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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To kodak13:  "Why are we afraid to kick the ball into our full forward line?
Painful match to watch. We bet ourselves"
Indeed a hard watch. Whenever we went in front, there was no confidence we would stay there. And, that question about not letting the ball in to the forwards. When we did, we scrabbled 3 goals out of it. The team is lacking in something. Some little ingredient is missing. Whether it's, conviction, concentration, belief or whatever. When Limerick had the ball, they moved it quicker and always looked dangerous. Midfield is a problem and has for a while.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 16/03/2025 16:56:05    2596744

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Replying To Freethinker:  "We are like the curates egg - good in parts. Lots of stupid mistakes. One thing that we thought stood out. Only Dean Healy was prepared to take the hits and break the line. Can't see Limerick slipping up against Waterford. Even allowing that we might beat Tipp, and that is a big ask from this team."
Ye need to seriously consider changing things at the top.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 333 - 16/03/2025 17:20:04    2596750

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Indeed a hard watch. Whenever we went in front, there was no confidence we would stay there. And, that question about not letting the ball in to the forwards. When we did, we scrabbled 3 goals out of it. The team is lacking in something. Some little ingredient is missing. Whether it's, conviction, concentration, belief or whatever. When Limerick had the ball, they moved it quicker and always looked dangerous. Midfield is a problem and has for a while."
Very disappointing. Promotion is over as Limerick will beat Waterford plus they have a superior scoring advantage and have won the head to head with us ahead of the last round of games. Today sums up exactly why we are where we are and will probably remain there. As a county we don't know how to win games, it is evident at club level and carries over into the county teams. Maybe it is in our pschye or is due to a losing culture-history in the county. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to ever change. I don't know what the mamagement team with the team is doing but this goes deeper than this current management team, it is across our history at all levels and in both codes.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 16/03/2025 17:35:52    2596757

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As we feared, London result has come beck to haunt us.

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 155 - 16/03/2025 18:11:32    2596764

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Very disappointing. Promotion is over as Limerick will beat Waterford plus they have a superior scoring advantage and have won the head to head with us ahead of the last round of games. Today sums up exactly why we are where we are and will probably remain there. As a county we don't know how to win games, it is evident at club level and carries over into the county teams. Maybe it is in our pschye or is due to a losing culture-history in the county. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to ever change. I don't know what the mamagement team with the team is doing but this goes deeper than this current management team, it is across our history at all levels and in both codes."
I know it's early days but it is hard to see Oisin being in situ next term. Oisin took over a panel creaking with age and had to rebuild. It's a given that the team is building and developing but it might be fair to say that they have been pretty static this year. I'm not saying it's him or his team, or the player panel, but, as I said earlier, to me, there is something lacking. We only have Dean who is prepared to lay his body on the line to break through and make an opening. We need a few more with his bravery. Our other players will play it back - and forward - and sideways ad infinitum. Wexford spent 7 yrs in the basement. Could we be similar ?

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 16/03/2025 18:49:28    2596776

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Replying To Freethinker:  "I know it's early days but it is hard to see Oisin being in situ next term. Oisin took over a panel creaking with age and had to rebuild. It's a given that the team is building and developing but it might be fair to say that they have been pretty static this year. I'm not saying it's him or his team, or the player panel, but, as I said earlier, to me, there is something lacking. We only have Dean who is prepared to lay his body on the line to break through and make an opening. We need a few more with his bravery. Our other players will play it back - and forward - and sideways ad infinitum. Wexford spent 7 yrs in the basement. Could we be similar ?"
Since 2019 we've yo yo'd between divisions 3 and 4. In this period we've had Oisin and Davy Burke as our managers. There's been a big turnover of players in this period which is due to levels of committment demanded by management which in turn is due to how professional inter county has become. I don't feel Wexford is a good example for us as we're the only county in division 4 currently that is primarily a football county; football is our premier code. This is a dreadful state of affairs and is not something to be proud about. Regardless of whether or not the current management stay or go, our fundamental problems will remain. One of these is a recurring problem whereby the clubs and county's failure to produce players who can compete at a decent level and be successful some of the time.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 16/03/2025 19:53:03    2596790

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I believe had the Waterford game gone ahead we would have beaten London away, that said we obviously hadn't got our work done on new rules and we got punished for it and ultimately it has cost us promotion. The buck stops with management even though we played very well at times yesterday and put up a big score.

Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 90 - 17/03/2025 08:47:35    2596853

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Lost to London, drew with Limerick, got roasted by our neighbours.

It would make you wonder why you care.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2919 - 17/03/2025 10:23:57    2596865

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I believe had the Waterford game gone ahead we would have beaten London away, that said we obviously hadn't got our work done on new rules and we got punished for it and ultimately it has cost us promotion. The buck stops with management even though we played very well at times yesterday and put up a big score.

Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 90 - 17/03/2025 11:29:51    2596876

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Replying To Albundy19:  "I believe had the Waterford game gone ahead we would have beaten London away, that said we obviously hadn't got our work done on new rules and we got punished for it and ultimately it has cost us promotion. The buck stops with management even though we played very well at times yesterday and put up a big score."
Hard to disagree with any of that. 2 pointers killed us yesterday and we gust aren't proficient enough with them. We badly need a place kicker. A consistent one. I think we haven't had one since Tony Hannon.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 17/03/2025 18:14:55    2596926

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Since 2019 we've yo yo'd between divisions 3 and 4. In this period we've had Oisin and Davy Burke as our managers. There's been a big turnover of players in this period which is due to levels of committment demanded by management which in turn is due to how professional inter county has become. I don't feel Wexford is a good example for us as we're the only county in division 4 currently that is primarily a football county; football is our premier code. This is a dreadful state of affairs and is not something to be proud about. Regardless of whether or not the current management stay or go, our fundamental problems will remain. One of these is a recurring problem whereby the clubs and county's failure to produce players who can compete at a decent level and be successful some of the time."
That's just not true. Football is the premier code in Longford, and the equal code in London and Carlow, although far more players and clubs play Football in Carlow than hurling.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15252 - 17/03/2025 19:25:19    2596934

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's just not true. Football is the premier code in Longford, and the equal code in London and Carlow, although far more players and clubs play Football in Carlow than hurling."
I disagree for a couple reasons. Firstly football supporters in Wicklow are being short changed. We are predominantly a footballing county. There is only a handful of hurling clubs in the county so we're never going to be a force in this code. We have one of the biggest population in Ireland. Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland and their county hurlers are playing in the equivalent of division 2. I accept Longford are a proud footballing county but their population is probably equivalent to the population of Bray. London are in the bottom two in the division. Most of the counties in division four are hurling counties firstly including Wexford. As a supporter i don't accept that we should be ok with being in division 4 now or at any time, it's been accepted for far too long amd it is embarassing.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 17/03/2025 23:04:32    2596963

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But yet I feel that hurling has always given more value than football in Wicklow ?

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2919 - 18/03/2025 09:28:49    2596980

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I disagree for a couple reasons. Firstly football supporters in Wicklow are being short changed. We are predominantly a footballing county. There is only a handful of hurling clubs in the county so we're never going to be a force in this code. We have one of the biggest population in Ireland. Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland and their county hurlers are playing in the equivalent of division 2. I accept Longford are a proud footballing county but their population is probably equivalent to the population of Bray. London are in the bottom two in the division. Most of the counties in division four are hurling counties firstly including Wexford. As a supporter i don't accept that we should be ok with being in division 4 now or at any time, it's been accepted for far too long amd it is embarassing."
Like I know in terms of our population we are under performing. But our population is focused on the north east of the county, how many players were involved from there? One i believe. As a sign of where the population is look at the election, before last, 5 out 5 TD's from there, last election 3 out 4 and only reason there was not 4 in there was transfers from a TD in there. If Wicklow GAA wants to improve that is were the focus needs to be. Like the biggest town in the county, one of the biggest towns in the country should not be playing at a lower minor level than Annacurra and I don't think fielded an u19's team in the last few years.

Groundskeeper5 (Wicklow) - Posts: 37 - 18/03/2025 09:36:10    2596981

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I disagree for a couple reasons. Firstly football supporters in Wicklow are being short changed. We are predominantly a footballing county. There is only a handful of hurling clubs in the county so we're never going to be a force in this code. We have one of the biggest population in Ireland. Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland and their county hurlers are playing in the equivalent of division 2. I accept Longford are a proud footballing county but their population is probably equivalent to the population of Bray. London are in the bottom two in the division. Most of the counties in division four are hurling counties firstly including Wexford. As a supporter i don't accept that we should be ok with being in division 4 now or at any time, it's been accepted for far too long amd it is embarassing."
Ah no I wasn't saying you should be happy to be in div4. I was just pointing out that not all the other counties in div4 are predominantly hurling. With your population you should be decent in both codes maybe, but a large chunk of your population are in urban areas, which traditionally don't have a great gra for GAA, as would be the case here in Wexford also.
On our current Senior Hurling and Football panels the majority of players aren't from the towns, and that's always been the case here, at least in modern times. And that's likely the case in every other county also, except Dublin.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15252 - 18/03/2025 10:42:18    2596991

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Replying To Viking66:  "Ah no I wasn't saying you should be happy to be in div4. I was just pointing out that not all the other counties in div4 are predominantly hurling. With your population you should be decent in both codes maybe, but a large chunk of your population are in urban areas, which traditionally don't have a great gra for GAA, as would be the case here in Wexford also.
On our current Senior Hurling and Football panels the majority of players aren't from the towns, and that's always been the case here, at least in modern times. And that's likely the case in every other county also, except Dublin."
Very well made points. I remember back in the day, an old Gael said to me that the former Garrison towns were where soccer flourished and Gaelic Games were weak. The exception here has always been St Pats. Apart from that history, the populations of Bray, Greystones are mostly from Dublin and all over the place. If they ever were interested in Gaelic.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 18/03/2025 13:22:23    2597059

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It has nt been a bad league for Wicklow and they can look forward to the championship.A very small chance of promotion but I Cant see Limerick falling to Waterford.I think Wicklow will beat Tipp though and finish on a high.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 28 - 18/03/2025 13:54:28    2597066

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Replying To Viking66:  "Ah no I wasn't saying you should be happy to be in div4. I was just pointing out that not all the other counties in div4 are predominantly hurling. With your population you should be decent in both codes maybe, but a large chunk of your population are in urban areas, which traditionally don't have a great gra for GAA, as would be the case here in Wexford also.
On our current Senior Hurling and Football panels the majority of players aren't from the towns, and that's always been the case here, at least in modern times. And that's likely the case in every other county also, except Dublin."
I agree with what you are saying although I do think it is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller counties to compete at a decent level in both codes. As a county we've struggled to develop a strong GAA tradition in urban towns as you've outlined particular Bray and Greystones. In fairness to Bray, they've become a very strong club in the hurling code. In terms of football, it is strongest in the West of the county which has a much smaller population than in the East of the county. I agree with you that we should be strong in both hurling and football. It is frustrating that the county seems to be struggling at the foot of the mountain in both hurling and football. We seem to be making progress in the football but always seem to fall at the final hurdle. This year seems to be no different in this regard. I'd hope that this will change in the future but I find it hard to envisage how it will change. Best of luck to Wexford in both the hurling and football upcoming championships.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 18/03/2025 14:34:17    2597074

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I agree with what you are saying although I do think it is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller counties to compete at a decent level in both codes. As a county we've struggled to develop a strong GAA tradition in urban towns as you've outlined particular Bray and Greystones. In fairness to Bray, they've become a very strong club in the hurling code. In terms of football, it is strongest in the West of the county which has a much smaller population than in the East of the county. I agree with you that we should be strong in both hurling and football. It is frustrating that the county seems to be struggling at the foot of the mountain in both hurling and football. We seem to be making progress in the football but always seem to fall at the final hurdle. This year seems to be no different in this regard. I'd hope that this will change in the future but I find it hard to envisage how it will change. Best of luck to Wexford in both the hurling and football upcoming championships."
Look I think everyone is talking sense here, but i just don't think we can say on one hand we a large population and underachieving then on the other hand saying the area where the bulk of the population is, are towns that we are not going to get the core of a team from. Like the only way we get away from the status quo is tapping into these large population areas.

Going forward I do think the population exploding now right down the east coast and Blessington, maybe this increases is in stronger football areas such as Rathew and Wicklow Town, but also in sleeping giants like Ashford and Newtown we cant miss the boat again.

Groundskeeper5 (Wicklow) - Posts: 37 - 18/03/2025 16:13:19    2597096

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I agree with what you are saying although I do think it is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller counties to compete at a decent level in both codes. As a county we've struggled to develop a strong GAA tradition in urban towns as you've outlined particular Bray and Greystones. In fairness to Bray, they've become a very strong club in the hurling code. In terms of football, it is strongest in the West of the county which has a much smaller population than in the East of the county. I agree with you that we should be strong in both hurling and football. It is frustrating that the county seems to be struggling at the foot of the mountain in both hurling and football. We seem to be making progress in the football but always seem to fall at the final hurdle. This year seems to be no different in this regard. I'd hope that this will change in the future but I find it hard to envisage how it will change. Best of luck to Wexford in both the hurling and football upcoming championships."
Same to yourselves.
Spreading into new areas has to start from the bottom up. I'm not from Wicklow so I don't know what's being done, but starting by sending coaches/gpos into every national school in Bray/Greystones/Arklow/wherever to try get lads in Junior and Senior infants to start playing might be a starting point?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15252 - 18/03/2025 16:21:02    2597101

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