Hard one to swallow today. I think if ye had brought Kevin quinn out earlier ye would have won it. He was having a nightmare inside but changed the whole dynamic when brought to midfield.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 199 - 14/04/2024 23:43:19    2537871

I was very disappointed leaving the game yesterday. As disappointed as I've been after a match in a long time. To be negative for a minute, we have Kildare at our mercy and let them off the hook; Kildare were there for the taken and like a lot of Wicklow teams in the past, we didn't have the composure to finish them off. This killer instinct that is required to win games and compete with the best - we have to find a way to win games as oppose to lose them. On a more positive note, we've played a team that we lost to in Division 3 and we've played at team that operated in Division 2; we conceded no goals. Conceding goals was a problem in the league but we look solid in this department. Against Westmeath, we built a big lead and were able to defend the lead despite huge pressure being exerted on us. Yesterday, the team had to play against the wind and stay in the game which they did. I agree with another poster, it might be worth a try to play Kevin Quinn in the half forward line as he seems to be boxed in, in the full forward line. There are at least two players if not more involved with the u20 team who could play a part in the rest of the season. I realise that these players give a lot of time and may decide to travel for the summer. Being selfish, I would like to see the team stay together and give the Tailteann cup a good crack as I think the team are capable of winning it. Yesterday's defeat will take some time to get past but in a couple of weeks, I would like to think that players and supporters will be ready to go again. If Kildare end up in the Tailteann cup, I'd like to get another crack at them to see if we can right what went wrong yesterday.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1909 - 15/04/2024 08:50:35    2537896

Thoroughly enjoyable game to watch. We have improved and that is probably the worst Kildare team I've ever seen. Lack of a reliable free taker is what cost us in the end. A Tony Hannon in his prime would have helped us win that game by three or four points.

Dreamer (Wicklow) - Posts: 40 - 15/04/2024 11:27:15    2537968

Heartbreaking finish for the game for yous yesterday. Hopefully yous can give the Tailteann a decent rattle.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 15/04/2024 13:15:01    2538041

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 990 - 15/04/2024 14:32:33    2538086

I want to take a moment here to mark the sad passing of Philip Doyle of Aughrim. Like many others i'd imagine, Philip has been a consistent part of the experience of going to matches in Aughrim throughout my lifetime. Whether it be a junior hurling match on a wet Wednesday evening with only a few diehards or some of the biggest championship days when Aughrim was packed to the rafters , Philip was there manning the shop while holding court with some of the local "experts" !! and would be able to give you a quick summary of how the "first match" was going , who was going well and who wasn't plus you might get some breaking news on the "big game" , a late injury or addition to the squad etc. He'd be up to speed with all the info. Plus if you didn't have enough change for the tea or crisps, that didn't matter, you wouldn't be left go thirsty. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 120 - 16/04/2024 17:21:25    2538382

So, again we fall when we step out of the bottom section. I am not sure that Louth will lift the trophy but the best of luck to them if they do. I'm not going to say hard luck as we end up saying that too often. The lads did their best. I was a bit concerned after that Laois drubbing. Even allowing for some personnel changes, that was too easy for Laois. The positives - well there are certainly a few players who would strengthen the senior squad. That's probably as much as we can hope for. Let's see if the minors can take a scalp or two.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 990 - 17/04/2024 08:32:35    2538493

Disappointing loss for the U20s last night. I thought when they went 3 up with about 15 to go that they would see it out. They had put the Louth kick out under all sorts of pressure. But then Louth took control and won most of our kick outs. They dominated the long kicks and they got the goal from a short one.

Some skilful players on that team that will hopefully make the step up to senior.

Louth had a fella that kicked 2 or 3 45s and long range free - he scored 5 frees in total. It is some asset to have.

TopDrawer (Wicklow) - Posts: 51 - 17/04/2024 08:57:05    2538495

It's been a disappointing few days from a footballing perspective. As others have pointed out, there are 3-4 players that have been part of the senior squad who will certainly strength the squad if they stay around for the summer and have a tilt at the Tailteann cup. On a positive note, we appear to be beating certain counties on a consistent basis at underage - Carlow, Wexford etc. However, once we go beyond those counties, we seem to be falling short. Our next step should be beat the counties in the next category like Laois and Louth. Louth have done a lot of work to raise the profile through their senior team and appear to be building on what was begun by Mickey Harte's tenure. If I was to be critical of the past, we never seem to build on the foundations established by one manager - it feels like we go back to square one which is why I hope that Oisin McConville and his management team can stay around for a few more years as this senior squad is young and still developing. The last thing that the players need is a new manager. To give the powers that be in the county credit there does appear to be a pathway between u20 and senior now which didn't exist in the past. This can only benefit the senior squad and increase competition for places for a place on the first fifteen.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1909 - 17/04/2024 10:59:47    2538537