclined to be too slow and deliberate in the buildup which allows the opposition defence loads of time to crowd out any talented forwards which you undoubtedly have. Long quick ball in to those guys could prove fruitful. That is why I , after watching the Bray match, said, perhaps harshly, that I didn't see any Miley winners on show that night. Let's hope they prove me wrong.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1741 - 14/07/2025 17:32:22
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Replying To Freethinker: "They are still operating at local soccer level. They announced last year that they could no longer cover local GAA matches. I am only guessing but I'd say there was a copyright issue here. Somebody somewhere was losing out." They came out and said that they didn't have enough personnel to justify having a subscription. It's an awful shame as they were brilliant for commentary and adding a bit of hype to the championship. Apart from the Wicklow People, there's zero coverage of the championship now which is disappointing. I think East Coast FM are a disgrace for the complete lack of coverage they give GAA in Wicklow.
Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 603 - 15/07/2025 08:47:21
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Replying To Victorious87: "They came out and said that they didn't have enough personnel to justify having a subscription. It's an awful shame as they were brilliant for commentary and adding a bit of hype to the championship. Apart from the Wicklow People, there's zero coverage of the championship now which is disappointing. I think East Coast FM are a disgrace for the complete lack of coverage they give GAA in Wicklow." I agree totally about East Coast. It has to have the poorest GAA coverage of any broadcaster purporting to represent a county. I think that, particularly at weekends, their content is aimed mostly at the north county and south county Dublin where among their target audience there is zero interest in Wicklow Gaa matters - or any Wicklow sport, for that matter. They used to - and maybe still do as I gave up on it years ago, the presenter used send me to sleep - an hour or two on a Sunday night, which wasn't or isn't a suitable time for most fans. Bedtime for kids. The Sunday game or whatever, who wants to listen to the radio. Weekday mornings is for the whole county but weekends are for the D4 and Dart brigade.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1741 - 15/07/2025 09:36:30
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Replying To Groundskeeper5: "Yes, I think they were missing a few for a number of different reasons. I think players that would be on the team or close to the team would be Lorcan Smith, Joe Heatly, James Cardiff, Niall Sheehan, Oisin Cullen, and Matthew Fox. I think they were out through a mixture of injuries and younger lads on family holidays.
On the minor players coming through, I think most are on the Junior A. I counted 15 players between the senior and Junior A over the weekend, with over half the junior team being this minor crop. The two minor teams would be a mixture of different age groups. I think the winning team in 2023 was a team with a few star players, and a lot of the team was still underage in 2024. The group from 2024 (now 17 or 18) were the backbone of the 2023 team but without the star forwards to get them over the line last year. Maybe more along the lines of what the club needs.
Overall, I think people would be pretty happy with the number of these lads still involved. A few of them would have gotten league time with the players away with the county. Hopefully, the younger lads can be kept interested until they are at a level to play senior football. So maybe still a little young to be on the senior team but hopefully will come through.
I guess an issue for us is the lack of players from the ages of 23 to 33; there are really very few on our current teams with that age profile. So lads that were key for the breakout season are now in their mid-30s, and the younger lads are still pretty young. Sorry, not sure anyone needed that answer, but just giving a view from up here. So who know what will happen in the next few years but good position to be in, weirdly in last year championship they won all there tight group games then the one game were looked light they were blowing someone away....... they got blown away, so time will tell." Thanks Groundskeeper5, yeah some of those names were missing, I'd have knowledge of the 06/07 lads and didn't see names list and apologies didn't see jun a team. Great to have some thoughts I didn't realise about the age gap but I suppose that's when AT went downhill. So plenty of years the get more established without the current favourite pressure.
After first round of games
Senior AGB
Interned: Avondale
Junior A: Shell / coolboy
StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 52 - 15/07/2025 12:14:58
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Replying To Victorious87: "They came out and said that they didn't have enough personnel to justify having a subscription. It's an awful shame as they were brilliant for commentary and adding a bit of hype to the championship. Apart from the Wicklow People, there's zero coverage of the championship now which is disappointing. I think East Coast FM are a disgrace for the complete lack of coverage they give GAA in Wicklow." I say if they search around clubs there be some help to attend games and report back. Theres plenty of knowledge out there. Massive loss I got to know more about other teams, games and players from this podcast. Great knowledge form the presenters. I think Brendan Lawrence left the wicklow people he was part of it. Agree with radio and that Sunday night sport covers too much and has little time for gaa at the end.
The county needs a podcast like garden county bring it back. Please.
StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 52 - 15/07/2025 12:20:10
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Their podcast was great. Always held out hope of it returning but definitely doesn't sound promising now.
FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 103 - 15/07/2025 17:59:45
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I received a worrying update from my club in Valleymount yesterday. An appeal has been lodged by our neighbours (and underage club partners) Hollywood GAA where they are asking that 8-10 townlands historically part of Valleymount GAA and parish be redrawn into the Hollywood GAA catchment. These areas would represent around 70% of our club's population. If this appeal is approved in the coming weeks, it would likely mean the end of the club in Valleymount.
This case was rightly dismissed by the County Board earlier in the year, but now it's entering a new stage and the outcome is uncertain. I find it deeply unfair that loyal club members, whose families have represented Valleymount for generations could be forced to switch clubs, leaving behind teammates and communities they've grown up with.
I understand Hollywood's ambitions to return to senior level and field their own ladies' team, but surely this can be achieved without dismantling a neighbouring club? Could they not join together as a group team at senior and continue to both play their own individual club championship also?
We've already lost Lacken GAA in West Wicklow in the last few years, and many more local clubs are barely hanging on due to emigration and player drift to larger senior sides. There is potential that we are about to lose another.....
Redman84 (Wicklow) - Posts: 1 - 16/07/2025 12:38:34
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Replying To Redman84: "I received a worrying update from my club in Valleymount yesterday. An appeal has been lodged by our neighbours (and underage club partners) Hollywood GAA where they are asking that 8-10 townlands historically part of Valleymount GAA and parish be redrawn into the Hollywood GAA catchment. These areas would represent around 70% of our club's population. If this appeal is approved in the coming weeks, it would likely mean the end of the club in Valleymount.
This case was rightly dismissed by the County Board earlier in the year, but now it's entering a new stage and the outcome is uncertain. I find it deeply unfair that loyal club members, whose families have represented Valleymount for generations could be forced to switch clubs, leaving behind teammates and communities they've grown up with.
I understand Hollywood's ambitions to return to senior level and field their own ladies' team, but surely this can be achieved without dismantling a neighbouring club? Could they not join together as a group team at senior and continue to both play their own individual club championship also?
We've already lost Lacken GAA in West Wicklow in the last few years, and many more local clubs are barely hanging on due to emigration and player drift to larger senior sides. There is potential that we are about to lose another....." Absolutely disgraceful carry on from Hollywood, if they think destroying the existence of a neighbouring club is the key to them returning to senior football they're in for a rude awakening.
Those at the head of Hollywood Gaa should hang their heads in shame for even attempting to do this
Dunlavin4Miley (Wicklow) - Posts: 26 - 16/07/2025 16:32:44
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Replying To Dunlavin4Miley: "Absolutely disgraceful carry on from Hollywood, if they think destroying the existence of a neighbouring club is the key to them returning to senior football they're in for a rude awakening.
Those at the head of Hollywood Gaa should hang their heads in shame for even attempting to do this" What grade are Hollywood now?
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 160 - 16/07/2025 17:27:46
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Replying To Redman84: "I received a worrying update from my club in Valleymount yesterday. An appeal has been lodged by our neighbours (and underage club partners) Hollywood GAA where they are asking that 8-10 townlands historically part of Valleymount GAA and parish be redrawn into the Hollywood GAA catchment. These areas would represent around 70% of our club's population. If this appeal is approved in the coming weeks, it would likely mean the end of the club in Valleymount.
This case was rightly dismissed by the County Board earlier in the year, but now it's entering a new stage and the outcome is uncertain. I find it deeply unfair that loyal club members, whose families have represented Valleymount for generations could be forced to switch clubs, leaving behind teammates and communities they've grown up with.
I understand Hollywood's ambitions to return to senior level and field their own ladies' team, but surely this can be achieved without dismantling a neighbouring club? Could they not join together as a group team at senior and continue to both play their own individual club championship also?
We've already lost Lacken GAA in West Wicklow in the last few years, and many more local clubs are barely hanging on due to emigration and player drift to larger senior sides. There is potential that we are about to lose another....." Don't know much about this from this side of the hills, but it does have a bit of a pong to it. Not too sure how they might get old parish boundaries reinstated if they have been ignored for so many years.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1741 - 16/07/2025 18:37:32
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Replying To heavyheart19: "What grade are Hollywood now?" Intermediate ?
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1741 - 16/07/2025 22:53:04
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