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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To FrankieJoe:  "It was quite telling on his podcast this morning that he hadn't a single mention for Wicklow supporters, players, etc when he was talking about it. Surely they're the main ones he's let down with all this."
Would you like to see him gone? Are people blaming the manager for the fact that we haven't won a game in the league as yet? Since 2012 this is our third time in division 3. What has those three promotions got in common? They've been with three different managers. Only once did we stay in division 3 and that was when the league was condensed which meant we only played teams in our region due to covid. When a full schedule was played the following year, we were relegated. I'd like to see us survive in division 3 but it will be a struggle, however, I don't see any point in us changing manager every 2-3 years. The primary reason we can't stay in division 3 is we don't have good enough players which is demonstrated at all levels that you can measure and isn't only relevant to gaelic football; look at our hurlers.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 12/02/2024 09:11:25    2525562

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Would you like to see him gone? Are people blaming the manager for the fact that we haven't won a game in the league as yet? Since 2012 this is our third time in division 3. What has those three promotions got in common? They've been with three different managers. Only once did we stay in division 3 and that was when the league was condensed which meant we only played teams in our region due to covid. When a full schedule was played the following year, we were relegated. I'd like to see us survive in division 3 but it will be a struggle, however, I don't see any point in us changing manager every 2-3 years. The primary reason we can't stay in division 3 is we don't have good enough players which is demonstrated at all levels that you can measure and isn't only relevant to gaelic football; look at our hurlers."
I get the impression from certain posts that some people are just not happy with the present manager / and some haven't been from day one. I think he is popular with the players. I personally think he is doing a good job - with what he has, a predominantly young and inexperienced bunch. Managers aren't exactly lining up to take over Wicklow. We don't have an internal man, that has been proved and before someone comes on here throwing out names, I will just say - show me the medals or titles won. We can't get our minors or u19/20s to produce the goods with internal managers - how would it be different at senior level. I'm sorry but these are the facts. As regards podcasts, I just don't listen to them and I think that he or anyone else is quite entitled to make a living whatever way he can. I can't imagine him or anyone else becoming a millionaire by managing a county team, despite the rumours. I have long banged on here about what I think of our great and good on their performances or lack of over the years and I'm not going down that rabbit hole again. We are where we are after around 140 yrs and I'm becoming reconciled to the fact that that's where we may have to stay.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 12/02/2024 10:42:29    2525585

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Replying To Freethinker:  "I get the impression from certain posts that some people are just not happy with the present manager / and some haven't been from day one. I think he is popular with the players. I personally think he is doing a good job - with what he has, a predominantly young and inexperienced bunch. Managers aren't exactly lining up to take over Wicklow. We don't have an internal man, that has been proved and before someone comes on here throwing out names, I will just say - show me the medals or titles won. We can't get our minors or u19/20s to produce the goods with internal managers - how would it be different at senior level. I'm sorry but these are the facts. As regards podcasts, I just don't listen to them and I think that he or anyone else is quite entitled to make a living whatever way he can. I can't imagine him or anyone else becoming a millionaire by managing a county team, despite the rumours. I have long banged on here about what I think of our great and good on their performances or lack of over the years and I'm not going down that rabbit hole again. We are where we are after around 140 yrs and I'm becoming reconciled to the fact that that's where we may have to stay."
In my opinion, based upon 40 years of having an interest in Wicklow GAA, the reason we are where we are and the reason we have won nothing is a lack of foresight and a coherent plan. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way to anyone who has given service to the county. Even now, there are people on here who are coming on complaining about the current manager but offering no ideas of their own. I'd imagine that the county board meetings follow a similar ritual; people nod and agree unless something affects their club in some way. There is no chance of someone coming in and fixing what has been wrong for 140 years so unless and/or until the county decides to do what needs to be done then nothing is likely to change. I don't know the current manager aside from what he did as a player. I think he has done a decent job with the players he has. He has refreshed the squad and brought down the average age. He helped get promotion from division four in his first full season. The team have been competitive in their first two matches; they now need to turn those performances into points. Unless someone can name someone else who could do a better job then we should just get behind him and the team beginning on Sunday.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 12/02/2024 11:23:13    2525597

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Another day, another utterance by our manager, this time saying he was wrong.

He is starting to rival DT with his presence on the airwaves.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2897 - 12/02/2024 13:52:44    2525652

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I take a passing interest in wicklow affairs particularly since your unfortunate affair with us during micko's tenure. I think despite your presence in div3that ye are miles behind where you were 10 - 15 years ago. And this is despite ye producing some very competitive underage teams during that period, far better than what we have during the same time. So something is going wrong between that vital 18-23 age that ye are losing too much talent??? The hurling scene makes for fairly abysmal viewing but I don't know what is happening there. Overall when compared to ourselves ye don't stack up too well despite your greater resources and population and God knows we aren't setting the place on fire. I wish ye well in your remaining games as I think ye were unfortunate against sligo and yo yoing between 3 and 4 is soul destroying.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 203 - 12/02/2024 14:16:45    2525659

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Would you like to see him gone? Are people blaming the manager for the fact that we haven't won a game in the league as yet? Since 2012 this is our third time in division 3. What has those three promotions got in common? They've been with three different managers. Only once did we stay in division 3 and that was when the league was condensed which meant we only played teams in our region due to covid. When a full schedule was played the following year, we were relegated. I'd like to see us survive in division 3 but it will be a struggle, however, I don't see any point in us changing manager every 2-3 years. The primary reason we can't stay in division 3 is we don't have good enough players which is demonstrated at all levels that you can measure and isn't only relevant to gaelic football; look at our hurlers."
No, definitely not during a season anyway.

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 71 - 12/02/2024 14:32:50    2525667

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Replying To Overthebar53:  "I take a passing interest in wicklow affairs particularly since your unfortunate affair with us during micko's tenure. I think despite your presence in div3that ye are miles behind where you were 10 - 15 years ago. And this is despite ye producing some very competitive underage teams during that period, far better than what we have during the same time. So something is going wrong between that vital 18-23 age that ye are losing too much talent??? The hurling scene makes for fairly abysmal viewing but I don't know what is happening there. Overall when compared to ourselves ye don't stack up too well despite your greater resources and population and God knows we aren't setting the place on fire. I wish ye well in your remaining games as I think ye were unfortunate against sligo and yo yoing between 3 and 4 is soul destroying."
That is the 6 million dollar question. What happens or where do they go ? The standard of club football here is way off where it was even 10 yrs ago. Many clubs are working to improve that but it takes time. There doesn't seem to be, or maybe never was, an overall strategy at county board level to monitor the clubs training standards to see where we are at compared to other more progressive counties. Maybe this isn't the forte of county boards. We appointed a full time football development officer over 20 yrs ago and arguably we have regressed. We do seem to be getting better players coming through at juvenile level but we seem to trip up when we meet the 4 "stronger" counties in Leinster. We had good u15 and 16 teams in tournaments in the last few years. They played great stuff in the qualifiers but, again, fell at the final hurdle - sometimes to teams they had beaten earlier. I don't know if there is an answer to " the weaker county" problem. But then, look at Kildare. Winning minor and under 20/21 titles for a number of years but still can hardly keep the ball kicked out at senior when playing the Dubs.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 12/02/2024 15:26:54    2525689

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Replying To Overthebar53:  "I take a passing interest in wicklow affairs particularly since your unfortunate affair with us during micko's tenure. I think despite your presence in div3that ye are miles behind where you were 10 - 15 years ago. And this is despite ye producing some very competitive underage teams during that period, far better than what we have during the same time. So something is going wrong between that vital 18-23 age that ye are losing too much talent??? The hurling scene makes for fairly abysmal viewing but I don't know what is happening there. Overall when compared to ourselves ye don't stack up too well despite your greater resources and population and God knows we aren't setting the place on fire. I wish ye well in your remaining games as I think ye were unfortunate against sligo and yo yoing between 3 and 4 is soul destroying."
Leaving the hurling situation aside. You are correct in your observation; we were stronger 10-15 years ago but back then, the gaelic football was more traditional, the league was less important plus we had more skillful players and the best gaelic football manager in the history of the game in charge. I don't want to get sidetracked but the game has changed and not for the better in my opinion. County teams are now semi professional, there are more games which means that a county team's success will be predicated on a bigger squad of players because strength and conditioning is at such a high level across the games. I'm not using this as an excuse for the lack of success in Wicklow. In relation to Kildare, and it isn't only Kildare who have the problem. I think players are happy to play intercounty at under age and for their clubs but maybe don't want to dedicate their life to what is involved in playing senior intercounty football. Modern day managers have created a semi professional setup for which they are paid, handsomely in some cases and these managers place huge demands on the players. This is not only driven up the standards but in my opinion it has also driven some players away from the playing for their county. Only a theory, I could have it wrong.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 12/02/2024 17:01:33    2525712

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Leaving the hurling situation aside. You are correct in your observation; we were stronger 10-15 years ago but back then, the gaelic football was more traditional, the league was less important plus we had more skillful players and the best gaelic football manager in the history of the game in charge. I don't want to get sidetracked but the game has changed and not for the better in my opinion. County teams are now semi professional, there are more games which means that a county team's success will be predicated on a bigger squad of players because strength and conditioning is at such a high level across the games. I'm not using this as an excuse for the lack of success in Wicklow. In relation to Kildare, and it isn't only Kildare who have the problem. I think players are happy to play intercounty at under age and for their clubs but maybe don't want to dedicate their life to what is involved in playing senior intercounty football. Modern day managers have created a semi professional setup for which they are paid, handsomely in some cases and these managers place huge demands on the players. This is not only driven up the standards but in my opinion it has also driven some players away from the playing for their county. Only a theory, I could have it wrong."
I think you're theory is spot on. Well paid managers dictating to amateur players and croke Park turning a blind eye. It's not a good template and it won't end well if left unabated

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 203 - 12/02/2024 18:00:29    2525720

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Leaving the hurling situation aside. You are correct in your observation; we were stronger 10-15 years ago but back then, the gaelic football was more traditional, the league was less important plus we had more skillful players and the best gaelic football manager in the history of the game in charge. I don't want to get sidetracked but the game has changed and not for the better in my opinion. County teams are now semi professional, there are more games which means that a county team's success will be predicated on a bigger squad of players because strength and conditioning is at such a high level across the games. I'm not using this as an excuse for the lack of success in Wicklow. In relation to Kildare, and it isn't only Kildare who have the problem. I think players are happy to play intercounty at under age and for their clubs but maybe don't want to dedicate their life to what is involved in playing senior intercounty football. Modern day managers have created a semi professional setup for which they are paid, handsomely in some cases and these managers place huge demands on the players. This is not only driven up the standards but in my opinion it has also driven some players away from the playing for their county. Only a theory, I could have it wrong."
Strongly agree. The higher ups in the GAA need to rein it in sooner rather than later but, just like we've often said about those running our own county, they seem to be asleep at the wheel.

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 71 - 12/02/2024 18:21:46    2525727

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Replying To FrankieJoe:  "Strongly agree. The higher ups in the GAA need to rein it in sooner rather than later but, just like we've often said about those running our own county, they seem to be asleep at the wheel."
Asleep at the wheel ? That is one way of putting it with this massive shortfall hanging over us.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 12/02/2024 19:14:50    2525734

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Leaving the hurling situation aside. You are correct in your observation; we were stronger 10-15 years ago but back then, the gaelic football was more traditional, the league was less important plus we had more skillful players and the best gaelic football manager in the history of the game in charge. I don't want to get sidetracked but the game has changed and not for the better in my opinion. County teams are now semi professional, there are more games which means that a county team's success will be predicated on a bigger squad of players because strength and conditioning is at such a high level across the games. I'm not using this as an excuse for the lack of success in Wicklow. In relation to Kildare, and it isn't only Kildare who have the problem. I think players are happy to play intercounty at under age and for their clubs but maybe don't want to dedicate their life to what is involved in playing senior intercounty football. Modern day managers have created a semi professional setup for which they are paid, handsomely in some cases and these managers place huge demands on the players. This is not only driven up the standards but in my opinion it has also driven some players away from the playing for their county. Only a theory, I could have it wrong."
You are spot on, I couldn't agree more. County managers are dictating and the powers that be are letting it happen. We have a bad case of the the tail wagging the dog for the past 10 years or more

dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 13/02/2024 00:37:48    2525774

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I am going to buck the negative trend on here at the moment...yes we are no points in the league at the moment but we were very competitive in the game v Down and probalaby should have at least got a draw over in Sligo..the manager is dealing with a very young team but they are well set up and the players seem to be buying into the game plan so I still think there is a chance we can stay up. By the way we are very lucky to have Kevin Quinn playing with us...he made a right mess of Sligo last game...hoping Darcy hits a bit of form and we can start scoring more heavily. As always our problems start at midfield...maybe with the few lads coming back in we might start to break even there? I'm probbaly going to be slated but let's try a bit of positivity?!!

stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 124 - 14/02/2024 19:07:19    2526094

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Replying To stringfellohawk:  "I am going to buck the negative trend on here at the moment...yes we are no points in the league at the moment but we were very competitive in the game v Down and probalaby should have at least got a draw over in Sligo..the manager is dealing with a very young team but they are well set up and the players seem to be buying into the game plan so I still think there is a chance we can stay up. By the way we are very lucky to have Kevin Quinn playing with us...he made a right mess of Sligo last game...hoping Darcy hits a bit of form and we can start scoring more heavily. As always our problems start at midfield...maybe with the few lads coming back in we might start to break even there? I'm probbaly going to be slated but let's try a bit of positivity?!!"
I for one agree with you and try to nullify some of the negativity on here. I have tried to never be negative about players or management. I have good faith in this bunch of young fellows - along with some of those older guys. Like I have said already, I'm not sure if we might have gone up a year or so too early, but I am hoping that we can grab enough points to stay up.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 14/02/2024 19:41:38    2526101

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A big game looms for the county footballers on Sunday. After two defeats in our first two games, the team needs to get a result on Sunday at home to one of the favourites for promotion in this division. We've been unfortunate to have Down and Westmeath early in the campaign but this is surely offset by having both teams at home. I think we need six points to stay in the division, picking up two points at home to Westmeath on Sunday would give us a fighting chance of reaching six points. This game and away to Clare next weekend, will decide our fate in terms of survival. I'm not sure that Oisin being suspended from the sideline will have a dramatic effect on the team as I think he will be in some form of communication with his selectors throughout the game. Anyway, test of luck to the team and management; I hope they get a result to keep our league campaign alive.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 16/02/2024 11:53:28    2526329

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "A big game looms for the county footballers on Sunday. After two defeats in our first two games, the team needs to get a result on Sunday at home to one of the favourites for promotion in this division. We've been unfortunate to have Down and Westmeath early in the campaign but this is surely offset by having both teams at home. I think we need six points to stay in the division, picking up two points at home to Westmeath on Sunday would give us a fighting chance of reaching six points. This game and away to Clare next weekend, will decide our fate in terms of survival. I'm not sure that Oisin being suspended from the sideline will have a dramatic effect on the team as I think he will be in some form of communication with his selectors throughout the game. Anyway, test of luck to the team and management; I hope they get a result to keep our league campaign alive."
Should be an interesting encounter. I see that most who are taking part in the league forecasting competition have Westmeath by 4 or 5 pts. I think we could see an upset. We have loads of potential score takers - if they can click.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 17/02/2024 17:04:49    2526508

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A 5-7 point loss and yet another mortal victory is most likely case for me. There's no scenario where I see them winning this one.

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 71 - 18/02/2024 06:34:26    2526592

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Replying To FrankieJoe:  "A 5-7 point loss and yet another mortal victory is most likely case for me. There's no scenario where I see them winning this one."
They seem to have the right attitude at least. They don't ever seem to pack it in. Just as long as they keep learning. Westmeath will be a big ask and are going pretty well. I think they have a few injuries but I also expect another whirlwind start with them trying to get a four or five point lead on us. Best of luck to the lads amyway . Pity we have to wait until nearly match time to see who plays. At least I can't find anything anyway. That •Official Wicklow GAA X site should be closed down. As far as I can see it's useless. There was a bit about the young hurlers going to Clare yesterday. That seems to be the big news. Nothing on how they got on.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 18/02/2024 09:26:41    2526602

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Is there a Wicklow radio station that does Gaa commentary ?

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1016 - 18/02/2024 11:53:25    2526629

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As I am still unable to make it to the games as yet I am depending on match reports for analysis and it has to be said that the report online in the Indo doesn't make for happy reading. Having said that, if Westmeath were so superior, they should have been further in front. Next week is crucial now.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 999 - 18/02/2024 18:17:10    2526739

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