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Replying To Victorious87: "Looking at today's panel and I could see 3 players who would have played in the senior championship semi finals. I can't wrap my head around that. I went to the match today and there was some good football played at times. Carlow were an average side but had the better of most of the match. Wicklow subs in the 2nd half made a good impression. Conor Fee, JP Nolan and Brian Nesbitt stood out going forward. Hopefully the plan is to have some more established players back in for the league." I went again. I watched the masked singer when I got home. I enjoyed it. heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 116 - 06/01/2024 23:12:57 2518727 Link
Replying To Victorious87: "Looking at today's panel and I could see 3 players who would have played in the senior championship semi finals. I can't wrap my head around that. I went to the match today and there was some good football played at times. Carlow were an average side but had the better of most of the match. Wicklow subs in the 2nd half made a good impression. Conor Fee, JP Nolan and Brian Nesbitt stood out going forward. Hopefully the plan is to have some more established players back in for the league." Wasn't able to go to the game and saw on score Beo Conor Fee was down as full back. Was this right? Just never seen him playing there myself. Wicks (Wicklow) - Posts: 1 - 07/01/2024 16:30:49 2518830 Link
Replying To Wicks: "Wasn't able to go to the game and saw on score Beo Conor Fee was down as full back. Was this right? Just never seen him playing there myself." He seemed to play as more of a sweeper. He got forward a lot. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 07/01/2024 17:56:12 2518855 Link
Replying To Victorious87: "He seemed to play as more of a sweeper. He got forward a lot." So one of the most promising forwards in the county is picked to play full back and ends up as sweeper? You couldn't make it up if you tried. dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 07/01/2024 20:29:49 2518901 Link
Replying To dubarra: "So one of the most promising forwards in the county is picked to play full back and ends up as sweeper? You couldn't make it up if you tried." I'm not too sure that, under the setups of the modern game, positions or shirt numbers mean an awful lot anymore . I didn't get to the match yesterday but another poster said that Conor Fee got forward a lot. I'm presuming that when he did, other players slipped in to mind the house, in other words, all eventualities are covered. I'm in my twilight years and find the "modern" game confusing in the extreme so the above is simply my opinion and possibly an idiotic one. I can remember the great Mick O'Connell playing. A master midfielder . I would love to hear what he and others of his era think of the way the game is evolving. It looks as if we are going to have a very young side for the task of staying in Div 3. So, to this end, I will accept any player playing anywhere if Oisin can pull that off. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 07/01/2024 22:01:12 2518922 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "I'm not too sure that, under the setups of the modern game, positions or shirt numbers mean an awful lot anymore . I didn't get to the match yesterday but another poster said that Conor Fee got forward a lot. I'm presuming that when he did, other players slipped in to mind the house, in other words, all eventualities are covered. I'm in my twilight years and find the "modern" game confusing in the extreme so the above is simply my opinion and possibly an idiotic one. I can remember the great Mick O'Connell playing. A master midfielder . I would love to hear what he and others of his era think of the way the game is evolving. It looks as if we are going to have a very young side for the task of staying in Div 3. So, to this end, I will accept any player playing anywhere if Oisin can pull that off." For the last decade, teams have been playing players out of position, for example, it is not unusual for a team to have what would be traditionally half backs deployed as half forwards so they could track back and act as extra defenders. I don't know remember as far back as Mick O'Connell but I can certainly remember back as far as the mid eighties and forward to the modern day. I think the game of gaelic football has regressed and is quite frankly an awful speculate for anyone to watch currently. I've been to watch matches in counties outside Wicklow; high profile games and there's been no atmosphere as it descended into a game of keep ball. I think the GAA are at a stage where they are now starting to talk about the game as a speculate as they are concerned about the drop in attendances. I don't know what it is like to play the modern game but for me, if I was young enough, I wouldn't be rushing to participate. Modern coaches have had a negative influence on the game but they are lauded and paid accordingly. It is good to see Oisin given these young players their chance. As I said before we are a team in transition. Staying in division three will be difficult. It would be difficult with an experienced side. I expect some of the more experienced players will return for the league campaign; resulting in a combination of youth and experience. Hopefully this will be enough to give us a shot at staying in division three. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 08/01/2024 09:14:42 2518949 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "For the last decade, teams have been playing players out of position, for example, it is not unusual for a team to have what would be traditionally half backs deployed as half forwards so they could track back and act as extra defenders. I don't know remember as far back as Mick O'Connell but I can certainly remember back as far as the mid eighties and forward to the modern day. I think the game of gaelic football has regressed and is quite frankly an awful speculate for anyone to watch currently. I've been to watch matches in counties outside Wicklow; high profile games and there's been no atmosphere as it descended into a game of keep ball. I think the GAA are at a stage where they are now starting to talk about the game as a speculate as they are concerned about the drop in attendances. I don't know what it is like to play the modern game but for me, if I was young enough, I wouldn't be rushing to participate. Modern coaches have had a negative influence on the game but they are lauded and paid accordingly. It is good to see Oisin given these young players their chance. As I said before we are a team in transition. Staying in division three will be difficult. It would be difficult with an experienced side. I expect some of the more experienced players will return for the league campaign; resulting in a combination of youth and experience. Hopefully this will be enough to give us a shot at staying in division three." One of the reasons I brought up Mick O'Connell was that I see it's his 86th birthday. He was an artist. Mostly it was on grainey black and white telly we would see him and mostly in all Ireland finals or Railway Cups. TV coverage wasn't great in those days which, to judge by some commentators, is another "regression". If Memory serves Mick was also brought over to the states to pursue his kicking skills but he just couldn't leave his native Valentia and the Kingdom. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 08/01/2024 11:02:53 2518977 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "One of the reasons I brought up Mick O'Connell was that I see it's his 86th birthday. He was an artist. Mostly it was on grainey black and white telly we would see him and mostly in all Ireland finals or Railway Cups. TV coverage wasn't great in those days which, to judge by some commentators, is another "regression". If Memory serves Mick was also brought over to the states to pursue his kicking skills but he just couldn't leave his native Valentia and the Kingdom." A super footballer. I believe that he rowed a rowing boat from Valentia to the mainland a couple of times a week to train with Kerry and rowed back to the island after training that night. Lately I heard some of Michael O'Hehir's commentary. The commentary was from the 1981 All Ireland hurling final in tribute to Johnny Flaherty who passed away before Christmas. My God, it was powerful commentary. The voice conjured up images and memories. I suppose it is natural to think everything was great in the past but I do believe that the atmosphere in the stadiums and at the games were truly superior in the past which was borne in the commentary. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 08/01/2024 13:06:30 2519021 Link
Sounds like Clare have been completely decimated with retirements/pull-outs for 2024. They're probably still a good few steps ahead of Wicklow but that's no harm at all for the league. FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 71 - 08/01/2024 13:08:05 2519024 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "A super footballer. I believe that he rowed a rowing boat from Valentia to the mainland a couple of times a week to train with Kerry and rowed back to the island after training that night. Lately I heard some of Michael O'Hehir's commentary. The commentary was from the 1981 All Ireland hurling final in tribute to Johnny Flaherty who passed away before Christmas. My God, it was powerful commentary. The voice conjured up images and memories. I suppose it is natural to think everything was great in the past but I do believe that the atmosphere in the stadiums and at the games were truly superior in the past which was borne in the commentary." Micheal O'Hehir could never be equalled. He set his stall out an early age for radio, and he could convey the atmosphere of the grounds over the airwaves - you could imagine yourself being there. He carried that on to television when coverage started. Today's commentators wouldn't even be in the halfpenny places, as they say. Particularly one tanned guy, who I won't mention. In my early years, whoever was lucky enough to have a television - around here it was the odd farmer - would throw their doors open to their neighbours for all Ireland finals and I'm pretty sure Railway Cup finals. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 08/01/2024 13:37:35 2519034 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "I'm not too sure that, under the setups of the modern game, positions or shirt numbers mean an awful lot anymore . I didn't get to the match yesterday but another poster said that Conor Fee got forward a lot. I'm presuming that when he did, other players slipped in to mind the house, in other words, all eventualities are covered. I'm in my twilight years and find the "modern" game confusing in the extreme so the above is simply my opinion and possibly an idiotic one. I can remember the great Mick O'Connell playing. A master midfielder . I would love to hear what he and others of his era think of the way the game is evolving. It looks as if we are going to have a very young side for the task of staying in Div 3. So, to this end, I will accept any player playing anywhere if Oisin can pull that off." Yes, this is a pretty good description of what it looked like. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 08/01/2024 19:26:23 2519117 Link
Replying To dubarra: "So one of the most promising forwards in the county is picked to play full back and ends up as sweeper? You couldn't make it up if you tried." You can only have so many forwards on the field. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 08/01/2024 19:26:52 2519118 Link
A rumour that Dean might soon resume training. That's a positive for the league. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 08/01/2024 19:59:30 2519122 Link
Replying To Victorious87: "You can only have so many forwards on the field." Explain that one to me please dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 09/01/2024 07:52:07 2519159 Link
Replying To Victorious87: "You can only have so many forwards on the field." My understanding of this is that in the team set up there is a goalie, 6 backs, 2 midfielders and 6 forwards. Now, in the latest era of system style play, a manager could decide to play up to 14 attack minded players - maybe up to 15, as many goalies could be up towards the half way line and further, involved in the play. Obviously, shirt numbers have to be allocated, so, an attacking forward could have any number on his back. Strange, but there you have it. A number on your back doesn't mean a lot anymore - certainly doesn't define your position on the field. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 09/01/2024 10:50:12 2519201 Link
Anyone know why the u20 hurling championship was cancelled? All fixtures just seem to have disappeared... liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 175 - 09/01/2024 11:53:19 2519212 Link
Replying To dubarra: "Explain that one to me please" What is there to explain? No inter county team is leaving more than 2 forwards up at all time. Conor Fee, a good player, is not in the top two forwards on the panel. To get him into the team, he will need to learn a new position. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 09/01/2024 13:40:53 2519236 Link
This is maybe is part of our outdated view of things in Wicklow if we are still pigeon holing players into a traditional starting 15 type structure. Its all about playing a role now instead of positions and fitting into the gameplan. When you leave aside the marquee players like Clifford etc from the modern game , the vast majority of elite players are like interchange-able , clones, comfortable playing anywhere on the pitch and able to carry out any number of roles depending on what the game plan is on a given day. Fully agree with other comments here around our current S&C levels. We are miles behind the leading counties on this. Comparing the physique of our guys to the teams that have been all-in on S&C since before minor grade, it's like day & night. Seem like there is more emphasis now being placed on this within the academy teams thankfully, but will take a few years to build this up to close the gap. Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 121 - 09/01/2024 21:57:23 2519345 Link
Replying To Hawkeye2: "This is maybe is part of our outdated view of things in Wicklow if we are still pigeon holing players into a traditional starting 15 type structure. Its all about playing a role now instead of positions and fitting into the gameplan. When you leave aside the marquee players like Clifford etc from the modern game , the vast majority of elite players are like interchange-able , clones, comfortable playing anywhere on the pitch and able to carry out any number of roles depending on what the game plan is on a given day. Fully agree with other comments here around our current S&C levels. We are miles behind the leading counties on this. Comparing the physique of our guys to the teams that have been all-in on S&C since before minor grade, it's like day & night. Seem like there is more emphasis now being placed on this within the academy teams thankfully, but will take a few years to build this up to close the gap." Just noting your thoughts on S &C. Unfortunately, from my memory going back over the years , we have always been behind the curve. When we get our chins to the bar, or where we thought the bar should be, someone has clicked it a few notches higher. It's before my time that we had a senior team who could compete but various factors including "long counts" were the enemy in those days. Since then, we have been continually chasing the game. Late 80s and into the 90s we again were almost there but since then we have floundered particularly at underage even though we appointed full time development officers etc. I can't figure how this seemed to trigger a slide in our minor and u21 standards but facts don't lie. There is undoubtedly a raising of juvenile standards in many clubs which should, in time, bear results at inter county level but how long this will take, we can only guess. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 10/01/2024 08:25:13 2519364 Link
Couple of interesting things worthy of discussion in the last week or so. County Board - 250k of an overspend last year and a slap on the wrist from the auditors from the reading of the Wicklow People: - An increase in the levys to clubs at a time when most are experiencing rising costs themselves in their running. - The county boards allocation of "Small" "Medium" & "Large" clubs seems to be some way off the general consensus of the clubs. Teams of the year in the Wicklow people - some interesting selections on both the senior and Intermediate football ones with lads selected who played very little bar maybe the final game or so. Would be interested to hear does anyone have any glaring obvious omissions? Championship Structure remaining as is - Good or Bad thing? Personally I was in favour of the format from 2022. footballlover (Wicklow) - Posts: 98 - 10/01/2024 20:13:47 2519477 Link