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Wicklow GAA thread

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Great result today for Jonathan and the hurlers. Meath have never been easy for Wicklow to get the better of. Well done to all.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2034 - 18/01/2026 16:27:58    2651632

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Fair play to Bosco and the hurlers. As has always been the case, the hurling family in Wicklow continues to get on with their business often out of sight, out of mind and with the minimum of resources & help but will always wear the jersey with pride and achieve results you'd think they'd have no right to. Hopefully they can bring that momentum into the league.

I don't know what the big deal is about the U20s playing the Carlow game. Makes total sense to me. The seniors had already got two games in during the O'Byrne cup . The U20 competitions won't be long starting, so why not let them use this as a valuable game to help their management see how they are set. These are the same competitions the GAA themselves seen fit to scrap altogether last year, so there's certainly no sense of prestige in these competitions from the authorities.

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 183 - 18/01/2026 19:15:50    2651687

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Replying To Hawkeye2:  "Fair play to Bosco and the hurlers. As has always been the case, the hurling family in Wicklow continues to get on with their business often out of sight, out of mind and with the minimum of resources & help but will always wear the jersey with pride and achieve results you'd think they'd have no right to. Hopefully they can bring that momentum into the league.

I don't know what the big deal is about the U20s playing the Carlow game. Makes total sense to me. The seniors had already got two games in during the O'Byrne cup . The U20 competitions won't be long starting, so why not let them use this as a valuable game to help their management see how they are set. These are the same competitions the GAA themselves seen fit to scrap altogether last year, so there's certainly no sense of prestige in these competitions from the authorities."
From Oisín's interviews, it's obvious these games are being treated as nothing more than challenge matches, not genuine competition. pitting fully developed inter-county players against far less physical U20 players is irresponsible, in my view. While some of the U20s are playing adult football, they are not in permanent starters or play prominent positions for their clubs. The mismatch is dangerous, and the U20s were lucky there were no serious injuries.

StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 56 - 19/01/2026 10:06:03    2651797

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Replying To StrandedinWW:  "From Oisín's interviews, it's obvious these games are being treated as nothing more than challenge matches, not genuine competition. pitting fully developed inter-county players against far less physical U20 players is irresponsible, in my view. While some of the U20s are playing adult football, they are not in permanent starters or play prominent positions for their clubs. The mismatch is dangerous, and the U20s were lucky there were no serious injuries."
Have to agree with you on this. When you look at the results in the O'Byrne cup, it's doubtful if any county fielded a "full" team - particularly the big guns. I think Meath had 1 regular against us in the first round. Not so much on the u 20s. Most of those guys would be playing senior with their clubs - or at least with their clubs first team, whatever grade that is. Sunday week against Carlow will be interesting. I would be wary of this Carlow team.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2034 - 19/01/2026 10:58:14    2651818

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I see the hurling fixture is still down for Hyde Park on Sunday, does anyone know if this is still the case or if it will end up in Athleague as usual?

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 105 - 21/01/2026 09:34:47    2652243

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On Sunday next, Wicklow begin their quest for promotion from Division 4 when they play Leitrim at home. We have three home games: Leitrim, London and Tipperary and four away games: Carlow, Waterford, Antrim and Longford. The two fixtures I think will be our toughest on paper are away to Carlow and Antrim; Wicklow always find it hard to win in both these locations. Defeat on the opening day of last year's league campaign against London ultimately cost us promotion. The team begin with a game against one of the demoted team from division three, in Leitrim. Relegated teams are normally favourites for promotion but looking at the fixtures, I think this year's league is a real opportunity for this team and its management to win promotion. We have to build on last year. There haven't been much change in terms of the squad. Patrick O'Keane will be a loss but nowadays, players go travelling so it is difficult to have a full squad available from year to year. Anyway, best of luck to the players and management on Sunday against Leitrim. I hope we can begin with a win especially with home advantage.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2157 - 21/01/2026 10:01:43    2652250

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "On Sunday next, Wicklow begin their quest for promotion from Division 4 when they play Leitrim at home. We have three home games: Leitrim, London and Tipperary and four away games: Carlow, Waterford, Antrim and Longford. The two fixtures I think will be our toughest on paper are away to Carlow and Antrim; Wicklow always find it hard to win in both these locations. Defeat on the opening day of last year's league campaign against London ultimately cost us promotion. The team begin with a game against one of the demoted team from division three, in Leitrim. Relegated teams are normally favourites for promotion but looking at the fixtures, I think this year's league is a real opportunity for this team and its management to win promotion. We have to build on last year. There haven't been much change in terms of the squad. Patrick O'Keane will be a loss but nowadays, players go travelling so it is difficult to have a full squad available from year to year. Anyway, best of luck to the players and management on Sunday against Leitrim. I hope we can begin with a win especially with home advantage."
Im really looking forward to the start of the league. I feel we have a great chance this year of promotion. However we have to hit the ground running next weekend and we must win comfortably if we are to progress against the strongrr teams in the division. Leitrim have great supporters a nd many travel the length and breadth of the country giving their players plenty of vocal support. I agree that Carlow Antrim and Tipp will pose stern challenges and the Carlow match is a real 4 pointer. The squad have a real chance to prove themselves this year as most of them have been together for a few seasons now so their conditioning has improved and their interplay should also show a better understanding. The important strategy is to get the ball in early to our inside lines and break quickly from defence. I know the Longford squad was very young and lacked experience but we had à better spread of scorers and more confidence in taking shots. Hopefully this can continue next weekend and we can come away wuth the points. Best of luck to the management and players

Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 140 - 21/01/2026 17:39:34    2652369

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