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For any one interested, here are some key dates for your diary. These are the footballer's league and Leinster championship fixtures. It puts into perspective how difficult a campaign this will be in Division 3. We have three home games against Down, Westmeath and Limerick and four difficult away fixtures in Sligo, Clare, Offaly and Antrim. I reckon we would have to get eight points to be sure of staying in Division 3; six points might be enough but I doubt it will. I would be interested to know what other supporters opinions are in relation to where we would pick up these points and where we are likely to finish in the table? Sunday 28th January 2024 Wicklow v Down - Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm Sunday 4th February 2024 Sligo v Wicklow - Markievicz Park, 2pm Sunday 18th February 2024 Wicklow v Westmeath - Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm Sunday 25th February 2024 Clare v Wicklow, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm Sunday 3rd March 2024 Offaly v Wicklow, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm Saturday 16th March 2024 Wicklow v Limerick - Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm Sunday 23rd March 2024 Antrim v Wicklow - Corrigan Park, Belfast, 2pm Championship Sunday 7th April 2024 Westmeath v Wicklow wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 01/01/2024 18:16:31 2518017 Link 0 |
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Twould be a brave man that would try to pick out where you might get 6 or 8 pts there. Task looks more daunting when you see the teams laid out like that. Still, Oisin has a lot of good young talent at his disposal. We will soon know if he can beat them into any kind of cohesive unit.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 02/01/2024 10:18:17 2518042 Link 0 |
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Did anyone on here make it to last nights game ? The result wasn't very flattering but I would think that the team was experimental in that there didn't seem to be an awful lot of "regular" players on the panel for the game. But then, we do understand that it is a very young panel anyway. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 03/01/2024 08:54:53 2518126 Link 0 |
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I was there. Totally outclassed all over the field. Not sure how many regulars were missing but you would fear for a lot of these players at this level. Poor support for the team last night but venue issues didn't help and I suppose when you have such little promotion and effort to improve anything this will happen. Wexford are a county on the up. Great facilities too they seem to have a very good committee that is regularly freshened up with new faces. Not looking great for Oisin but time will tell.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 116 - 03/01/2024 12:00:43 2518159 Link 0 |
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I wax there as well not so sure what you said about facilties in wexford I nearly drowned in a pot hole at the car park. Not a suitable venue for a senior county match no more than ballinakil would ge. Disappointed with some newcomers who i think dodnt take tgere chsnce last night. But early days in fairness Not sure about mcconville losing entire back room team to Tipp was just embarrasinf I dont know how he let that happen. Including wivklow men. So no continuatity from last year and it showed. Putting a dozen behind the ball and still letting in 4 14 was bad but only january I know so plenty of time Pat Mustard (None) - Posts: 385 - 03/01/2024 12:16:05 2518162 Link 0 |
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Trying to assess where the team is presently; I think the team is very much in transition. Regardless of whether Dean Healy and other experience players play this year, their careers are coming to an end. Looking at some of the younger players coming through, there is some talent there but for me there are two concerns - firstly, physically these players are not up to what is required at intercounty level YET. Secondly, it is hard to make an impact at senior level when we haven't had success at underage. Winning gives players confidence that they belong and can compete against other counties. The manager is in his second year at this level. He secure promotion from Division 4 last year which was decent achievement in his first year. I've said for a long time that Wicklow need to focus on the league. Part of this is to stay out of Division 4. As it stands, it is hard to make a case for the current squad staying in Division 3; I hope I'm wrong. The first game at home to Down is vital. If the team can perform and get a result in that game then it gives them belief and something to build on for the remaining games. Finally, we must shore up at the back, we're conceding too many goals. I'm not basing this point on the score line last night but from the last couple of years. It is hard to win or get a result in games if we are conceding one-two goals per game. Hopefully the management team will have this right before we play Down in the league.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 03/01/2024 12:19:15 2518164 Link 0 |
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At least there are lights in the car parks, unlike Ballinakill. Thought I seen you looking on under an umbrella.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 116 - 03/01/2024 12:32:46 2518168 Link 0 |
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Did he background team leave because of having to deal with McConville or were they enticed by money? Just asking. If I had the necessary skills, I would want to contribute to my own county's cause unless I was interested in more money from another county or didn't see eye to eye with the chief!!! Is there players in the county who stand out at club level who haven't been given a chance by the current manager?
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 03/01/2024 14:55:21 2518209 Link 0 |
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Yeah the old entrance has more potholes than and old pair of socks, new entrance off the main road opened a few weeks before xmas. In fairness at short notice a ground under the stewardship of the county board rather than club was probably the only option. Pitches there hold up all year around too,
TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1724 - 03/01/2024 15:06:27 2518215 Link 0 |
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True enough about the lights but still didnt stop me nearly falling in I wasnt far off falling in head first. East enough spot the wicklowmen there there wasnt too many of us
Pat Mustard (None) - Posts: 385 - 03/01/2024 15:15:24 2518219 Link 0 |
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Look, I'm not too sure what these guys will bring to Tipperary. Some of them have been around Wicklow a while and let's face it, they haven't exactly set the place on fire. Christian charity bars me from naming names. Best of luck to them and I hope they prove me wrong - though not if they are playing Wicklow. .
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 03/01/2024 15:34:26 2518226 Link 0 |
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Best of luck to them. If they want to commit to another cause for whatever reason, best of luck to them. The cause need people who are fully committed as oppose to individuals who have their eyes elsewhere. I was trying to find out if the O'Byrne cup is round robin but it seems to be knock out with no shield which was the case previously. I'd love to know if Oisin has set panel of players for the league or if he is trying to finalise one. Hard to see him learning much after last night especially given the feedback from people at the game.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 03/01/2024 16:06:54 2518230 Link 0 |
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I think you are possibly wrong here. When the format was announced a few months back, a shield competition for those first round knockout was mentioned. Perhaps it has been scrapped.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 03/01/2024 18:26:52 2518250 Link 0 |
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its not, games in shield next sat.
Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2842 - 03/01/2024 19:17:47 2518254 Link 0 |
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Playin Carlow Saturday at 1 in aughrim Pat Mustard (None) - Posts: 385 - 03/01/2024 21:53:14 2518271 Link 0 |
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Thanks for update. I hope that we see a better performance on Saturday against Carlow. Both Wicklow and Carlow suffered heavy defeats to Wexford and Carlow respectively so both teams will be looking for an improved performance and result going into the league plus another game would help with their preparation. Interesting to read on the Carlow forum a Carlow supporter reference how powerfully physical the Kildare players were in comparison with Carlow.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 04/01/2024 10:08:02 2518291 Link 0 |
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I too follow the Wexford and Carlow forums. Some of the Carlow lads certainly remarked on the fitness and strength of the Kildare side. But then, it's about time Kildare stepped up. They have looked like Leinster contenders for a season or two now but failed to turn up against the Dubs. This bulk and physically strong issue will only be resolved with time. I know a few of the young lads to see from the north and east and they, while having a bit of height are only starting to "fill out " for want of a better phrase. All these things come in time so let's hope that their footballing abilities can carry them through for a season or two.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 04/01/2024 10:42:30 2518303 Link 0 |
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That's the issue with the cycle of new players in and out that we have with the football team. It takes time for lads at 21/22 to get into the shape needed to play at senior intercounty level. We seem to have a new crop of players each year, many of whom are gone after a year and the resources gone into their strength and conditioning are, for lack of a better word, wasted. I find it strange how there only seems to be 3/4 players from Blessington and Pats and none from Rathnew on the panel. Blessington and Pats seem to consistently have the fittest and strongest panels. There seems to be a big group of players who've been playing at weaker senior and intermediate clubs. I'm not against picking players from smaller clubs but surely we're not picking enough from the strongest clubs? Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 04/01/2024 13:38:49 2518335 Link 0 |
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Yes, you are right, this is a problem. From what I know, this is the reason why a lot of other counties especially the top counties have introduced strength and conditioning at club level and in development squads. I don't know if it is the same standard as intercounty, probably not but it does mean that club players reach a good standard of strength and conditioning whether they are playing at intercounty level or not. This means that the step up doesn't take as long which suits the modern players who may play intercounty for a couple of years and stop for a year or two before re joining. Based upon what I see at club level in Wicklow, there are players playing at senior level who are not in good physical shape from a strength and conditioning perspective which suggests that the clubs are being left to their own devices when it comes to this area. I think that the county development officers should be helping the club to put a strength and conditioning programme in place to improve overall players physical condition. Maybe the clubs are not on board in this regard.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 05/01/2024 09:51:07 2518444 Link 0 |
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Looking at today's panel and I could see 3 players who would have played in the senior championship semi finals. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 06/01/2024 20:09:35 2518694 Link 1 |