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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To roseyinthegarden:  "I agree with one point you have made. Wicklow gaa supporters want our county board to go out and get the best available manager to us. I don't personally care what it costs because the financial resources are in this county if the right person is appointed."
My views on this are well known and I too have been sniped at for expressing them. To me, it's simple, just look at the facts. Of the recognised grade 1 competitions, for want of a better word, we have 1 Leinster minor title, no u21 and no senior. We have no all ireland minor, u21 or senior. I think we have 2 junior. This is in 140 yrs or thereabouts. At senior club level our record is a little better in 2 Leinster finals and 1 All Ireland - and several other valiant attempts. These are simple, undeniable, facts. The numbers speak for themselves Now, either we are breeding inferior footballers - which I don't for one second believe - or we are doing something all wrong. To me, anyone who tries to defend the way we go about doing things is just living in cloud cuckoo land. Nobody can defend the indefensible. Do I see anything changing? In a word, no. This culture of taking failure as being acceptable has become engrained in our institutions. We are back to the way things were in my younger days of trying to keep the score down and being happy with "honourable " defeats. That is if we ever really left them. Micko showed us a glimpse of the promised land, but when he left, we were arguably in a worse situation or at least our juveniles were. But like Wicklowsupport I will keep telling it as I see it and to hell with the begrudgers

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 997 - 25/07/2022 10:33:28    2434133

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Replying To Freethinker:  "My views on this are well known and I too have been sniped at for expressing them. To me, it's simple, just look at the facts. Of the recognised grade 1 competitions, for want of a better word, we have 1 Leinster minor title, no u21 and no senior. We have no all ireland minor, u21 or senior. I think we have 2 junior. This is in 140 yrs or thereabouts. At senior club level our record is a little better in 2 Leinster finals and 1 All Ireland - and several other valiant attempts. These are simple, undeniable, facts. The numbers speak for themselves Now, either we are breeding inferior footballers - which I don't for one second believe - or we are doing something all wrong. To me, anyone who tries to defend the way we go about doing things is just living in cloud cuckoo land. Nobody can defend the indefensible. Do I see anything changing? In a word, no. This culture of taking failure as being acceptable has become engrained in our institutions. We are back to the way things were in my younger days of trying to keep the score down and being happy with "honourable " defeats. That is if we ever really left them. Micko showed us a glimpse of the promised land, but when he left, we were arguably in a worse situation or at least our juveniles were. But like Wicklowsupport I will keep telling it as I see it and to hell with the begrudgers"
Freethinker - would you invest scarce resources in a high profile manager or in the under age development/coaching structure at yhis point? Your point is well made and as you rightly point out our history of achievement as a county is abject: we have no history of achievement and yet it seems that there is no collective appetite for change. There is a small cohert seeking change but it is a minority. Equally as you point out we can and despite the way things are, we are producing some decent players but the environment within the county is so mediocre that these players never achieve their potential instead they are consumed by the mediocrity. I don't believe it will ever change but i will always hope it might.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 25/07/2022 11:04:10    2434147

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "You need to start making sense for once in your life as oppose to having a go at people. My point if you take the time to read it and stop to think before commenting is that supporters of football in wicklow want the powers that be in the county to attract a manager to take the county footballers forward instead the county board are unwilling to show that ambition. Who suffers? The supporters and the players. That's my point. Personally i don't care if you or anyone else agree with my point or not. If you have an alternate opinion then post it and let us hear it. My guess is that you don't have one and are just trying to intimidate others."
Freethinker as you say i would think best practice is to decide what you want to achieve in short and medium term, allocate resources to it and then recruit the best fit aimed at what you are trying to achieve. In my opinion and i have no inside information: Davy Burke was a goid choice a couple of years back as he has a reputation of developing young players and getting results. That is what i think we need and he seem to achieve this in the time he was here. Now i would imagine, knowing him that he looked for extra resources to push on and get to division 2 so that he could have his team in the sam maguire comp. He wasn't interested in the tailteann cup. Again i am only envisaging but i would think the county board said no more resources, our future is the tailteann cup and cutting our cloth to suit. And so Davy departed. It seems to me that people on here would be with Davy's vision but the powers that by what a more limited vision and i would think clubs support what we have otherwise they wouldn't comply. Is this why supporters have stopped supporting: a lack of ambition? Will it change? I don't envisage so. An internal management team is what i envisage but i dob't have a name.

Point out to me where you made that point in this post

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 25/07/2022 11:28:23    2434154

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Replying To Freethinker:  "My views on this are well known and I too have been sniped at for expressing them. To me, it's simple, just look at the facts. Of the recognised grade 1 competitions, for want of a better word, we have 1 Leinster minor title, no u21 and no senior. We have no all ireland minor, u21 or senior. I think we have 2 junior. This is in 140 yrs or thereabouts. At senior club level our record is a little better in 2 Leinster finals and 1 All Ireland - and several other valiant attempts. These are simple, undeniable, facts. The numbers speak for themselves Now, either we are breeding inferior footballers - which I don't for one second believe - or we are doing something all wrong. To me, anyone who tries to defend the way we go about doing things is just living in cloud cuckoo land. Nobody can defend the indefensible. Do I see anything changing? In a word, no. This culture of taking failure as being acceptable has become engrained in our institutions. We are back to the way things were in my younger days of trying to keep the score down and being happy with "honourable " defeats. That is if we ever really left them. Micko showed us a glimpse of the promised land, but when he left, we were arguably in a worse situation or at least our juveniles were. But like Wicklowsupport I will keep telling it as I see it and to hell with the begrudgers"
You are Wicklowsupport, that's what's so amusing about all of this. You both make the same vague points and drool on about the same statistics, you both make the same punctuation mistakes and write in the same tone ------

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 25/07/2022 11:30:09    2434157

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Replying To Victorious87:  "You are Wicklowsupport, that's what's so amusing about all of this. You both make the same vague points and drool on about the same statistics, you both make the same punctuation mistakes and write in the same tone ------"
Our old sparring partner Pat Mustard thinks the same, but I can assure you I am not Wicklowsupport. I think from his posts he lives in Kildare. I am born, bred and still living where I always did for my 60 plus years right here in the heart of the wicklow mountains. And I don't need anyone to help me put my thoughts on posts. The fact that I try to get grammar and punctuation right (not always successfully) is more to do with what I was taught in school many years ago - in the mid fifties when we had many decent footballers and still won nothing - than anybody else's influence. But, believe what you will, I can't change that. Back to the mid fifties, that team was good enough to win Leinster if not the All Ireland. I think on those days we had 2 or 3 players on the Railway Cup team. That was when the Railway Cup meant something. A referee who played an extraordinary amount of extra time until Meath got their nose in front. Meath went on to win Sam that year. And yes, before you say it, that wasn't our county boards fault.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 997 - 25/07/2022 12:59:25    2434211

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Replying To Victorious87:  "Freethinker as you say i would think best practice is to decide what you want to achieve in short and medium term, allocate resources to it and then recruit the best fit aimed at what you are trying to achieve. In my opinion and i have no inside information: Davy Burke was a goid choice a couple of years back as he has a reputation of developing young players and getting results. That is what i think we need and he seem to achieve this in the time he was here. Now i would imagine, knowing him that he looked for extra resources to push on and get to division 2 so that he could have his team in the sam maguire comp. He wasn't interested in the tailteann cup. Again i am only envisaging but i would think the county board said no more resources, our future is the tailteann cup and cutting our cloth to suit. And so Davy departed. It seems to me that people on here would be with Davy's vision but the powers that by what a more limited vision and i would think clubs support what we have otherwise they wouldn't comply. Is this why supporters have stopped supporting: a lack of ambition? Will it change? I don't envisage so. An internal management team is what i envisage but i dob't have a name.

Point out to me where you made that point in this post"
I tell you i'll make it very simple for you. Wicklow as a county will continue to operate as they've done for 140 years and will be bottom of the barrel for as long as the GAA is in existence. Most realistic observers have left and will have nothing to do with the county scene as they look at what is evident over 140 years and see that it is abject and shows no sign of changing. I do not believe the components within the county have the collective will or know how to change. Before too long there will be no one left on this forum as they too will realise how futile it really is.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 25/07/2022 14:29:10    2434280

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names for wicklow job football davy burke , alan costelloi gary duffy, kevin o brien , bernard flynn, brian cody , some names for my dream team . if brian cody took on wicklow there would be no more failures . davy burke should be approached again to take on job . kevin o brien would be a dream manager . the gaa never tried appointing a hurlling manager it would be very interesting wicklow needs to set targets and go for top manager . i will also write names for hurling job

lor12 (Wicklow) - Posts: 238 - 25/07/2022 16:44:32    2434358

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Has anyone not seen the photo of the Glenealy MOTM match being presented with his award. I'm presuming it's genuine, hard to believe as it is. Seriously, could or has it happened at any other club match anywhere ?? I hope all the County Board supporters are taking note. But then, it could be a long hungry winter.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 997 - 26/07/2022 13:57:53    2434565

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Has anyone not seen the photo of the Glenealy MOTM match being presented with his award. I'm presuming it's genuine, hard to believe as it is. Seriously, could or has it happened at any other club match anywhere ?? I hope all the County Board supporters are taking note. But then, it could be a long hungry winter."
The only issue I had with that is that they gave him Wexford potatoes. As if we we can't grow good spuds ourselves in Wicklow!

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 121 - 26/07/2022 14:14:44    2434575

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Replying To Hawkeye2:  "The only issue I had with that is that they gave him Wexford potatoes. As if we we can't grow good spuds ourselves in Wicklow!"
This photo has brought more attention to the county championship than anything else in the papers or radio....a good thing if you ask me!!!

stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 124 - 26/07/2022 20:56:36    2434715

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Replying To stringfellohawk:  "This photo has brought more attention to the county championship than anything else in the papers or radio....a good thing if you ask me!!!"
You can just imagine the slagging that player might have to take. I believe he is a school teacher. His pupils will have a " potato" field day. Excuse me sir, can I go drain the shpuds.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 997 - 26/07/2022 22:05:42    2434730

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Has anyone not seen the photo of the Glenealy MOTM match being presented with his award. I'm presuming it's genuine, hard to believe as it is. Seriously, could or has it happened at any other club match anywhere ?? I hope all the County Board supporters are taking note. But then, it could be a long hungry winter."
Would you ever give it a rest? What's the issue with a local company giving a bit of sponsorship to he hurling championship? That's all it was. I've seen similar photos of a player in another being given sausages after a match because the local butchers were sponsoring the competition. Also the fact that you don't know who the hurler is when he's been playing for Wicklow for years shows how much of an actual interest you take in games in the county.

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 27/07/2022 08:04:29    2434736

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Reallly looking forward to the championship getting underway this weekend. There's two games that I think will be extremely close.

An Tochair v Avondale - I think An Tochair will cause a shock here, I've seen them a few times in the last 12 months and they're the best team to come up from Intermediate in a good while, probably since AGB.

Bray v Kiltegan - so hard to know what either team will be like in championship each year. The fact that it's coming off two weeks of hurling makes it even harder to know. Kiltegan are a championship team and I think they may just edge it.

AGB v Dunlavin - AGB had a good league but I think they've shown over the last few years that they can be flakey and Dunlavin have shown they're an established senior side but I think AGB should win with a bit to spare.

Donard v Tinahely - Donard were brilliant last year and love being underdogs but Tinahely should win comfortably if they want to be taken seriously this year.

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 27/07/2022 08:16:24    2434737

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Replying To Victorious87:  "Would you ever give it a rest? What's the issue with a local company giving a bit of sponsorship to he hurling championship? That's all it was. I've seen similar photos of a player in another being given sausages after a match because the local butchers were sponsoring the competition. Also the fact that you don't know who the hurler is when he's been playing for Wicklow for years shows how much of an actual interest you take in games in the county."
Victorious87. Your attacks on posters here seem to be getting more and more personalised. Not that it bothers me too much but you would be better off offering real well thought alternatives to what's going wrong with our county rather than attacking those who genuinely do worry about the southerly direction we have been on for years. . I thought my posts were humorous but obviously you wouldn't know the difference. I know that the recipient of the award is one of the best if not the best hurler we have in the county. I also know he was one of the players that was unavailable to the county senior team last season. Perhaps you could ask your beloved county board why so many senior hurlers were unavailable last season. Then maybe you can let us all know. Thank you.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 997 - 27/07/2022 10:14:02    2434765

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Victorious87. Your attacks on posters here seem to be getting more and more personalised. Not that it bothers me too much but you would be better off offering real well thought alternatives to what's going wrong with our county rather than attacking those who genuinely do worry about the southerly direction we have been on for years. . I thought my posts were humorous but obviously you wouldn't know the difference. I know that the recipient of the award is one of the best if not the best hurler we have in the county. I also know he was one of the players that was unavailable to the county senior team last season. Perhaps you could ask your beloved county board why so many senior hurlers were unavailable last season. Then maybe you can let us all know. Thank you."
I'm not attacking anyone personally, it's yourself and your alter ego who come on here with half-baked notions all the time and whine about the smallest of things. I don't love the county board, I'm well aware of some of the nonsense that has gone on in the past. I just don't fixate on them in every post because I actually like to talk about the club championships on here with people who go to games albeit there's very few of them left.

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 27/07/2022 11:31:07    2434811

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Replying To Victorious87:  "Reallly looking forward to the championship getting underway this weekend. There's two games that I think will be extremely close.

An Tochair v Avondale - I think An Tochair will cause a shock here, I've seen them a few times in the last 12 months and they're the best team to come up from Intermediate in a good while, probably since AGB.

Bray v Kiltegan - so hard to know what either team will be like in championship each year. The fact that it's coming off two weeks of hurling makes it even harder to know. Kiltegan are a championship team and I think they may just edge it.

AGB v Dunlavin - AGB had a good league but I think they've shown over the last few years that they can be flakey and Dunlavin have shown they're an established senior side but I think AGB should win with a bit to spare.

Donard v Tinahely - Donard were brilliant last year and love being underdogs but Tinahely should win comfortably if they want to be taken seriously this year."
The bookies are very seldom wrong. Avobdale have the senior championship experience and also have had been operating in a higher league level than An Tochar. However winning is a habit and An Tochar have been ratching up huge scores this year. If An Tochar bring that firepower to the game then I fancy their chances. I fancy Kiltegan to overcome Bray, AGB to have too much for Dunlavin and Tinahely likewise to have too much firepower for Donard.

roseyinthegarden (Wicklow) - Posts: 109 - 27/07/2022 14:32:13    2434872

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Replying To Victorious87:  "Reallly looking forward to the championship getting underway this weekend. There's two games that I think will be extremely close.

An Tochair v Avondale - I think An Tochair will cause a shock here, I've seen them a few times in the last 12 months and they're the best team to come up from Intermediate in a good while, probably since AGB.

Bray v Kiltegan - so hard to know what either team will be like in championship each year. The fact that it's coming off two weeks of hurling makes it even harder to know. Kiltegan are a championship team and I think they may just edge it.

AGB v Dunlavin - AGB had a good league but I think they've shown over the last few years that they can be flakey and Dunlavin have shown they're an established senior side but I think AGB should win with a bit to spare.

Donard v Tinahely - Donard were brilliant last year and love being underdogs but Tinahely should win comfortably if they want to be taken seriously this year."
Good predictions, any thoughts on intermediate fixtures?

FootballRising (Wexford) - Posts: 26 - 27/07/2022 15:03:08    2434884

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Replying To Victorious87:  "I'm not attacking anyone personally, it's yourself and your alter ego who come on here with half-baked notions all the time and whine about the smallest of things. I don't love the county board, I'm well aware of some of the nonsense that has gone on in the past. I just don't fixate on them in every post because I actually like to talk about the club championships on here with people who go to games albeit there's very few of them left."
It's comforting to know that there isn't anything personal here. Nothing from my side anyway. And as for half baked ? God bless your innocence. The club scene here is diminishing each year or has been now for a few years and that reflects itself in the performance of our county teams. If you can't see the lack of drive or leadership in this county then there is nothing that I or my "alter ego" can do about that. Part of the reason for being in the basement of Gaelic games is that people just have allowed the club championships to be the epicentre of the Gaelic scene within the county, which would be the correct approach if the ability and standards of the clubs was improving, which it isn't. Possibly there are some signs of a recovery. Some clubs like An Tochair, Tinahely, AGB, Aughrim, Western Gaels and others are bringing forward many talented young players and long may that continue. When our senior champions can compete in the latter stages of the Leinster Club championships, then and only then will we be able to say that we are improving. We are probably a bit off that yet.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 997 - 27/07/2022 15:13:54    2434890

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Replying To Victorious87:  "Reallly looking forward to the championship getting underway this weekend. There's two games that I think will be extremely close.

An Tochair v Avondale - I think An Tochair will cause a shock here, I've seen them a few times in the last 12 months and they're the best team to come up from Intermediate in a good while, probably since AGB.

Bray v Kiltegan - so hard to know what either team will be like in championship each year. The fact that it's coming off two weeks of hurling makes it even harder to know. Kiltegan are a championship team and I think they may just edge it.

AGB v Dunlavin - AGB had a good league but I think they've shown over the last few years that they can be flakey and Dunlavin have shown they're an established senior side but I think AGB should win with a bit to spare.

Donard v Tinahely - Donard were brilliant last year and love being underdogs but Tinahely should win comfortably if they want to be taken seriously this year."
Good predictions, any thoughts on intermediate fixtures?

FootballRising (Wexford) - Posts: 26 - 27/07/2022 15:22:57    2434895

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Replying To FootballRising:  "Good predictions, any thoughts on intermediate fixtures?"
Much harder to call I think. The Intermediate is such a dogfight of a championship every year.

Greystones vs Kilmac - Greystones should win handy, Kilmac have gone backwards in recent years and Greystones really shouldn't be at this level.

Barndarrig vs Valleymount - I think Valleymount will edge it. Barndarrig were a really well organised team in Junior A but I don't know if they'll have the quality to do much in Intermediate this year.

Ballymanus vs Stratford - Stratford are really struggling from what I've heard, I think this is the year they go down and I'd worry for them. Ballymanus should win well.

Coolkenno vs Annacurra - probably the tightest match this weekend in Intermediate. Coolkenno should be favourites but I wouldn't be putting any money on them. Can't see there being much in it.

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 27/07/2022 18:25:59    2434948

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