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What a weekend of football.. WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 23 - 16/09/2024 15:12:59 2570170 Link 0 |
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You may be right about Baltinglasses dependency on John McGrath and Mark Jackson but I wouldn't rule Baltinglass out of the running just based on that. They're still motoring along nicely even while not having young prospect Hugh O'Toole fully fit yet. He's only played a couple of games so far at half fitness and had a stormer in both games so when he's fully fit he's a serious contender for best full back in the county. Plus my sources tell me he'll be back doing full contact in training this week ( . This coming from a Kilcoole man now living in Carlow for those of you who'll want to call me biased.
Gardencounty4Sam (Wicklow) - Posts: 1 - 16/09/2024 15:15:48 2570172 Link 0 |
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What a weekend of football.. WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 23 - 16/09/2024 15:20:13 2570173 Link 0 |
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Are there any obvious players in the west who arent on the senior county panel - blesso balto dunlavin all contribute well?ANy other clubs (Intermediate / Junior A) who have players at that standard who are not involved?
Wicklowmen (Wicklow) - Posts: 11 - 16/09/2024 16:22:00 2570198 Link 0 |
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Balto have 2, dunlavin 2 and blesso 2/3. Baltinglass and Blesso should be contributing more to Wicklow panels - But they do have twice the travel distance to Ballinakill compared to Rathnew/AGB/Pats/Roundwood! I would say thats a reason for commitment! WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 23 - 16/09/2024 16:29:58 2570201 Link 0 |
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Dunlavin were awesome, didn't see it coming and delighted to see such an open championship. An Tochar with all their talent possibly looked to the semi final too early. Tinahely winning in hindsight makes sense, Rathnew could only carry on with a skeleton squad for so long. Agb were sloppy, poor tactically again, such a poor return from the squad they have. Management have stepped away already, maybe it will never happen. Baltinglass have history and some quality but not sure it will be enough this year. Kiltegan need Finn back on all cylinders to have a fighters chance of reclaiming the championship. Eire Og had a great season and will push on next year with more young lads to boost their group. Looking forward to the semi finals now. willielee (Wicklow) - Posts: 41 - 16/09/2024 17:36:39 2570220 Link 0 |
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I can never figure what kind of a rush of blood brought about the location for the centre of excellence. Maybe wherever it had been sited would have meant a fair bit of travel for some. Blesso, Balto, Kiltegan and Dunlavin are a fair old distance from Rathdrum. Same for say Shillelagh, Coolboy , Coolkenno, Carnew and a few even further afield. That's a fair commitment particularly in the middle of winter. I wonder how counties like Cork manage.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1265 - 16/09/2024 19:26:59 2570234 Link 0 |
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What is so special about having a centre of excellence? I never understood the principle especially given the cost of building them. I think they are a complete waste of money. The only valid reason I can think might apply in logical terms is collaboration between different development squads. I would think that there is very little collaboration in our own county but this might be unfair comment. I think with the facilities available throughout the county that any training that is done on grass could be rotated around the county. This might help with recruiting some of the players who refuse to join up with the various county teams. Driving to Aughrim from Kildare is not a pleasant experience; the roads are some of the worse I've driven on and I've driven throughout Ireland and aboard. A county like Wicklow needs as many top players playing for the county as we can get. It really is time that as a county we began thinking for ourselves instead of needlessly following what other counties have done in the hope that it will work. We need to find a way to compete and develop players beginning with examining what we are asking amateur players to do as is the case currently. I think this applies to a significant number of counties and not just our own.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 16/09/2024 19:47:01 2570236 Link 0 |
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Just seen the draws for the championships. My picks for the finals are Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1265 - 16/09/2024 21:15:22 2570252 Link 0 |
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The West teams are overlooked in Wicklow GAA that's just a fact and has been for years. West teams dominated underage for years and it was the same old story Pats, AGB, Bray, Rathnew is all that Wicklow GAA wanted to know about. Outside of Mark Jackson every position could have plenty of competition and with alot of them from teams in the west. Revamp needed at the county level and some interest shown in the teams performing at the top end of Club football, how much recognition will be shown to the remaining West teams in the intermediate and senior grades at county level? Very little.
WestWicklow14 (Wicklow) - Posts: 9 - 16/09/2024 22:03:48 2570259 Link 0 |
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What is the draw for the semi final, Freethinker? or where is the semi final pairings posted?
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 17/09/2024 09:15:06 2570292 Link 0 |
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Senior Balto v Kiltegan Dunlavin v Tinahely Intermediate Avondale v Carnew Hollywood v Annacurra Jun A Ashford v Shillelagh Kilmac v Aughrim. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1265 - 17/09/2024 10:24:41 2570310 Link 0 |
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The semifinals of the senior football championship pose some interesting thoughts. Most punters may now see Tinahely as bringing home Miley after their all round performance against Rathnew but the Village are only a shadow of their former selves and their only plan last week was to land high balls into the edge of the square with little reward. However Tinahely picked up where they left off in their second half performance against an Tochar. The question is can they continue with such performances or will old inconsistences return. Dunlavin put in a huge performance for a team that many had down for relegation at the beginning of the year. However the high ball into the full forward line will not work ginst Tinahely as Rathnew discovered. The absence of O Sullivan may be very costly to Dunlavin as their options will be limited. Tinahely to make the final with something to spare . Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 133 - 17/09/2024 10:44:29 2570315 Link 0 |
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They had them up on Facebook last night. Football Championship semi-final draws: SFC: Baltinglass v Kiltegan Tinahely v Dunlavin IFC Avondale v Carnew Annacurra v Hollywood JAFC Kilmac v Aughrim Shillelagh-Coolboy v Ashford JBFC Avoca v Knockananna Newcastle v Tinahely FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 87 - 17/09/2024 10:49:14 2570320 Link 0 |
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Balto v Tinahely final for me - As mentioned above Kiltegan game earlier in group with Balto looked like a challenge game with Balto nothing to play for. Tinahely have brilliant forwards and be tough to keep quiet and being too much for Dunlavin who will bring it right to the very end. If the baltinglass we seen against blesso and tinahely they will go all the way - otherwise in other games they wont with tinahely hitting form at the right time i think with a brilliant win against Rathnew Dunlavin will be well up for this game - Intriguing to say the least! WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 23 - 17/09/2024 12:06:19 2570345 Link 0 |
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Thank you for posting the draw. Four teams who could win a county championship. Any of the four teams could be in the county final which will bring its own pressure. I was impressed with Tinahely last weekend. Yes, Rathnew were one-dimensional and lacked scoring forwards but Tinahely put them to the sword in the third quarter. Dunlavin score one point in the first half against An Tochar; only to score 2-10 in the second half. Which Dunlavin will turn up? Their play during matches is very inconsistent. If they play like they played in the first half against An Tochar; Tinahely will win comfortably. If they play like they played in the second half; they can win this game. I think Tinahely will win; my reason - they are well balanced throughout the field and their experienced players will carry more threat and get them through to the final. I'm in danger of having egg on my face - I've written off Baltinglass all year but they are still in the semi final. Kiltegan are impressing me. Rory Finn will be a loss if he can't play. I'm picking Kiltegan. I think their scoring ability will see them through but I do expect Baltinglass to improve. It is a Tinahely versus Kiltegan final for me. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 17/09/2024 14:22:06 2570392 Link 0 |
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Totaly agree with this. and to add Nicks winning u15 last year and now Blesso this year, minor could be heading west as well looking at last night matchs results. u15 final sunday got no mention here but i stayed for it it was a great game with plenty of good kicking. Best team won blesso looked a serious team with big lads and stength all down the middle and well able to play ball short and long. lots of good citeogs and fellas who can kick strong of left and right. Pats big lads showed up well to and had good nippy lads to kick nice scores in forwards. Talent is defintely good at u 15 based on that final. Pat Mustard (None) - Posts: 386 - 17/09/2024 15:18:02 2570406 Link 0 |
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U17 is hard to predict. Based on what I've seen, I think it's between Blesso and Arklow, with a slight preference for Blesso. Hope they don't meet before the final. It would be a cracker.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1265 - 17/09/2024 16:35:36 2570423 Link 0 |
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West vs East now thats the problem with Wicklow football. This pettiness. Your showing your age now, time to go back to the dark ages. The best footballers that want to play for the county will be selected. StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 38 - 17/09/2024 17:08:19 2570432 Link 0 |
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You make some very valid points in your post. I've followed Wicklow for nearly forty years and back in the 90s there was a divide in the county but I've witness very little of this type of behaviour since the each 00s. I despise modern day intercounty football. It is truly awful to watch. Players playing like robots. Big physical players that could play rugby who are more like middle-distance runner than footballer. Unfortunately, it is successful. Players in Wicklow are not conditioned to play like other counties. I've watched a lot of matches this year and there are no lean physical players who could compete physically with other counties' players over a 75 minute match. There are little tactics. Having said all this, I enjoyed the games. The players gave it their all and there was more kicking in the games than I've witnessed in a long time. Will this type of players or play be successful at intercounty level; the answer is no. Will it be successful against the top clubs in the leinster club championship; the answer is no. Would I prefer to watch club football in Wicklow to a club match in some other counties that I witnessed; the answer is yes.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 17/09/2024 19:26:56 2570462 Link 0 |