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Wexford Hurling Thread

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Just as a thought experiment but I came up with a XV from lads who (I think) are a part of the panel but didn't start on Saturday

Derry Mahon
Shane Reck
Philip Dempsey
Simon Donohoe
Damien Reck
Cian Molloy
Eoin Whelan
David Codd
Cillian Byrne
Jack O'Connor
Corey Byrne-Dunbar
Lee Chin
Darren Codd
Jack Redmond
Seán Rowley

That's probably at least as strong a side as the one we had starting on Saturday"
Its probably stronger tbh. O'Leary is on the panel too. Not sure if hed start ahead of the lads you named there though.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18143 - 26/01/2026 16:57:10    2653400

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Replying To Viking66:  "They scored 20 from play against Limerick, and 21 against Clare. By your own figures there.
Averaging 1-14, 17 points, is not enough. 1-18, 21 points, is barely enough, considering our freetaking which you highlighted there."
Averaging 1-18 from play should be more than enough in Leinster anyway

Like even last year, the problem wasn't scoring 4-19 against Dublin, it was conceding 3-26; you'll win a lot of games scoring 4-19 but you'll hardly win any giving up 3-26

2-16 against Galway wasn't a great score but conceding 1-29 was terrible

If you go back and look at our record under Davy, it wasn't as if we were scoring that much more than what we have been scoring since 2022. The big difference is that we are conceding a lot more

We have had a soft spine to our defence for a while now and I think a sweeper should help, we'd probably score the same amount with a sweeper too

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 820 - 26/01/2026 17:01:28    2653402

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Replying To Viking66:  "Clare and Cork conceded 34 points against eachother in the 2024 AI final."
Well, it was 3-21 to 1-27 after normal time so very high-scoring but not quite 34 points

That was also one of the highest scores in an All-Ireland Final so I'm not too sure it's the benchmark we should base scoring off, I said that 1-24/1-25 would win you most games, don't think I said that it would win you all games

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 820 - 26/01/2026 17:04:49    2653404

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Just as a thought experiment but I came up with a XV from lads who (I think) are a part of the panel but didn't start on Saturday

Derry Mahon
Shane Reck
Philip Dempsey
Simon Donohoe
Damien Reck
Cian Molloy
Eoin Whelan
David Codd
Cillian Byrne
Jack O'Connor
Corey Byrne-Dunbar
Lee Chin
Darren Codd
Jack Redmond
Seán Rowley

That's probably at least as strong a side as the one we had starting on Saturday"
Decent team that would go close to beating Saturdays team. As other posters have pointed out we really need forwards to step up . I'm hoping Jack Redmond and Simon Roche become consistent high scorers and hopefully the likes of Tucker and Cian Byrne too. To be fair to Cian he has done well in championship this time of year has never suited him.
We young lads need to step up this year when given the opportunity make the jersey their own and make themselves a certain starter for championship. At the moment I think we probably only have 5 or 6 lads who would be seen as certain starters so there's plenty of opportunities there for lads

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 842 - 26/01/2026 17:16:55    2653407

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Replying To Viking66:  "I think consistency is a huge problem with some of the established lads you mention there. Jacko could score 4, or more usually only scores none or one.
Don't think CBD has score a point at all in League or Championship for us yet has he? Didn't last year as far as I remember anyway. Wasnt prolific for his club either.
Kevin Foley wouldn't be prolific at intercounty either, although I do think he is one of our best players in other ways.
Put up Cian Byrnes stas in an earlier post, he's averaging 3.5 points from play per game in Championship.
Simon Roche is only young, he's strong and works hard, and is a good hurler, and has played well this year. But he's had more wides than scores in the Walsh Cup and Challenge games so far this year. Saturday night was a poor night for shooting, but again he had more wides than points, he had 1 point from play from 4 shots at the posts. Is forward his best position? Or is he being played there at club and now county level out necessity?
Asking Conor Hearne and Damien Reck to score more than 2 from play every game from sitting midfielder and centreback is expecting too much of them.
Jack Redmond was the top point scorer from play in the club championship last year, and 2nd highest scorer from play overall. Scored 1 point from 2 shots off the bench Saturday I think, and the other was a goal bound shot cleared off the line by Ruairi McCormick, whose father was sitting next to me in the stand.
Darren Codd scored 1 from 1 also.
James Byrne and Tucker are probably more natural forwards also. Both got points Saturday, neither seemed to hit many wides as far as I remember.
There seems to be an element of square pegs in round holes going on."
Jacko scores heavily enough consistently at club level, think his big issue is that he usually plays at 11 for the Martin's but on the wing for us, tries too many bad shots from out wide when on the wing, has a much better record when shooting centrally IMO

CBD definitely has the ability to score at this level, had a good enough record at U20 level, probably doesn't score a lot because he seems to prefer playmaking

Kevin Foley a bit similar in that he's a playmaker but he probably did average in or around two points from play last year

Simon Roche was scoring heavily for Oulart last year, the wides tally wouldn't worry me yet given the conditions and his age

Conor Hearne got 0-08 from play last year so he wasn't too far off two points from play per game

Maybe asking Damien Reck to contribute from play is asking too much but our defence scored very little last year; only scored 2-06 from play against Galway but I think 1-05 of that was from the starting forwards and the other goal came from Cian Byrne as a sub, we need them to help out a little bit more in attack

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 820 - 26/01/2026 17:36:11    2653413

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Well, it was 3-21 to 1-27 after normal time so very high-scoring but not quite 34 points

That was also one of the highest scores in an All-Ireland Final so I'm not too sure it's the benchmark we should base scoring off, I said that 1-24/1-25 would win you most games, don't think I said that it would win you all games"
Sorry bad memory, was a great game to be at! Really should watch it back again.
Since we reached the AISF in 2019 every team that has won the AI final has scored at least 30 points. 1-24/1-25 wouldn't have won any of them.
Kilkenny have exceeded 30 points in the last 3 Leinster finals also.
Again, 1-24/1-25 would not have beaten Kilkenny any of the last 3 Leinster finals.
Maybe more importantly if we had of only scored 30 points against Kilkenny in the game in the Park in 2023 we wouldve been playing Joe Mac in 2024.

Its where the game is going. We need to get with the times.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18143 - 26/01/2026 18:14:42    2653420

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Averaging 1-18 from play should be more than enough in Leinster anyway

Like even last year, the problem wasn't scoring 4-19 against Dublin, it was conceding 3-26; you'll win a lot of games scoring 4-19 but you'll hardly win any giving up 3-26

2-16 against Galway wasn't a great score but conceding 1-29 was terrible

If you go back and look at our record under Davy, it wasn't as if we were scoring that much more than what we have been scoring since 2022. The big difference is that we are conceding a lot more

We have had a soft spine to our defence for a while now and I think a sweeper should help, we'd probably score the same amount with a sweeper too"
The game has moved on alot since Davy took us over. Its ten years ago this year he was appointed.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18143 - 26/01/2026 18:22:05    2653421

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I am very worried about this year. Galway seem to be finding a new group of young lads, Dublin are flying it everyone back and looking a good bet for a leinster final win. There just so much doom and gloom around at the minute. We are all wondering where our next stars are going to come from,along with that we are losing Ryan(29/30 years old), Mac the same age and Rory going travelling 27/28 years old, along with our best player Chin is now 33. Are we starting into the abyess? I hope not but it not looking good lads. You can't fault any of the young lads on the panel because they are putting in a great effort.but some of the forward and lads on the panel last weekend would struggle to make the Martins team. We just need a steady year and some success underage from somewhere and find 2 or 3 new players and then maybe next year we have Rory and a few back. We really are at a crossroads genuinely and it looks like going only one way at the minute.

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1162 - 26/01/2026 18:41:13    2653424

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Jacko scores heavily enough consistently at club level, think his big issue is that he usually plays at 11 for the Martin's but on the wing for us, tries too many bad shots from out wide when on the wing, has a much better record when shooting centrally IMO

CBD definitely has the ability to score at this level, had a good enough record at U20 level, probably doesn't score a lot because he seems to prefer playmaking

Kevin Foley a bit similar in that he's a playmaker but he probably did average in or around two points from play last year

Simon Roche was scoring heavily for Oulart last year, the wides tally wouldn't worry me yet given the conditions and his age

Conor Hearne got 0-08 from play last year so he wasn't too far off two points from play per game

Maybe asking Damien Reck to contribute from play is asking too much but our defence scored very little last year; only scored 2-06 from play against Galway but I think 1-05 of that was from the starting forwards and the other goal came from Cian Byrne as a sub, we need them to help out a little bit more in attack"
Still to this day don't know why Cian Byrne didnt start that game in Salthill.
Jacko scored 3 from play at wing forward against Rathnure, 3 from play against na Fianna from wing forward, nothing from play from centreforward against Naas, 6 from play against Ballyhale from wing forward, 1 from play from centre forward against Ballygunner, though in fairness he got married the weekend before. Just think he scores better from wing forward! Overall he averaged near enough 3 from play in lower scoring games on worse pitches against some of the best club sides in the country in the 5 biggest club games for a Wexford club last year. I really hope he can carry that forward into the intercounty side when he comes back.
Simon scored 1-4 from play in the county u21 final in fairness, and scored well for Oularts Senior side, especially goals, so maybe given time can become more prolific at Senior.
CBD scored most of his scores from frees last year for Ferns according to statsDan.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18143 - 26/01/2026 18:43:45    2653425

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Replying To hunting:  "I am very worried about this year. Galway seem to be finding a new group of young lads, Dublin are flying it everyone back and looking a good bet for a leinster final win. There just so much doom and gloom around at the minute. We are all wondering where our next stars are going to come from,along with that we are losing Ryan(29/30 years old), Mac the same age and Rory going travelling 27/28 years old, along with our best player Chin is now 33. Are we starting into the abyess? I hope not but it not looking good lads. You can't fault any of the young lads on the panel because they are putting in a great effort.but some of the forward and lads on the panel last weekend would struggle to make the Martins team. We just need a steady year and some success underage from somewhere and find 2 or 3 new players and then maybe next year we have Rory and a few back. We really are at a crossroads genuinely and it looks like going only one way at the minute."
I don't see it like that to be honest.

Yes we've lost some great players in the last few years but ask yourself this.

Was mogie any better than Cian Byrne at his age?
Was matt o Hanlon better than Foley?

Granted we were very fortunate that chinner, jippo, Rory and Mac all came along around the same time and they're all special players but what makes them special?

Jippo is a great leader. What's stopping Clarke, Whelan etc. Becoming that?

Rory and Mac are oozing talent. So are Cian Byrne and Simon Roche. You could argue they're more prolific than Rory was at that age. There's only one Mac, but I'd argue the game has moved on from that type of player.

Chin is a superb athlete, but was a pretty rough hurler when he was Jack Redmond's age.

If we can get good games into these lads, develop a bit of confidence and momentum, a good plan to get the best out of them and everyone chipping in they can improve a lot.

Don't forget all the great players we've lost were hammered by Limerick in 14 and blown away by Kilkenny in 15. They didn't start to come good until 17 consistently.

Dublin are actually a good blueprint. They've possibly two players that would make the cork, tipp, Limerick or even Clare team. But they're athletic, disciplined and extremely well organized. That makes them a very very effective team. What's stopping us doing that when on paper I'd say we have more talent to work with.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4175 - 26/01/2026 21:12:15    2653445

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Replying To hunting:  "I am very worried about this year. Galway seem to be finding a new group of young lads, Dublin are flying it everyone back and looking a good bet for a leinster final win. There just so much doom and gloom around at the minute. We are all wondering where our next stars are going to come from,along with that we are losing Ryan(29/30 years old), Mac the same age and Rory going travelling 27/28 years old, along with our best player Chin is now 33. Are we starting into the abyess? I hope not but it not looking good lads. You can't fault any of the young lads on the panel because they are putting in a great effort.but some of the forward and lads on the panel last weekend would struggle to make the Martins team. We just need a steady year and some success underage from somewhere and find 2 or 3 new players and then maybe next year we have Rory and a few back. We really are at a crossroads genuinely and it looks like going only one way at the minute."
We have been at that same crossroads for a number of years. Getting progressively further away from competing for an AI. Think most supporters are realistic about this group's chances. Likes of Ryan and Mac have barely played in recent years so at some point we have to move on. Hoping for a better organised team this year with a clear plan both on and off the play. Going to learn very little playing in these horrendous conditions but they are character developing days.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 492 - 26/01/2026 23:26:12    2653465

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Hopefully this article encourages some people to go up Sunday, its a beautiful part of our country!
THE MAN BEHIND THE WIRE: Down's unique hurling charm and spirit - Offaly Live https://share.google/tqjNkN2kv9TheMvwE

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18143 - 27/01/2026 07:10:19    2653475

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Chin could be on the bench against Down on Sunday per the paper

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 820 - 27/01/2026 07:35:04    2653476

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I don't see it like that to be honest.

Yes we've lost some great players in the last few years but ask yourself this.

Was mogie any better than Cian Byrne at his age?
Was matt o Hanlon better than Foley?

Granted we were very fortunate that chinner, jippo, Rory and Mac all came along around the same time and they're all special players but what makes them special?

Jippo is a great leader. What's stopping Clarke, Whelan etc. Becoming that?

Rory and Mac are oozing talent. So are Cian Byrne and Simon Roche. You could argue they're more prolific than Rory was at that age. There's only one Mac, but I'd argue the game has moved on from that type of player.

Chin is a superb athlete, but was a pretty rough hurler when he was Jack Redmond's age.

If we can get good games into these lads, develop a bit of confidence and momentum, a good plan to get the best out of them and everyone chipping in they can improve a lot.

Don't forget all the great players we've lost were hammered by Limerick in 14 and blown away by Kilkenny in 15. They didn't start to come good until 17 consistently.

Dublin are actually a good blueprint. They've possibly two players that would make the cork, tipp, Limerick or even Clare team. But they're athletic, disciplined and extremely well organized. That makes them a very very effective team. What's stopping us doing that when on paper I'd say we have more talent to work with."
Along with getting hammered by Limerick in 2014 and Kilkenny in 2015 they lost to Dublin by 13 points in 2016 also.
I agree 100% with you that team really started coming in 2017 and obviously peaked in 2019 when most of them, Matt, Mogie, Dee, Lee etc were 27/28.
On Dublin alot of their current team are in their mid/late 20s now, so are likely at their peak physically and mentally. Most of the lads who are playing for us the last few games are 20-24, so not at their physical peak yet, and who knows how good their reading of the game and hurling might improve over the next 4 or 5 years also, given gametime and good coaching.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18143 - 27/01/2026 10:39:46    2653495

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