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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To Albundy19:  "Car Draw"
A car draw ?? 30/40yrs ago that would be a major venture but in 2025 ??? Hardly ground shaking. But then, for our aging officials it might still be. Reliving their youth.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 02/08/2025 14:07:49    2629788

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Anyone go watch Tinahely v Rathnew game last night? Can Rathnew win a senior championship?

kodak13 (Wicklow) - Posts: 98 - 02/08/2025 18:00:23    2629805

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Replying To kodak13:  "Anyone go watch Tinahely v Rathnew game last night? Can Rathnew win a senior championship?"
I made it. Although Rathnew felt cheated at the end with the final whistle, I thought Tinahely could have and were good enough to win. Young Heffernan had a good game. I don't think the village are there yet. They have a few tall midfielders who can field the ball. Those Doyle's are always dangerous.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 02/08/2025 21:48:12    2629840

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Really disappointed with Arklow yesterday. We look like we will never win it now. Terrible game and so was Friday Rathnew. Blessington best team in group from what i see. Roundwood and Baltinglass was also a poor game

heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 164 - 03/08/2025 11:51:52    2629883

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Replying To heavyheart19:  "Really disappointed with Arklow yesterday. We look like we will never win it now. Terrible game and so was Friday Rathnew. Blessington best team in group from what i see. Roundwood and Baltinglass was also a poor game"
I was also at those games yesterday. Arklow looked on top in the first half but Blessington took control in the second. Anto McLoughlun was instrumental here, seemed to pull all the strings. . I thought the standard of the second game was better overall and Balto deserved their win on the day. This is another that got away on the Roundwood lads. They will have to learn how to close out a tight game when on too. As against Bray, they get boxed in in the final minutes and cough up possession a bit too easily. That was a great 2 pointer to win it from Mark Jackson - after a stewards enquiry. One of Tochairs backs stepped over the line when Oisin Cullen pointed a brilliant 2 pointer so a 3 point victory with about 90seconds of extra time to play became a 1pt loss.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 03/08/2025 12:34:53    2629886

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Replying To heavyheart19:  "Really disappointed with Arklow yesterday. We look like we will never win it now. Terrible game and so was Friday Rathnew. Blessington best team in group from what i see. Roundwood and Baltinglass was also a poor game"
There is a lot of europhia about Oisin remaining on for another two years. It is important to have a good management team for our senior footballers as we want our intercounty team to represent our county in a positive light. It seems there a strong chance the football review committe may increase the value for a goal from 3 to 4 points in advamce of next year's competitions. Watching the All-Ireland football final last Sunday, it is obvious the importance of scoring forwards particularly from outside the arc. There seems to be a lack of scoring forwards within our own county - it is imperative that clubs develop scoring fowards otherwise Oisin and his team will struggle to get us further up the football pyramid. I think a lack of scoring forwards is hindering Rathnew and Baltinglass who will find it hard to win a championship. Tinahely won last year's final due to Mathhew Ging's performance alongside Eoin Darcy. On paper An Tochar have decent forwards but unlike the top two clubs on the county's roll of honour they don't have the winning mentality.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2128 - 03/08/2025 12:50:25    2629888

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "There is a lot of europhia about Oisin remaining on for another two years. It is important to have a good management team for our senior footballers as we want our intercounty team to represent our county in a positive light. It seems there a strong chance the football review committe may increase the value for a goal from 3 to 4 points in advamce of next year's competitions. Watching the All-Ireland football final last Sunday, it is obvious the importance of scoring forwards particularly from outside the arc. There seems to be a lack of scoring forwards within our own county - it is imperative that clubs develop scoring fowards otherwise Oisin and his team will struggle to get us further up the football pyramid. I think a lack of scoring forwards is hindering Rathnew and Baltinglass who will find it hard to win a championship. Tinahely won last year's final due to Mathhew Ging's performance alongside Eoin Darcy. On paper An Tochar have decent forwards but unlike the top two clubs on the county's roll of honour they don't have the winning mentality."
Without going over team sheets, I'd say over half the county team was on display in the two games yesterday afternoon/ evening in Aughrim sun in truth, it was a struggle to pick out the county players. The ex county players on the Blesso and Balto teams were notable, but the current ones ??

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 03/08/2025 13:15:37    2629894

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Without going over team sheets, I'd say over half the county team was on display in the two games yesterday afternoon/ evening in Aughrim sun in truth, it was a struggle to pick out the county players. The ex county players on the Blesso and Balto teams were notable, but the current ones ??"
Plus if you add in the fact some players won't commit to intercounty due to the demands; it is a small pool to choose from for the county manager. If committed I'd imagine Matthew Ging is in the top six forwards in the senior championsip. But where is the next Leighton Glynn in Rathnew or Kevin O'Brien in Baltinglass? Ok, i know producing players of this calibre is not easy even traditionally strong counties are finding it difficult to produce quality forwards In the years to come there'll be a premium on scoring forwards and tight marking defenders. Clubs need to consider changing the type of player they're producing with more emphasis back on basic skills in attack and defence.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2128 - 03/08/2025 13:58:44    2629904

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I thought the games this weekend have been enjoyable and exciting. Rathnew have been the in form team thus far. Whether they will go one step further remains to be seem. AGB were disappointing in the end. An excellent first half and then they just wilted in the 2nd half. Anto Mc Loughlin inspired Blessington to a deserved win. An Tochar will indeed be kicking themselves. They now need to beat Carnew .

roseyinthegarden (Wicklow) - Posts: 138 - 03/08/2025 14:02:14    2629905

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Just wondering who chooses the venues for the championship matches. Looking at Newtown v Coolkenna - in Baltinglass. ??? One senior first round had Roundwood and Bray in Aughrim ?? Really. These are just 2 that I have noticed. Anyone else spot similar travels for teams. Not much regard for this carbon footprintology - if there is such a thing.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 03/08/2025 19:57:20    2629948

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Just wondering who chooses the venues for the championship matches. Looking at Newtown v Coolkenna - in Baltinglass. ??? One senior first round had Roundwood and Bray in Aughrim ?? Really. These are just 2 that I have noticed. Anyone else spot similar travels for teams. Not much regard for this carbon footprintology - if there is such a thing."
It is madness dragging players and supporters around the county. I know next weekend The Tinahely vs Blessington match is fixed for Arklow. That is absolutely madness, surely Baltinglass was the preferred venue there.

kodak13 (Wicklow) - Posts: 98 - 03/08/2025 22:23:23    2629969

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Replying To roseyinthegarden:  "I thought the games this weekend have been enjoyable and exciting. Rathnew have been the in form team thus far. Whether they will go one step further remains to be seem. AGB were disappointing in the end. An excellent first half and then they just wilted in the 2nd half. Anto Mc Loughlin inspired Blessington to a deserved win. An Tochar will indeed be kicking themselves. They now need to beat Carnew ."
Pats must be stepping up close to favourites tag at the minute

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 04/08/2025 09:31:40    2629992

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Replying To heavyheart19:  "An Tochar by 5
Tinahely by 8
AGB by 4
Carnew draw
Eire Og by 2
Pats by 1"
My predictions were appalling.

heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 164 - 04/08/2025 12:20:15    2630015

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Replying To heavyheart19:  "My predictions were appalling."
I was only marginally better. Have to give next weekends games a bit more thought now. A few crucial ones coming up.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 04/08/2025 14:05:03    2630026

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Replying To heavyheart19:  "My predictions were appalling."
It's only a bit of fun. Just shows there is very little between any of the teams in this years senior championship.

roseyinthegarden (Wicklow) - Posts: 138 - 04/08/2025 15:01:55    2630030

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Replying To roseyinthegarden:  "It's only a bit of fun. Just shows there is very little between any of the teams in this years senior championship."
Pity more wouldn't take part in it

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 04/08/2025 18:13:50    2630044

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One thing that struck me on Saturday afternoon was the amount of supporters who left after the AGB / Blesso game. I went to see the second game but went in plenty of time to take in the first game. Really lovely afternoon for watching games. I like to see as many teams playing as possible when I can. At my age it isn't always easy. It's a little disappointing to see so many only interested in their own team. It's understandable probably in the case of the losing side, but you would imagine that the winners would like a look at possible opponents in a few weeks.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 04/08/2025 18:20:30    2630048

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Here goes with my picks for next weekend. Few teams with the exception of St Pats can be sure of going through so I expect some great matches the weekend as teams scrap for survival, in some cases.

Tochair v Carnew. Tochair to squeeze through against a Brosnanless Carnew.
Bray v Balto. On what I saw last week, Bray might have too much scoring power for Balto.

Rathnew v AGB. Again, based on what I saw last week, I can't see Arklow troubling the village, and that's not because the village are unbeatable. To me, Arklow just packed it in in the second half. I know they are better than that.
Blesso v Tinahely. The champs should have a right go at winning this. Possible contender for game of the weekend.

Pats v Kiltegan. This will be a good test for this "new / old" Pats team but they should remain unbeaten.
Dunlavin v Eire Og. The Greystones lads have been disappointing to date and I can't see that changing. Hard to understand what's going on with them. They seem to have become a "league" team They, like AGB are much better than they are showing.

The intermediate seems to be going to concern Avondale, Laragh and Hollywood. I would expect Avondale to finally get their act together this yearand get back where they should be. Oisin McC could take a look at Conor Byrne from the Dales. He seems to be able to kick 2 pointers pretty well, which is something that not many of the current county panel can do, and 2 pointers are proving crucial, even in our championships.

Jun A is still too difficult to call, in my opinion.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1827 - 05/08/2025 12:44:10    2630137

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Haven't been able to get too many senior games yet but what's noticeable in the results is the same familiar patterns and historical personas of teams coming through.

Rathnew/Balto - as always , hard to beat, and will be their or thereabouts come Sept/Oct

AGB/Eire Og/Bray - Living up to the old "town teams' tag, great one day, terrible the next , you'd never want to be depending on them in your accumulator

Tinahely - flaky start sort of like last year , can they get it together again and make a run at defending Miley?

An Tochar - the question marks about whether they can get it over the line when push comes to shove haven't gone away

Carnew/Dunlavin/Kiltegan - Consistent, they'll give it everything they have every day they go out and if you are not at it they have plenty enough of football in them to turn you over


The only surprise seems to be the performances of St Pats . Written off as probably looking at an extended transition period, Not many would have predicted them to be 2 from 2.

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 165 - 05/08/2025 15:00:36    2630172

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Replying To Freethinker:  "One thing that struck me on Saturday afternoon was the amount of supporters who left after the AGB / Blesso game. I went to see the second game but went in plenty of time to take in the first game. Really lovely afternoon for watching games. I like to see as many teams playing as possible when I can. At my age it isn't always easy. It's a little disappointing to see so many only interested in their own team. It's understandable probably in the case of the losing side, but you would imagine that the winners would like a look at possible opponents in a few weeks."
I asked someone in the know a few years ago why so many games were fixed in Aughrim for teams that it didnt make geographical sense, i was told its where teams want to play and when games are fixed elsewhere the fixtures guys get calls complaining. I get why players want to play in Aughrim but particularly with last years format with so many games i felt they could be moved around more.

On people leaving after games, i feel the gap can be too long. I get there issues with cars coming and going and teams need time to warm up. But i remember last year at a game and looking at my watch and it was an hour before the next game was due to start, I was home having at my kitchen table having a cupa and the other game had not started and i cant say i regretted it. Most senior teams are 30 mins+ away from Aughrim. In the past i feel the gap were shorter and made it easier to get in both.

Groundskeeper5 (Wicklow) - Posts: 42 - 06/08/2025 10:01:42    2630237

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