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Wexford Intercounty Hurling 2023

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I wouldn't be too worried about today's result, it's early days and don't forget last year, Dublin gave us a good beating in the Walsh Cup Final but we bounced back and beat Limerick the following week and had a good league campaign. We had a good few young lads involved today and there were positives.

Purpleandgold72 (Wexford) - Posts: 186 - 08/01/2023 18:50:17    2451562

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I concur with not getting carried away by a loss, just as you'd exercise caution had we hammered them.

While disappointed with the loss, I was delighted that so many players were given a shot. As someone said earlier, if we don't blood them now, when we can we? We are very quick to complain about lads not getting opportunities as it is.

And in fairness, the lads thrown in today have all stood out at club level lately. Clarke has made a name for himself as a tight man-marker, Eoin Murphy was a lynchpin for Ferns and Carty's general consistency for years was rewarded as well. Jack Doran and Kyle Firman were two of the younger stars of last year's championship too.

Now I do hope we bounce back with a win next time out, but I really hope we don't react by discarding all the chaps on the back of this. I assume he'll be going closer to a 'league team' for the KK game. The more upcoming and lads getting significant game-time between now and championship, the better.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1409 - 08/01/2023 18:57:21    2451565

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Replying To Viking66:  "Probably very few. Walsh Cup games generally don't capture the Wexford publics imagination. Games against Kilkenny at any level do though and this time there's a bit of novelty and razzmatazz thrown in.
If the draw had been different and we were playing Laois instead of Kilkenny there wouldn't be 12000 tickets sold.
Personally it's looking unlikely that I will make Mountrath although things could change between now and Sunday. Birr is looking more likely."
How many of the 12,000 sold were to Kilkenny supporters?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2447 - 08/01/2023 18:57:49    2451566

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Replying To gaapundit13:  "I enjoy these forums but rarely post but county man you are a nuisance. Posting negatively on the football last night and hurling tonight and you probably weren't in Mullingar or Mountrath."
You rarely post? This is your first post.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2447 - 08/01/2023 19:05:53    2451568

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "I mean, hardly any of the starters outside of Liam Ryan, Damien Reck, and Conor Devitt had any experience, I don't think there's any real point in gleaning much from the game. We need to try and integrate these young players ASAP; better that than fielding a strong team in the Walsh Cup and not developing young players."
Mcguckian Conor hearne and Cathal Dunbar all have inter county championship experience. I'm not saying I'm getting worked up all I'm saying is that it was an opportunity for lads to show a bit.

Wexfordgaa (Wexford) - Posts: 256 - 08/01/2023 19:07:40    2451570

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Did anyone really look at the two lineups and think we'd win? Actually, Laois had the far more experienced team out then we did and the lads were very competitive considering the lack of experience we had. It'll take time for guys to find there feet at this level. An example would be Conor Devitt. I was at this same exact game last year, and I thought Devitt was shockingly bad. Year later and how much he's come on is unbelievable. He was outstanding against Clare last year and today again. Banville was gone and I think Lawlor is a serious player. Couldn't give a toss about Walsh cup or league. Just stay up and then give the championship a serious rattle.

Finchfurlong996 (Wexford) - Posts: 255 - 08/01/2023 19:09:10    2451571

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "That was poor. I know it's only Walsh cup, first game etc..but I would be worried about the future a little bit. I know we give out about using the same lads all the time but there is a big drop off in standards between them and the others. Early days yet but Walsh cup ad league is a hell of a lot closer to championship than it used to be, don't have as much bedding in time. We didn't look like winning at all today. I know we keel saying to give these lads a chance but very few have actually grasped their chance the Last few years. I think our strength in depth is going to come against us again (tbf that isn't a new problem, been an issue since the late 90s really) We had some poor results any time we've played anything other than a full strength team the last 2/3 years.
One positive was Ross Banville looked decent and it would be great to have a comfortable and reliable free taker for championship.
Anyways onwards and upwards. Try to pull some positives out of it i guess. Not all doom and gloom and who knows what the year might bring....hopefully some good."
A good and interesting post for an outsider like me. But, isn't Chin a 'comfortable and reliable free taker'?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2447 - 08/01/2023 19:15:19    2451573

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Look it's first game since last June so going be rusty

Wexfordgaa (Wexford) - Posts: 114 - 08/01/2023 17:47:55

It was Laois first game since last May.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2447 - 08/01/2023 19:23:08    2451576

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "A good and interesting post for an outsider like me. But, isn't Chin a 'comfortable and reliable free taker'?"
Lee Chin isn't a bad free taker but he's not very comfortable on the frees and usually misses 3 or 4 most Days. He has hit important pressure frees for us before but at this level those 3 or 4 evey game add up. Need a lad who'll score 9/10 every day. Lee Chin still our best and most important player so not a dog at him but even the best hurlers in Ireland aren't necessarily great free takers e.g I've seen Cian Lynch and Conor Whelan take frees at various ages or teams and they were poor at them but can score from anywhere in play.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 08/01/2023 19:34:38    2451580

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Replying To alwaysasub:  "Anyone at the wexford game? Following on Twitter. Never felt like we were going to win"
I was there. 9 debutants, 4 fringe players and only Damien Reck and Liam Ryan of the team that started in last year's game in Nowlan Park. And of the subs brought on most were also debutants with only Chin and Dee O Keefe on in the last 5 minutes or so of the starting team in Nowlan Park. Most of the lads hadn't played with all the other lads before, some were only back in training a few weeks. And it showed.
We overplayed the ball in the Laois 45 especially, getting turned over or just misplacing the ball with some regularity especially in the 1st half. Laois were much slicker with their passing, ball control and movement as was to be expected as they only had 2 debutants .
The back 6 overall played better than the front 8, but with Ryan and Reck there, along with solid displays from Murphy, Clarke, Devitt and Carthy that was probably to be expected. Their performances were all very positive for the future of this season as the AIQF last year showed we definitely need more backs.
Hearne got better after a shaky start as did Clancy.
Of the forwards Banville had an excellent game, while Mcguckin showed his usual high energy and fielded 2 great catches under pressure. The ground definitely didn't suit Kyle Firman who often slipped when attempting fast changes in direction. Overall shooting was poor with well into double figures of wides and balls dropped short.
And part of the reason for the turnovers was we overplayed the ball looking to work goals, with final passes going astray when easy enough points were there to be taken.
Overall I'd be very happy to see the same team and subs selected again for our trip to Birr. These lads are going to need plenty of gametime to get up to intercounty speed of thought and hand.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 19:50:17    2451592

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Replying To countyman2022:  "How many more Gorey and Harriers lads that aren't up to it is Willie Cleary going to bring into the set up?"
Bit early to say any of those lads aren't up to it.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 19:51:22    2451595

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Kerry hurlers bet Tipperary in the Munster hurling league last January and Tipp went on to have a septic year.

I know it's only the Walsh Cup but I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Remember it was Laois first match aswel.

Need to be winning these games."
Were you there? Seem to remember you being very critical of Davy for not giving younger players gametime. Or are you expecting a bunch of lads in their early 20s some of whom have only been back a few weeks to produce champagne hurling on a cold boggy Park in their 1st game together?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 19:54:36    2451596

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "That was poor. I know it's only Walsh cup, first game etc..but I would be worried about the future a little bit. I know we give out about using the same lads all the time but there is a big drop off in standards between them and the others. Early days yet but Walsh cup ad league is a hell of a lot closer to championship than it used to be, don't have as much bedding in time. We didn't look like winning at all today. I know we keel saying to give these lads a chance but very few have actually grasped their chance the Last few years. I think our strength in depth is going to come against us again (tbf that isn't a new problem, been an issue since the late 90s really) We had some poor results any time we've played anything other than a full strength team the last 2/3 years.
One positive was Ross Banville looked decent and it would be great to have a comfortable and reliable free taker for championship.
Anyways onwards and upwards. Try to pull some positives out of it i guess. Not all doom and gloom and who knows what the year might bring....hopefully some good."
I thought we were going to win right up to Enda Rowlands save from Josh Shiel. Devitt looked good of the fringe players. Carthy played well on his debut especially considering he was only back from a few months travelling a few weeks ago. Lawlor looked good in patches. Hearne got better as the game went on. Clancy did OK too. Both hit poor wides though. Our passing improved as the game went on. Although typical of us we overplayed the ball in the attacking third time after time. And letting long high ball in on top of lads who were probably on average 4-6 inches shorter than their markers wasn't the way to overcome this.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:02:27    2451598

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Replying To Yellow:  "Ryan Devitt and Damien Reck were all excellent today.

Lads were given starts to prove themselves today but while they did the odd thing well nobody stood up in the forwards - with the possible exception of Banville and maybe Tucker. The backs were pretty decent but nobody was outstanding- and if you don't stand out vs Laois you will be lost against Kilkenny.

I think Lalor may trouble Fanning this year as he didn't put a foot wrong inspite of looking into a blinding sun in the 2nd half.

I don't think any of the forwards except Banville should start the next day as I would prefer others were given a chance. We should have won had Shiel converted his chance at the death - but he fluffed an easy chance after brilliant work from Chin.

Next day out I would start with;

Lalor
S Reck Hanlon Aj Redmond
Carthy Donohue Scallan
Dunbar Devitt
Cian Byrne R Banville Tucker Kinsella
J Shiel J Redmond Chin"
I'd like to see more of the same lads start in Birr tbh. Some looked very nervous as was to be expected. If you are going to drop lads after only one game then there's no point starting them in the 1st place.
Agree Lawlor was faultless. Banville was the pick of the forwards. Tucker did well when he came on. Shiel was lively. Chin looked fully fit.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:07:00    2451600

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Replying To Wexfordgaa:  "Really awful stuff in mountrath. A lot of wides and balls dropped short. Lawlor ok decent on puck outs and one good save that was going over the bar. Devitt done well and came out with a good bit of ball. Reck was very good especially in the second half. Carthy I taught was decent in patches. Lawlor worked hard and banville scored every free but taught he dropped two or three balls short and had three poor wides. First touch was poor for long periods.

I'd be very worried about Liam Ryan's form don't think he has hurled well for us in a while … really since papa won county final.

Look it's first game since last June so going be rusty"
Ryan always starts seasons slowly as far as I can see. He played better as the Round Robin went on and was immense against Kilkenny and Clare. Recks 1st touch was poor in the 1st 15 minutes but got better and better. Our first touch in general was very poor. Some of the wides were poor enough. More ballwork and less fitness and strength work needed when the League starts and more in house games to knit the team together.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:10:34    2451601

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "In all honesty, why are people dwelling on a Walsh Cup game? Out of the starting XV, only really Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt, and Damien Reck could be described as experienced. Not that Laois had a full-strength side out either but I'd say they were much closer to full-strength than we were. Plus it's January 8th; if you're hurling well this early in the year, you're doing something wrong.

We also had a good crop of U20s last year and also had a good few lads who have been around the panel for a while but have never really been given much game time (David Clarke, Eoin Murphy, James Lawlor, Rory Higgins, Conor Hearne etc). If you don't give these lads gametime in the Walsh Cup, when are you ever going to find out how good they actually are?

And then you have to consider that the following weren't starting: Mark Fanning, Shane Reck, Matthew O'Hanlon, Kevin Foley, Connal Flood, Dee O'Keeffe, Jack O'Connor, Oisín Foley, Rory O'Connor, Conor McDonald, and Lee Chin (Plus Corey Byrne-Dunbar, Cian Byrne, and AJ Redmond amongst others). No need to over-react, no need to over-analyse. Limerick have shown in their last few League campaigns that even the League isn't a good barometer for the Championship (And we've somewhat shown this to be true as well except in the other direction); why get worked up about the Walsh Cup on January 8th?"
Simon Donohue, Gavin Bailey, Liam og and Mikey Dwyer also didn't play at all. Conor Devitt can hardly be called experienced at intercounty level either though he played well today.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:13:41    2451603

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Replying To Purpleandgold72:  "I wouldn't be too worried about today's result, it's early days and don't forget last year, Dublin gave us a good beating in the Walsh Cup Final but we bounced back and beat Limerick the following week and had a good league campaign. We had a good few young lads involved today and there were positives."
I'd rather persist with these lads, and AJ, Byrne-Dunbar, Pepper, and others up to halfway through the league and see how they develop. Tbh if we are in a relegation playoff, and win it!, and have 4 or 5 extra good options of the bench, maybe 1 or 2 new starters, and a new keeper in time for the Round-Robin I'll be over the moon with our Walsh Cup and League!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:17:13    2451605

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Replying To beano:  "I concur with not getting carried away by a loss, just as you'd exercise caution had we hammered them.

While disappointed with the loss, I was delighted that so many players were given a shot. As someone said earlier, if we don't blood them now, when we can we? We are very quick to complain about lads not getting opportunities as it is.

And in fairness, the lads thrown in today have all stood out at club level lately. Clarke has made a name for himself as a tight man-marker, Eoin Murphy was a lynchpin for Ferns and Carty's general consistency for years was rewarded as well. Jack Doran and Kyle Firman were two of the younger stars of last year's championship too.

Now I do hope we bounce back with a win next time out, but I really hope we don't react by discarding all the chaps on the back of this. I assume he'll be going closer to a 'league team' for the KK game. The more upcoming and lads getting significant game-time between now and championship, the better."
Jack Doran didn't start. Not sure if he was even togged out.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:18:17    2451607

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "How many of the 12,000 sold were to Kilkenny supporters?"
A good few I'd say. Several lads I know up there are coming down.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:18:57    2451609

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Replying To Wexfordgaa:  "Mcguckian Conor hearne and Cathal Dunbar all have inter county championship experience. I'm not saying I'm getting worked up all I'm saying is that it was an opportunity for lads to show a bit."
Those 3 are fringe players who need more gametime. Hearnes total championship gametime wouldn't add up to much more than 2 games. Mcguckin maybe the same. Dunbar has had 1 good intercounty game, the loss to Clare in 2021, and has only had cameos since then and got injured against Kerry.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/01/2023 20:22:47    2451611

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