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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To Groundskeeper5:  "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."
Yes indeed. Ashford and Newtown have given massive players to county teams over the years. Don't believe there was ever a dud amongst them.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 18/03/2025 17:36:35    2597121

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Population really doesn't come in to it though. It's like when people talk about Antrim having a big population and large city without ever touching on that fact that well over half that population will never even see a GAA match, let alone play one. Wicklow would be similar where young people in the Braystones area are far more likely to pick up an oval ball than a round one.

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 90 - 19/03/2025 05:18:41    2597180

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With respect to Dean who has been a massive and consistent servant to our county can people who go to games not see an issue in this squad. Every time a young player makes a mistake he's on their back straight away ********* them. When he make a mistake there's no issue , the young lads then are playing scared, giving a handy 5 yard bandpass instead of a riskier ball or taking a man on. It's happening whether people here want to believe it or not and it's a part of the issue with this team I haven't seen discussed.

TeamActimel (Wicklow) - Posts: 16 - 19/03/2025 13:13:24    2597261

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Replying To TeamActimel:  "With respect to Dean who has been a massive and consistent servant to our county can people who go to games not see an issue in this squad. Every time a young player makes a mistake he's on their back straight away ********* them. When he make a mistake there's no issue , the young lads then are playing scared, giving a handy 5 yard bandpass instead of a riskier ball or taking a man on. It's happening whether people here want to believe it or not and it's a part of the issue with this team I haven't seen discussed."
Hadn't noticed, to be honest. Then, my ould hearing isn't what it used to be. All I can say, is he shipped his fair share of hardship on Sunday

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 19/03/2025 14:01:36    2597276

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In my opinion the narrative that we are not getting enough out of the large population centers in the county has now become a little outdated. In the 90s through into the 00s this was definitely the case , Rathnew , Baltinglass, An Tochar were dominant in Senior and produced teams & players that were on par or better than anything in Leinster at the time. During this time our town teams - Bray, Greystones, Arklow & Wicklow were nowhere, languishing down in Intermediate or worse.

In the meantime these clubs have progressed, St Pats have won several senior championships. Bray are dominating hurling, Eire Og are a dual code senior team fields several adult teams in each code, Arklow have dominated underage and are knocking on the door of senior success.

Yes, we could be getting more , but compared to where they were 20 years ago they have progressed significantly. However this has come at a time where we are seeing the like's of Rathnew and Baltinglass have regressed .

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 155 - 19/03/2025 14:42:55    2597284

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Replying To Hawkeye2:  "In my opinion the narrative that we are not getting enough out of the large population centers in the county has now become a little outdated. In the 90s through into the 00s this was definitely the case , Rathnew , Baltinglass, An Tochar were dominant in Senior and produced teams & players that were on par or better than anything in Leinster at the time. During this time our town teams - Bray, Greystones, Arklow & Wicklow were nowhere, languishing down in Intermediate or worse.

In the meantime these clubs have progressed, St Pats have won several senior championships. Bray are dominating hurling, Eire Og are a dual code senior team fields several adult teams in each code, Arklow have dominated underage and are knocking on the door of senior success.

Yes, we could be getting more , but compared to where they were 20 years ago they have progressed significantly. However this has come at a time where we are seeing the like's of Rathnew and Baltinglass have regressed ."
It isn't a case that those clubs have improved, it is that Rathnew and Baltinglass have regressed. I'm not having a pop at either Rathnew or Baltinglass, they produced outstanding players and teams during that period. It is very difficult to replicate those teams on a regular basis. Some bigger clubs and counties can't do it. None of the clubs you reference as improving have made any impact outside the county. Our county teams don't compete in a vaccum, teams and players are in competition against what other counties are doing. At the moment there is competition for football development squads in Leinster - Kildare and Meath are participating. Is Wicklow participating? If not, why not?

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 19/03/2025 17:40:39    2597331

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Replying To Hawkeye2:  "In my opinion the narrative that we are not getting enough out of the large population centers in the county has now become a little outdated. In the 90s through into the 00s this was definitely the case , Rathnew , Baltinglass, An Tochar were dominant in Senior and produced teams & players that were on par or better than anything in Leinster at the time. During this time our town teams - Bray, Greystones, Arklow & Wicklow were nowhere, languishing down in Intermediate or worse.

In the meantime these clubs have progressed, St Pats have won several senior championships. Bray are dominating hurling, Eire Og are a dual code senior team fields several adult teams in each code, Arklow have dominated underage and are knocking on the door of senior success.

Yes, we could be getting more , but compared to where they were 20 years ago they have progressed significantly. However this has come at a time where we are seeing the like's of Rathnew and Baltinglass have regressed ."
I take your point on hurling, i am more looking for football lense. I just think the population of Bray and Greystones has increased even more relative to the rest of the county in this time period. One player involved from Bray and Greystones still seems a low to me.
I can't disagree with you on Arklow and you could add in barndarrig for making a dramatic leap forward in that period.
Since the 90's i would argue Bray have produced the best minor football team of that period which didnt filter through to senior level.
I would also disagree with people saying rugby a big factor i still think there a multiple of 10 year olds in bray playing GAA than rugby and that been the case for the last decade, I believe they have a great nursery system. Certainly soccer more a factor as always. But I would suggest Bray Emmet would be a multiple size of the nearest club in the town.

Also on town not being a place where GAA be successful i have to disagree if you look at neighbouring club cula winning the all ireland and the likes of Naas and newbridge have strong presents in Kildare, like wise Eire Og in Carlow teams, admittingly there maybe be more a tradition in these areas.

Groundskeeper5 (Wicklow) - Posts: 37 - 19/03/2025 20:35:48    2597363

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Yes indeed. Ashford and Newtown have given massive players to county teams over the years. Don't believe there was ever a dud amongst them."
Hardly sleeping giants though lads.

Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 90 - 19/03/2025 23:43:56    2597398

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Replying To Albundy19:  "Hardly sleeping giants though lads."
No, agreed, but massive house building going on in both with knock on population growth. They produced their outstanding county players when they were even smaller clubs. Under age soccer is well catered for in Newtown which might be a factor there but I don't know what's going wrong in Ashford. Although a few of the Rathnew stars of recent years were actually from Ashford parish. Under the old parish rule, some of the current Rathnew squad would be playing with Ashford.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 20/03/2025 08:57:31    2597413

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Good range of inter county action this weekend.

Minor hurlers start their campaign vs westmeath in Arklow tomorrow. Hopefully we provide a good showing.

In Aughrim the seniors have a crunch match against Mayo in Aughrim. Winner to be promoted to div 2.

Then the footballers have their match vs Tipp on Sunday. As discussed above, I'd say promotion is beyond us now...

liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 195 - 21/03/2025 09:11:16    2597589

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Replying To liam500:  "Good range of inter county action this weekend.

Minor hurlers start their campaign vs westmeath in Arklow tomorrow. Hopefully we provide a good showing.

In Aughrim the seniors have a crunch match against Mayo in Aughrim. Winner to be promoted to div 2.

Then the footballers have their match vs Tipp on Sunday. As discussed above, I'd say promotion is beyond us now..."
Be great to see Bosco getting the hurlers promoted. I havent heard anything much on the minors strength this year. The footballers ? Saw enough of them last week. I suppose it will keep them in tune for the championship. They will need to up their hunger and commitment to progress there. They did perform well in the Leinster and Tailreann last year, but I don't think they have improved in the meantime.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 21/03/2025 11:34:01    2597619

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Replying To Groundskeeper5:  "I take your point on hurling, i am more looking for football lense. I just think the population of Bray and Greystones has increased even more relative to the rest of the county in this time period. One player involved from Bray and Greystones still seems a low to me.
I can't disagree with you on Arklow and you could add in barndarrig for making a dramatic leap forward in that period.
Since the 90's i would argue Bray have produced the best minor football team of that period which didnt filter through to senior level.
I would also disagree with people saying rugby a big factor i still think there a multiple of 10 year olds in bray playing GAA than rugby and that been the case for the last decade, I believe they have a great nursery system. Certainly soccer more a factor as always. But I would suggest Bray Emmet would be a multiple size of the nearest club in the town.

Also on town not being a place where GAA be successful i have to disagree if you look at neighbouring club cula winning the all ireland and the likes of Naas and newbridge have strong presents in Kildare, like wise Eire Og in Carlow teams, admittingly there maybe be more a tradition in these areas."
I would agree with the previous poster and I do think rugby is a factor now with young kids.I see it in Dublin also.Rugby is becoming big with the youth .

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 28 - 21/03/2025 11:35:52    2597621

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Watched the minor footballers last week in Ashford ,they have some good players but are maybe a little light,I believe the management selected 12 of next years minors (u16s this year) which seems a bit odd.

Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 90 - 21/03/2025 12:13:04    2597631

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Has tomorrow's team v Tipp been named yet ? Can't find anything in it.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 22/03/2025 16:19:07    2597808

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Watched the minor match vs westmeath. We started well, matching them score for score but then they pulled away during a 10 minute spell at the end of the first half. We got 2 red cards which didn't help and we have no idea why we got the second one. Final score was 5-22 to 1-10. A bit better than last year but still a gulf there...

liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 195 - 22/03/2025 17:10:36    2597815

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Has tomorrow's team v Tipp been named yet ? Can't find anything in it."
Team is listed on Wicklow GAA X's feed. Defence is same as previously. Jack Kirwan is listed to partner Dean Healy at midfield with Padraig O'Toole listed at centre forward. Only other change is Oisin McGraynor switching to the full forward line alongside Kevin Quinn and Eoin Darcy. Best of luck to the team tomorrow. Hope we can finish league campaign with a win. Even though there is very little chance of us being promoted, it would be terrible if we failed to win our game only for Waterford to do us a favour. I'd imagine Oisin's attention is turning to the first round away to Longford.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 22/03/2025 18:40:49    2597825

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Team is listed on Wicklow GAA X's feed. Defence is same as previously. Jack Kirwan is listed to partner Dean Healy at midfield with Padraig O'Toole listed at centre forward. Only other change is Oisin McGraynor switching to the full forward line alongside Kevin Quinn and Eoin Darcy. Best of luck to the team tomorrow. Hope we can finish league campaign with a win. Even though there is very little chance of us being promoted, it would be terrible if we failed to win our game only for Waterford to do us a favour. I'd imagine Oisin's attention is turning to the first round away to Longford."
Much the same as last week so, McGraynor started in the corner last week and scored a few nice points off his left peg. I thought OToole played pretty well last week. We must remember that this team might not necessarily start. Poison likes to keep a trick up his sleeve.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 22/03/2025 18:57:54    2597829

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Much the same as last week so, McGraynor started in the corner last week and scored a few nice points off his left peg. I thought OToole played pretty well last week. We must remember that this team might not necessarily start. Poison likes to keep a trick up his sleeve."
Yes very similiar. It annoys me why manager are allowed to name teams and then make multiple changes before throw in. I assume they do it for tactical reasons. I think Oisin probably know his defence and one of his midfielder for the championship. A parrtner for Dean Healy and his six fowards andd in what positions is still up in the air. That's my take on it.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2078 - 22/03/2025 21:37:23    2597863

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The hurlers were excellent in defeat today. Mayo got every break going but they kept battling on. Red card was deserved and silly. Some of the decisions were baffling and certainly no home town calls. Had not seen the hurlers in 25 but will follow them now. Was very happy with their spirit.

heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 152 - 22/03/2025 23:01:22    2597877

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So now it's official. Basement football again next year. Results are results but we were at least 2nd best team in that division. Consistency cost us - that and that London trip. Antrim and Leitrim to contend with next season as well as a Carlow that could be getting its act together. I see that G Fogarty got a few minutes. Maybe he was recovering from an injury or maybe he doesn't fit the method or system that management prefer but he was the best attacking half forward on display last year in the local championship, in my opinion anyway.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1549 - 23/03/2025 16:34:21    2598000

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