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Wexford Club Hurling 2025

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Has he got the stick work though? Have seen this many times before, likes of Daithi Waters strong club hurlers, but when they step up to county level they are just a bit short."
You could ask that question about some lads starting on the team. He's a standout by far for me anyway.

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 315 - 13/10/2025 15:16:36    2639778

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Has he got the stick work though? Have seen this many times before, likes of Daithi Waters strong club hurlers, but when they step up to county level they are just a bit short."
Barry would be ok against the likes of Kildare etc, but his lack of inter county stickwork would be found out big time at a higher level against Tipperary, Cork etc.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 981 - 13/10/2025 15:38:22    2639784

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "From what ive seen this year Barry O Connor would be a certain starter for us. His aerial ability , movement and pace is excellent and hurling has really come on this season. We completely lack aerial ability in the forwards apart from Lee and Mac if fully fit
I was really impressed with Luke Codd yesterday think he could be worth a call up to the panel"
The reason he's a maybe is because I got told he was heading back to Oz. Not because he lacks ability.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17225 - 13/10/2025 15:47:44    2639789

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Barry would be ok against the likes of Kildare etc, but his lack of inter county stickwork would be found out big time at a higher level against Tipperary, Cork etc."
Time would tell lads but from what ive seen of him this season his hurling has came on hugely from last year and who knows what strides he could continue to make if he did decide to stay

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 721 - 13/10/2025 15:50:10    2639794

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Replying To alwaysasub:  "Having seen both teams, I actually fancy Fethard. I was impressed with them when I saw them earlier in the h year. Cloughbawn haven't been massively impressive while I think Fethard are coming good at the right time. Could be a surprise on the cards for intermediate."
Wouldn't be a total surprise. Fethard had way more players on the Senior intercounty panel the last couple of years than Cloughbawn. 2 Byrnes, 2 Whelans, Molloy, Mikie Dwyer.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17225 - 13/10/2025 15:52:52    2639795

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Barry would be ok against the likes of Kildare etc, but his lack of inter county stickwork would be found out big time at a higher level against Tipperary, Cork etc."
At the same time if he was on the Senior panel and practicing at home his stick work would be way better come July and the 1st time he might play against Cork or Tipp.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17225 - 13/10/2025 15:55:08    2639796

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Replying To Viking66:  "Wouldn't be a total surprise. Fethard had way more players on the Senior intercounty panel the last couple of years than Cloughbawn. 2 Byrnes, 2 Whelans, Molloy, Mikie Dwyer."
I would have said that Fethards wouldn't warm up Cloughbawn but as other posters said I think they are coming good at the right time. They are concentrating fully on hurling and can only get better. Cloughbawn haven't been overly impressive in their last two games. They will go into final as hot favourites i reckon which will suit Fethard.
Not sure what to say about the Alley - they are lingering too long in Intermediate now without even making a big push to get back up. Are making S/F each year but still not getting over the line. Have had multiple management teams over them at this stage.

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 247 - 13/10/2025 15:58:32    2639799

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Has he got the stick work though? Have seen this many times before, likes of Daithi Waters strong club hurlers, but when they step up to county level they are just a bit short."
I'd say he's ahead of Daithí Waters in terms of his stick work, a lot more nimble than Daithí too

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 672 - 13/10/2025 15:59:43    2639800

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "I would have said that Fethards wouldn't warm up Cloughbawn but as other posters said I think they are coming good at the right time. They are concentrating fully on hurling and can only get better. Cloughbawn haven't been overly impressive in their last two games. They will go into final as hot favourites i reckon which will suit Fethard.
Not sure what to say about the Alley - they are lingering too long in Intermediate now without even making a big push to get back up. Are making S/F each year but still not getting over the line. Have had multiple management teams over them at this stage."
Always think that if you get relegated, you better get promoted straightaway (Like Rathnure did) or else you get stuck at a lower level and almost acclimatise to it

Rathnure a very good example as I'd say relegation hurt them a lot, they used it to get younger and rebuild and probably used it as motivation too, Alley have to find a way to restore their pride, they should have one of the best hurling cultures in Wexford given their history but they're not making use of it at the moment as harsh as that is to say

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 672 - 13/10/2025 18:16:33    2639827

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Any standout performers from the lower grades?
Duffry good win over Clongeen and obv Davidstown put Monageer to the sword but was over at half time, gk seemed to have a nightmare from some clips I saw. Davidstown seem to have a balanced team of size speed and hurling, any standout players knocking around there or Duffry? Dundon hurled well for Clongeen from the bits I saw on clubber.
Rathnure seconds being in the Junior final shows how rising tide lifts all boats. They all train together and it shows from the 2 games I've seen the seconds play. Marshalstown have some nice hurlers there too but will need them all fit. Had some injuries heading into it the semi they'll hopefully clear up before the final.

Fallout2 (Wexford) - Posts: 12 - 13/10/2025 18:43:33    2639830

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Always think that if you get relegated, you better get promoted straightaway (Like Rathnure did) or else you get stuck at a lower level and almost acclimatise to it

Rathnure a very good example as I'd say relegation hurt them a lot, they used it to get younger and rebuild and probably used it as motivation too, Alley have to find a way to restore their pride, they should have one of the best hurling cultures in Wexford given their history but they're not making use of it at the moment as harsh as that is to say"
Demographics isn't helping the Alley, and probably emmigration from the parish as regards their late noughties team who got to 2 Senior finals, and age profile of their better players from the 70s and 80s, as regards the stress and time involved in them coaching underage teams these days.
Has to be remembered that those 2 finals in the late noughties were the only Senior county finals they reached since they won Leinster in 1992.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17225 - 13/10/2025 20:18:02    2639839

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On Barry O'Connor and whether his hurling is good enough to play for Wexford (An academic question really given he'll likely be in Australia next year)....

Clare won an All-Ireland with Cathal Malone as a regular starter, I think Barry O'Connor would have a roughly similar profile to him as a hurler

In theory, could win primary possesion, could win dirty ball, could turn the opposition over, would make late runs into the box and offer a goal threat from deep, constant running would help support our running game

Not a particularly good ball-striker so couldn't really offer you long-range shooting but then again, don't think Malone offered that to Clare and yet he played a big part in their success

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 672 - 13/10/2025 22:03:19    2639856

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Always think that if you get relegated, you better get promoted straightaway (Like Rathnure did) or else you get stuck at a lower level and almost acclimatise to it

Rathnure a very good example as I'd say relegation hurt them a lot, they used it to get younger and rebuild and probably used it as motivation too, Alley have to find a way to restore their pride, they should have one of the best hurling cultures in Wexford given their history but they're not making use of it at the moment as harsh as that is to say"
Sometimes the worst thing you have is too much history. The jersey can weigh very heavily.
Rathnure had a humbling experience of being relegated. They might have thought it could never happen to them. But they regrouped and brought through young players to rebound.
Buffers Alley seem to be a club living in the past. We played Buffers Alley last year and the overheard people in the stand shouting "drive the ball in" to an out numbered forward and "on the ground" in another case. This is all the game of yesteryear.
I didn't see any matches but in work said the semi finals were disappointing. St. Martins will go into the final as favourites, can Rathnure upset the odds?

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1499 - 13/10/2025 22:39:36    2639861

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So Rathnure are the talk of the town hurling wise and rightly so. In 3 adult finals and won the U12 Top Division too. But how can this happen when as a club like all other rural clubs are struggling with numbers at all levels.. Well that is the line most everyone puts out when they start to falter . A nice failsafe.
Rathnures recent recovery has nothing to do with extra numbers at any levels. Its to do with a mindset of we need to work way harder combined with top class coaching at all levels. Nothing else. Its there for all to see and they are just 1 of numerous examples of this throughout the Country if you want to dig deep enough. The numbers argument is a copout 99% of the time. Especially at adult level as you only need to bring 2/3 in to your adult setup every year. Every club can do that. The only difference is the standard of that player. So well done to Rathnure for turning their ship around, it took a titanic sized event for it to happen. The lesson in this is that for the majority of the rest of the clubs out there they still have an opportunity to follow Rathnures lead without having to suffer their pain.

Paull (Wexford) - Posts: 225 - 14/10/2025 09:20:52    2639883

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "I would have said that Fethards wouldn't warm up Cloughbawn but as other posters said I think they are coming good at the right time. They are concentrating fully on hurling and can only get better. Cloughbawn haven't been overly impressive in their last two games. They will go into final as hot favourites i reckon which will suit Fethard.
Not sure what to say about the Alley - they are lingering too long in Intermediate now without even making a big push to get back up. Are making S/F each year but still not getting over the line. Have had multiple management teams over them at this stage."
Alley beginning to turn into Bunclody.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 908 - 14/10/2025 09:38:11    2639885

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The Alley did have a strong U21 team the past two years but it really hasnt translated into any success at adult level. Shemy O'Hagen was talked about for the county team last year but wasnt involved as far as I know and he didnt make that much of a impression this year at adult level from the games I saw. Sorry just picking one player there but they dont seem to have pushed on after there recent under success.

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 537 - 14/10/2025 11:05:02    2639906

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Replying To Paull:  "So Rathnure are the talk of the town hurling wise and rightly so. In 3 adult finals and won the U12 Top Division too. But how can this happen when as a club like all other rural clubs are struggling with numbers at all levels.. Well that is the line most everyone puts out when they start to falter . A nice failsafe.
Rathnures recent recovery has nothing to do with extra numbers at any levels. Its to do with a mindset of we need to work way harder combined with top class coaching at all levels. Nothing else. Its there for all to see and they are just 1 of numerous examples of this throughout the Country if you want to dig deep enough. The numbers argument is a copout 99% of the time. Especially at adult level as you only need to bring 2/3 in to your adult setup every year. Every club can do that. The only difference is the standard of that player. So well done to Rathnure for turning their ship around, it took a titanic sized event for it to happen. The lesson in this is that for the majority of the rest of the clubs out there they still have an opportunity to follow Rathnures lead without having to suffer their pain."
Rathnure are lucky to have so many clubmen and women putting in that effort, people who have won Leinster and AI championships, getting coached to be better coaches, putting in the 3 and 4 nights week at younger age groups, as you say at every level. They are also lucky to have so many parents who played at a high level and who have put time into their children since they were 2 or 3 or 4 to get them interested, and interested in getting better.
There's alot more than just "we need to work harder" and not every club has the same top class coaching available to them. Finally all this didnt happen because of a "titanic sized event", relegation. Its been happening up there many years before they got relegated. The 5 lads around 19/22 they have starting Senior are alot of years out of Go-games at this stage.
"The lesson in this is that for the majority of the rest of the clubs out there they still have an opportunity to follow Rathnures lead without having to suffer their pain." That's nonsense for the majority of clubs in Wexford sadly. Hopefully they will get lads involved who are prepared to work hard and put the time in, but that won't neccessarily lead to them having Rathnures current success, regardless of numbers.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17225 - 14/10/2025 13:46:36    2639943

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Replying To alwaysasub:  "The Alley did have a strong U21 team the past two years but it really hasnt translated into any success at adult level. Shemy O'Hagen was talked about for the county team last year but wasnt involved as far as I know and he didnt make that much of a impression this year at adult level from the games I saw. Sorry just picking one player there but they dont seem to have pushed on after there recent under success."
O'Hagan was injured last year as regards County. And also at college with all the off field stuff that that entails ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17225 - 14/10/2025 15:08:29    2639963

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Replying To Viking66:  "Rathnure are lucky to have so many clubmen and women putting in that effort, people who have won Leinster and AI championships, getting coached to be better coaches, putting in the 3 and 4 nights week at younger age groups, as you say at every level. They are also lucky to have so many parents who played at a high level and who have put time into their children since they were 2 or 3 or 4 to get them interested, and interested in getting better.
There's alot more than just "we need to work harder" and not every club has the same top class coaching available to them. Finally all this didnt happen because of a "titanic sized event", relegation. Its been happening up there many years before they got relegated. The 5 lads around 19/22 they have starting Senior are alot of years out of Go-games at this stage.
"The lesson in this is that for the majority of the rest of the clubs out there they still have an opportunity to follow Rathnures lead without having to suffer their pain." That's nonsense for the majority of clubs in Wexford sadly. Hopefully they will get lads involved who are prepared to work hard and put the time in, but that won't neccessarily lead to them having Rathnures current success, regardless of numbers."
do their underage lads train 3 times a week like under 10s for example? That would be phenomonal if they did considering there is soccer, rugby and Gaelic etc. Fair play to em sounds like they grabbing the bull by the horns.

WEXILE_AGAIN (Wexford) - Posts: 24 - 14/10/2025 16:29:24    2639980

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