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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To Freethinker:  "I don't think there has been relegation from the senior ranks for years now. Problem has been trying to keep senior clubs senior. The only 2 who went down in recent years were St Pats and Avondale - and they had to apply to county board for permission. For years Intermediate winners, Carnew, Kilcoole, Bray etc didn't go up as with Bray and Carnew, they already had senior teams and if memory serves, Kilcoole opted to stay at inter."
Any confirmation on McConville yet or was he seen at any of the club games up to now? That news from Leitrim means there's still a few jobs up for grabs which just makes potential replacements even thinner on the ground if he isn't around.

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 87 - 08/10/2024 20:15:31    2573742

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As much as I would like to see clubs being able to make the step up to the senior grade after winning the intermediate championship, the club have to gauge whether they feel they can compete against senior teams the following year or not. I don't think getting a hiding week in, week out would do any good for a clubs progression. I'd say Avondale should be able to hold their own against Pats or Greystones maybe, but I think it would be detrimental to Aughrim had they win and chose to make the step up. Great to see another club on the hurling field competing but they're a few years away yet from that standard of hurling. I was speaking to someone recently that said Annacurra may have the potential to field a hurling team, even at juvenile level, with all the permissions they have to give out every year. Could this be the case?

TheChampion (Wicklow) - Posts: 11 - 09/10/2024 00:33:04    2573805

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Replying To FrankieJoe:  "Any confirmation on McConville yet or was he seen at any of the club games up to now? That news from Leitrim means there's still a few jobs up for grabs which just makes potential replacements even thinner on the ground if he isn't around."
I was thinking the same but then I thought that surely, the County Board know this too so would have made a decision about McConville one way or the other at this stage. The not knowing doesn't suit anyone.

TopDrawer (Wicklow) - Posts: 63 - 09/10/2024 09:01:48    2573826

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Oisin and another of his management team have attended the 2 senior semifinals and the supporting matches in the last few weeks. I expect we will see a few new faces on the panel from not only the senior semifinalists but also from the intermediate teams.That of course is if the players will committ. I see Carlow are widening the net to get more players to join the county panel.So far they have identified over 90 players outside the county who would be eligible to play

Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 133 - 09/10/2024 10:24:53    2573848

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Oisin and another of his management team have attended the 2 senior semifinals and the supporting matches in the last few weeks. I expect we will see a few new faces on the panel from not only the senior semifinalists but also from the intermediate teams.That of course is if the players will committ. I see Carlow are widening the net to get more players to join the county panel.So far they have identified over 90 players outside the county who would be eligible to play

Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 133 - 09/10/2024 14:40:32    2573898

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Good to see. Has any player from any grade stood to anyone that McConville should be looking to bring in? Or just the usual suspects already involved?

Wicklowmen (Wicklow) - Posts: 11 - 09/10/2024 17:06:29    2573939

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Replying To Optimisticobserver:  "Oisin and another of his management team have attended the 2 senior semifinals and the supporting matches in the last few weeks. I expect we will see a few new faces on the panel from not only the senior semifinalists but also from the intermediate teams.That of course is if the players will committ. I see Carlow are widening the net to get more players to join the county panel.So far they have identified over 90 players outside the county who would be eligible to play"
Outside the county?

Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 68 - 09/10/2024 22:03:41    2573968

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Replying To Albundy19:  "Outside the county?"
90 players outside of Carlow?? Really ?? We have had a handful over the last few years. 2 Devereaux brothers and Oisin Manning. They were ok but probably no better than our homegrown players. But at least they wanted to play. They all had strong Wicklow links. There were a few players with Baltinglass links a few years back. Brian Whelan. Being the most successful. I'm sure there were others I'm not too sure that it is a good idea to bring in qualified players. If they were good enough for inter county they would be with their county of birth. Pity we couldn't have gotten some of those O'Garas. Their Wicklow links were as strong as any.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1267 - 09/10/2024 23:38:19    2573983

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Blesso and An Tochar in the minor final. Date set for Sat 26th October. Not sure why it couldn't be set for before the senior next week. Anyway, two good teams, should be a cracker.

liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 187 - 10/10/2024 14:15:45    2574048

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Replying To liam500:  "Blesso and An Tochar in the minor final. Date set for Sat 26th October. Not sure why it couldn't be set for before the senior next week. Anyway, two good teams, should be a cracker."
It is a real pity that the minor final is not played before the senior final. I can't understand why it was ever removed from county final day programme. I'd prefer to see the minor final to any other game played as a curtain raiser. It is an opportunity for people who wouldn't be able to see underage games throughout the year to see the best two teams at under 17 grade playing against each other. Hopefully someone will submit a request to the county convention for a discussion on restoring it to the county final programme.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 10/10/2024 15:25:43    2574062

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "It is a real pity that the minor final is not played before the senior final. I can't understand why it was ever removed from county final day programme. I'd prefer to see the minor final to any other game played as a curtain raiser. It is an opportunity for people who wouldn't be able to see underage games throughout the year to see the best two teams at under 17 grade playing against each other. Hopefully someone will submit a request to the county convention for a discussion on restoring it to the county final programme."
Wouldn't be holding my breath on that one. I made the St Nicks v An Tochair game last night. It was a great spectacle. Nicks got off to a whirlwind start and went I think 6 up. The Roundwood lads clawed their way back into it and eventually got on top some lovely footballers on both sides but I think the Roundwood lads were faster and possibly fitter. The final wherever it is played should be a cracker. I'm told that Blessington were the only team to beat Roundwood in the league section, thanks in no small part to young Small ( no pun intended). It seems like he was instrumental in last nights semi final win also. Given he is possibly the best young footballer in the county, the final should be worth seeing just to watch him in action alone.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1267 - 10/10/2024 16:04:36    2574075

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I've asked a number of county officials the same question about about a double header on county final day an d the response has been the same. Aughrim can't cater for the number of cars and local residents have been up in arms because of supporters blocking their entrances on big match days. The gaa stewards can't control parking or traffic flow outside the ground as they have no jurisdiction to do so. This is the explanation given for only having a single match. I agree that it would be a wonderful occasion for our young players and supporters to experience but at present it doesn't look possible

Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 133 - 10/10/2024 20:20:32    2574104

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Makes sense I suppose with the traffic. Not much they can do.

The minor hurling final is live on wicklow GAA tv tomorrow at 12. Bray vs Carnew, should be a cracker. Carnew are out for a win after losing the senior and Bray seem to be the in form team. Some really handy hurlers on both teams.

liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 187 - 11/10/2024 16:16:49    2574232

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Replying To Optimisticobserver:  "I've asked a number of county officials the same question about about a double header on county final day an d the response has been the same. Aughrim can't cater for the number of cars and local residents have been up in arms because of supporters blocking their entrances on big match days. The gaa stewards can't control parking or traffic flow outside the ground as they have no jurisdiction to do so. This is the explanation given for only having a single match. I agree that it would be a wonderful occasion for our young players and supporters to experience but at present it doesn't look possible"
Have they not opened up a load of parking on the opposite side since?

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 87 - 11/10/2024 19:12:35    2574252

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Replying To FrankieJoe:  "Have they not opened up a load of parking on the opposite side since?"
They reduced the amount of parking in auhgrim since they built the Astro warmup area

Dunlavin4Miley (Wicklow) - Posts: 10 - 12/10/2024 11:59:28    2574323

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Replying To Optimisticobserver:  "I've asked a number of county officials the same question about about a double header on county final day an d the response has been the same. Aughrim can't cater for the number of cars and local residents have been up in arms because of supporters blocking their entrances on big match days. The gaa stewards can't control parking or traffic flow outside the ground as they have no jurisdiction to do so. This is the explanation given for only having a single match. I agree that it would be a wonderful occasion for our young players and supporters to experience but at present it doesn't look possible"
I don't like to question the validity of answer but the crowd at matches in Aughrim, in recent times, is lower than it was in previous years. If parking spaces for matches is an issue then the decision to reduce the parking spaces further with the installation of a warm up area seems to be the wrong decision. A county grounds is preliminary to facilitate big club and county matches first and foremost. I'm sure if there was a poll conducted, the majority of people would want to have the minor and senior finals on the same day i.e. county final day. It is also important for minor teams to be exposed to big occasions, these players don't get such an opportunity too often with our lack of success at intercounty level. With regard to parking on the road; I've parked in the Aughrim club house grounds in the past - i was ok with paying to park in their facilities as I am sure they were to have the extra funds. I'm struggling to understand why the minor and senior can't be played on the same day as there seems to be no problem with playing intermediate and senior matches on the same day as with the recent semi-final.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 14/10/2024 10:50:31    2574742

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I don't like to question the validity of answer but the crowd at matches in Aughrim, in recent times, is lower than it was in previous years. If parking spaces for matches is an issue then the decision to reduce the parking spaces further with the installation of a warm up area seems to be the wrong decision. A county grounds is preliminary to facilitate big club and county matches first and foremost. I'm sure if there was a poll conducted, the majority of people would want to have the minor and senior finals on the same day i.e. county final day. It is also important for minor teams to be exposed to big occasions, these players don't get such an opportunity too often with our lack of success at intercounty level. With regard to parking on the road; I've parked in the Aughrim club house grounds in the past - i was ok with paying to park in their facilities as I am sure they were to have the extra funds. I'm struggling to understand why the minor and senior can't be played on the same day as there seems to be no problem with playing intermediate and senior matches on the same day as with the recent semi-final."
As a county we really need a stadium that could hold 10 plus K people - with parking. I don't believe we will ever get one. One that could also act as a neutral grounds for other inter county championship matches. Somewhere between Bray and Arklow where it could be readily serviced by the M11 and the railway also runs parallel with it. Wishful thinking, I know, but isn't it a lovely dream ??

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1267 - 14/10/2024 14:09:36    2574807

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Any Wicklow players selected for the Railway cup this coming weekend? I assume each county should have a few players selected.

This coming weekend is big with all the county finals too! Looking forward to it..

WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 23 - 14/10/2024 16:19:59    2574866

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Replying To WicklowB1973:  "Any Wicklow players selected for the Railway cup this coming weekend? I assume each county should have a few players selected.

This coming weekend is big with all the county finals too! Looking forward to it.."
I doubt if we will have any reps on it. In its heyday we struggled to have reps. Would I be wrong in saying that Tommy Gill was our last one ? Then, they were abandoned shortly after his stint.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1267 - 14/10/2024 18:48:05    2574919

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Replying To Freethinker:  "As a county we really need a stadium that could hold 10 plus K people - with parking. I don't believe we will ever get one. One that could also act as a neutral grounds for other inter county championship matches. Somewhere between Bray and Arklow where it could be readily serviced by the M11 and the railway also runs parallel with it. Wishful thinking, I know, but isn't it a lovely dream ??"
Parking seems to be an afterthought when it comes to the GAA and county grounds. Kildare are about to unveil their new stadium which has an increased capacity of 15,000, in the centre of Newbridge, with no additional parking!!! I'm puzzled about parking in Aughrim. Ok, there was a large number of cars at recent matches but when you enter the seating\terrace area, the crowd is sparse enough - is everyone driving to matches with one per car? There is an old abandoned factory beside the grounds; why don't WIcklow GAA purchase it and expand the parking area? I don't understand the warm up area; can teams not warm up on the pitch before a game? Finally, is the plan to install floodlights shelved? I know there were plans to install floodlights but I see no evidence, any time, I'm in the grounds?

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2023 - 15/10/2024 10:00:53    2574994

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