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Yes I don't mean to be smart lads but when you beat Limerick in the league there was talk of winning Leinster and I thought at the time what I thought before the championship start, i.e. seriously? I didn't see it then and I didn't see it at any stage in the championship.
I believe Wexford ceiling at the moment is 3rd in Leinster. As Magpie says, your defence was a shambles all year and I was surprised at that given where Rossiter hurled for you and where David Franks played, if I am not mistaken he was in full back line?
I don't believe Wexford have enough good players coming through from u20 to be frank. Simon Roche and Sean Rowley are the best prospects but even Roche is small enough. I thought Eoin (or Eoghan, Owen) Whelan from Fethard would break through, where is he? AJ Redmond, Joe Barrett, none seem to want to do it. And sure, it has to appeal to you if you are going to put in that level of commitment.
If I end up having this message thrown back at me in June 2026, I will be the first to congratulate you. I am just saying what I see. I still believe Kilkenny are streets ahead in Leinster and Galway and Dublin are next.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1466 - 18/08/2025 22:00:33
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Replying To ExiledInWex: "The sooner the GAA authorities realise the provincial championships in all codes have had their day the better. It doesn't work. It serves nobody. I know the Munster council would disagree but there were a couple of good games this year and not much more.
Knock-out provincials and then 2 x groups of 6 with promotion and relegation. If hurling is ever to extend its reach, this has to be the way forward. Let Antrim and Laois compete in Leinster quarter finals. Then they go to Joe McDonagh competition. There is no reason not to give them a chance to cause an upset.
The counties need to stop being so "what I have I hold" and throw off the shackles unless they never want to see another Offaly emerge. With the current structure, it will never happen again." The ladder remains pulled up. At the moment all that's dangling there is a greased rope.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 08:19:39
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Replying To Magpie2: "The players will always believe they can win Leinster. Why would they think they won't?
All the top 8 teams will be going into their respective championships thinking they will come out on top. They all believe, otherwise why would they inflict such unbelievable hardship on themselves training like dogs in the muck, the rain and the cold of winter??
Why do you think we could win Leinster viking?
I'd like to believe as you do but realistically I don't think it's on the cards to be honest.
What will have changed from last year?
We will more or less have the same players.
Okay Jippo will be back, unless of course he gets injured again.
Our defence last year was shambolic to put it mildly. Hetherton and Mannion led us a merry dance and was embarrassing.
It's been said over and over again that we over rely on Lee Chin, which I'm afraid is very true.
Rory can be quite brilliant but unfortunately he can be inconsistent.
The rest of our forwards are somewhat lightweight in size and ball winning ability on the ground or in the air.
There may be some new players brought in from the u20s and club championship but it's a big step up so they may well be out of their depth coming in cold.
I would love to be really wrong in my assessment but unfortunately I can't see too many positives going forward." We will have pretty much the same team but the 10 or so lads aged 22 or less who started this year will be another year older, more experienced and physically stronger, while our management will be another year more experienced, and have this year to show it, and especially be more proactive on the line. It was apparent early on that putting a young midfielder converted to a back only recently wasnt working on Hetherton, Jippo shouldve been brought on earlier, or Niall Murphy wouldve had way more experience marking bigger forward men than himself most of his life. Likewise I'm sure they will detail someone to pick up the roving 11 next year, as nearly all counties including ourselves play one.
I'd also like to hear that they are embracing more of the up to date ideas in coaching in training also.
Dublin will of course be good still, and have some very good young players breaking through. Galway are in transition, but honestly don't have a cohort of 20-22 year olds as good or as numerous as we do. Kilkennys players in that age group, many of whom played on the team we beat in the Park without ever getting out of second gear, aren't going to be world beaters next year either.
So rather than thinking how can we win Leinster, our group should be thinking about the small things, the little details, which we got wrong last year and correct them. Apart from Mannion and Hetherton Dublin and Galway weren't any better than we were. We were only 3 points down in Salthill at the 65 minute mark despite some bizarre decisions from management from the starting team to the marking of Mannion, and we were 3 points up against Dublin when the young ref from Tipp showed his inexperience when awarding Dublins 1st goal. If we were miles off it as we were in the late noughties early teens I wouldn't be at all optimistic, but in fairness to the players and management, we aren't. We just have to improve our speed of thought and action both on and off the pitch by a very small percentage. We are talking very small margins at this stage.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 08:34:14
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Some amount of name dropping on this thread.
" I met Lee at a junior match". " had a pint with Jack and Damien in town".
Honestly it's embarrassing and smacks of desperation to be noticed.
richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 31 - 19/08/2025 10:42:01
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Replying To Magpie2: "The players will always believe they can win Leinster. Why would they think they won't?
All the top 8 teams will be going into their respective championships thinking they will come out on top. They all believe, otherwise why would they inflict such unbelievable hardship on themselves training like dogs in the muck, the rain and the cold of winter??
Why do you think we could win Leinster viking?
I'd like to believe as you do but realistically I don't think it's on the cards to be honest.
What will have changed from last year?
We will more or less have the same players.
Okay Jippo will be back, unless of course he gets injured again.
Our defence last year was shambolic to put it mildly. Hetherton and Mannion led us a merry dance and was embarrassing.
It's been said over and over again that we over rely on Lee Chin, which I'm afraid is very true.
Rory can be quite brilliant but unfortunately he can be inconsistent.
The rest of our forwards are somewhat lightweight in size and ball winning ability on the ground or in the air.
There may be some new players brought in from the u20s and club championship but it's a big step up so they may well be out of their depth coming in cold.
I would love to be really wrong in my assessment but unfortunately I can't see too many positives going forward." I have mixed feelings about all this. I agree with you, in that you have to be beating the teams your expected to beat, then get a result from 2 of the big three. If you can't do that you shouldn't advance.
In terms of our prospects next year it's too early to tell.
A fit jippo would improve us a lot but not a long term solution.
Are we taking reck out of 6 ? If so who's playing there? personally I think we needed defensive cover and what happened in Dublin and Galway was shocking. On a more positive note, that was our fault. Neither Dublin nor Galway did anything spectacular. We didn't react, which is easily fixed.
The reliance on chin is strange. He's vital to us, but our forward unit is better without him.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3896 - 19/08/2025 11:08:18
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We need a new Jippo much worse than we need Jippo. The body is breaking down and he is not getting any younger.
StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1925 - 19/08/2025 12:35:35
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Replying To ExiledInWex: "Yes I don't mean to be smart lads but when you beat Limerick in the league there was talk of winning Leinster and I thought at the time what I thought before the championship start, i.e. seriously? I didn't see it then and I didn't see it at any stage in the championship.
I believe Wexford ceiling at the moment is 3rd in Leinster. As Magpie says, your defence was a shambles all year and I was surprised at that given where Rossiter hurled for you and where David Franks played, if I am not mistaken he was in full back line?
I don't believe Wexford have enough good players coming through from u20 to be frank. Simon Roche and Sean Rowley are the best prospects but even Roche is small enough. I thought Eoin (or Eoghan, Owen) Whelan from Fethard would break through, where is he? AJ Redmond, Joe Barrett, none seem to want to do it. And sure, it has to appeal to you if you are going to put in that level of commitment.
If I end up having this message thrown back at me in June 2026, I will be the first to congratulate you. I am just saying what I see. I still believe Kilkenny are streets ahead in Leinster and Galway and Dublin are next." AJ Redmond will commit if asked. Whelan was injured last year, as was Dara Kehoe in a Fitzgibbon game.
I really don't think there's any big difference between us and Dublin, neither has beaten the other by more than 4 points in the last 10 or so years, and the 4 point win this year included Dublin being given 3 points for a goal that wasn't.
Dublin got out of jail with a draw last year also, one of the goals in extra time was allowed stand despite the referee not blowing the whistle for play to restart.
And 2 years ago we let Dublin win in Croker with some truly shocking shooting. We created 15 more scoring chances than Dublin did, and still managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Agree our defenders need to be better, I expect they will be, they will be another year older, physically stronger, and more experienced. The starting back 6 in Parnell Park had an average age of 23. Shane Reck was the oldest at 27 I think.
Yes we lost to Galway, but we were only 3 down at the 65 minute mark, hardly as bad a beating as we gave them the year before.
We are capable of beating Kilkenny, again there's been nothing between the 2 teams in a Championship game over the last good number of years. The only 2 games we lost in normal time since Davy took over were both only by a point, both in Nowlan Park, and I'm not going to discuss poor decisions. We either won or drew the other 7 games.
Obviously we need to be better to win Leinster, but mostly our problems this year aren't impossible to solve next year. We can be better, it's up to the management and players to make sure that we are. Not much either of us can do about it in the Stand ;-)
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 14:19:51
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Replying To richiepmurphy: "Some amount of name dropping on this thread.
" I met Lee at a junior match". " had a pint with Jack and Damien in town".
Honestly it's embarrassing and smacks of desperation to be noticed." Had a quick read back and couldn't find either of those quotes?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 14:21:14
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Replying To Viking66: "AJ Redmond will commit if asked. Whelan was injured last year, as was Dara Kehoe in a Fitzgibbon game.
I really don't think there's any big difference between us and Dublin, neither has beaten the other by more than 4 points in the last 10 or so years, and the 4 point win this year included Dublin being given 3 points for a goal that wasn't.
Dublin got out of jail with a draw last year also, one of the goals in extra time was allowed stand despite the referee not blowing the whistle for play to restart.
And 2 years ago we let Dublin win in Croker with some truly shocking shooting. We created 15 more scoring chances than Dublin did, and still managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Agree our defenders need to be better, I expect they will be, they will be another year older, physically stronger, and more experienced. The starting back 6 in Parnell Park had an average age of 23. Shane Reck was the oldest at 27 I think.
Yes we lost to Galway, but we were only 3 down at the 65 minute mark, hardly as bad a beating as we gave them the year before.
We are capable of beating Kilkenny, again there's been nothing between the 2 teams in a Championship game over the last good number of years. The only 2 games we lost in normal time since Davy took over were both only by a point, both in Nowlan Park, and I'm not going to discuss poor decisions. We either won or drew the other 7 games.
Obviously we need to be better to win Leinster, but mostly our problems this year aren't impossible to solve next year. We can be better, it's up to the management and players to make sure that we are. Not much either of us can do about it in the Stand ;-)" Great posts. There's always ifs and buts in sport but I don't believe any of the problems we had this year are insurmountable
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3896 - 19/08/2025 15:01:38
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Replying To Viking66: "Had a quick read back and couldn't find either of those quotes?" Was actually just having a coffee with Jippo myself when we read that bit, so we decided to look back ourselves and we couldn't find them either.
And then in walked Lee himself, and he said he hasn't even been to a Junior match lately. So I rang Damien, and while he said he had a few scoops during the free weekend for the Fleadh, he can't remember the last time he was drinking with Jack, so he doesn't know what that other lad was talking about either.
Next, who arrives only Larry O'Gorman and Tom Dempsey, wanting to pick my brain about who's been going well in the championship so far this year. I had to tell them I was worn out talking about it, because Keith was on to me all last night asking the same. And then I had to get up and leave altogether when Ned Buggy and Tony Doran arrived, because those two always keep me for hours talking about hurling when I see them, but I knew I had to get home to mow the grass.
Anyway - despite what that other fella claims - I don't think there's much name-dropping going on either. :)
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3027 - 19/08/2025 15:20:36
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Don't take out of context but should we be worried that some if the traditional clubs not alone are not competing at senior but their underage is nt exactly flourishing .
Castletown ballinstraw gussaranne/ banniw almaganated cushiostown ballyhogue making good progress at underage hurling where harriers buffers alley martins (rathnure although improving) seem to be stagnating or falling backwards even shels not as prominent
Oulart prob most consistent at underage over last few years .
Glynn barntown who have been very successful underage but dont seem to transfer to adult hurling .
Fear would be Castletown/ballinstraw /cushionstow horeswood their best players wont get to the level required at intercounty as clubs predominantly football . Or is the balance changing within these clubs .
What if anything are they doing different nowadays. Or is it just numbers and commitment from players .has underage hurling changed that physicality from football is giving them a good base to compete against better stick men.
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 423 - 19/08/2025 15:24:05
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Replying To Formertownie: "Don't take out of context but should we be worried that some if the traditional clubs not alone are not competing at senior but their underage is nt exactly flourishing .
Castletown ballinstraw gussaranne/ banniw almaganated cushiostown ballyhogue making good progress at underage hurling where harriers buffers alley martins (rathnure although improving) seem to be stagnating or falling backwards even shels not as prominent
Oulart prob most consistent at underage over last few years .
Glynn barntown who have been very successful underage but dont seem to transfer to adult hurling .
Fear would be Castletown/ballinstraw /cushionstow horeswood their best players wont get to the level required at intercounty as clubs predominantly football . Or is the balance changing within these clubs .
What if anything are they doing different nowadays. Or is it just numbers and commitment from players .has underage hurling changed that physicality from football is giving them a good base to compete against better stick men." At underage that's not the case, underage footballers are no bigger than underage hurlers, and at most of the clubs you mention they are in fact the same chaps playing both. All the clubs you mention have been putting alot of work into underage hurling and are slowly reaping the rewards.
And the bottom line still remains the same, if a club gets a good group along at the same time, and they are coached well, they will win things. That was the case with our Feile winning team 10 or 12 years ago. Excellent coaching, good players, won a Premier double at u14 and reached both Premier finals at u16. All 4 games against the same opponents.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 15:51:34
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Replying To Formertownie: "Don't take out of context but should we be worried that some if the traditional clubs not alone are not competing at senior but their underage is nt exactly flourishing .
Castletown ballinstraw gussaranne/ banniw almaganated cushiostown ballyhogue making good progress at underage hurling where harriers buffers alley martins (rathnure although improving) seem to be stagnating or falling backwards even shels not as prominent
Oulart prob most consistent at underage over last few years .
Glynn barntown who have been very successful underage but dont seem to transfer to adult hurling .
Fear would be Castletown/ballinstraw /cushionstow horeswood their best players wont get to the level required at intercounty as clubs predominantly football . Or is the balance changing within these clubs .
What if anything are they doing different nowadays. Or is it just numbers and commitment from players .has underage hurling changed that physicality from football is giving them a good base to compete against better stick men." To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year -
https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761
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Blackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places!
It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3027 - 19/08/2025 16:09:19
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I've created a new thread called "Wexford Hurling Thread", might make sense to migrate there given the 2025 inter-county season is over
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 628 - 19/08/2025 20:30:12
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Replying To Pikeman96: "To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year - https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761 linkBlackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places! It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time."
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 628 - 19/08/2025 21:04:57
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Replying To Pikeman96: "To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year - https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761 linkBlackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places! It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time."
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 21:18:05
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Replying To ElGranSenor: " Replying To Pikeman96: "To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year - https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761 linkBlackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places! It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time." Think Castletown could end up playing Senior Hurling in a few years time, people might laugh at the very idea but I've cousins there and their under-age teams have huge numbers, might end up with such a big pick at Senior level (If enough of them keep on progressing) that they're able to compete in both Senior Hurling and Senior Football"
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16922 - 19/08/2025 22:26:35
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Replying To Pikeman96: "To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year - https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761 linkBlackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places! It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time."
The thing is they seem to be struggling to pull it through to adult yet.
I know a couple of lads out there and they're good lads but they're simply putting in the hard work and the hours needed and will tell you that themselves. For example i believe Ballyhougue this weekend are hosting a mega blitz of football for u8, u10s and u12 with teams like Na Fianna, Ballymun, Naas and others from up the country. There's serious work in the likes of that across the entire club really.
One other thing to note it isn't just hurling though, they're also doing the same if not better at football so playing and excelling at both doesn't seem to be an issue there with nit huge populations likewise in other areas like Castletown, Kilanerin or example where doing both doesn't pose a problem, quite the opposite.
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1557 - 20/08/2025 07:50:08
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Replying To ElGranSenor: " Replying To Pikeman96: "To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year - https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761 linkBlackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places! It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time." Think Castletown could end up playing Senior Hurling in a few years time, people might laugh at the very idea but I've cousins there and their under-age teams have huge numbers, might end up with such a big pick at Senior level (If enough of them keep on progressing) that they're able to compete in both Senior Hurling and Senior Football"
Now Castletown ballyhogue oilgate St annes rathgarogue cushionstown , ballinstrw gaels . Have the numbers in their catchment areas coincided with their improvement too .
The only fear would be that traditional football teams previously like hurling dominant clubs . Discourage the participation in the opposite code .
I do think some of above clubs would have the potential to rise to senior but is the desire there much like the desire fur football in for example st martins .
The football teams in some of above clubs seem to have a higher level of fitness than a lot of hurling clubs is this why they are competing so well at their level .
But their hurling ability may not make them as competitive as it could be if concentrated more on hurling .
Long winded but in the long run is it good for wexford hurling if football clubs are becoming ma lot more prevalent in the hurling.
Hoping these clubs at least give it equal attention god we all know we need new blood, physicality /fotness level competition for places and a fresh direction with new faces to enhance our prospects . And less egos .
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 423 - 20/08/2025 08:37:45
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Replying To Formertownie: " Replying To ElGranSenor: "[quote=Pikeman96: "To me, one very noticeable thing is what's going on in Under-12 Div. 1 hurling this year - https://wexfordgaa.ie/competitions/table/?compid=238761 linkBlackwater and Ballyhogue beating all around them against "traditional" hurling clubs - Rathnure, Glynn-Barntown, Naomh Eanna, St. Martin's, Faythe Harriers, and Oulart-The Ballagh. And winning many of those matches well. I'd love to know what exactly they're doing with the younger age groups in those places! It's not yet translating into Under-14 and above (Ballyhogue have lost all seven in Div. 1, and Blackwater lost all seven in Div. 2), but if they can keep up that good work with this year's Under-12s and the younger lads following behind as well, then there might be a real changing of the guard in hurling in ten or fifteen years time." Think Castletown could end up playing Senior Hurling in a few years time, people might laugh at the very idea but I've cousins there and their under-age teams have huge numbers, might end up with such a big pick at Senior level (If enough of them keep on progressing) that they're able to compete in both Senior Hurling and Senior Football"
Now Castletown ballyhogue oilgate St annes rathgarogue cushionstown , ballinstrw gaels . Have the numbers in their catchment areas coincided with their improvement too .
The only fear would be that traditional football teams previously like hurling dominant clubs . Discourage the participation in the opposite code .
I do think some of above clubs would have the potential to rise to senior but is the desire there much like the desire fur football in for example st martins .
The football teams in some of above clubs seem to have a higher level of fitness than a lot of hurling clubs is this why they are competing so well at their level .
But their hurling ability may not make them as competitive as it could be if concentrated more on hurling .
Long winded but in the long run is it good for wexford hurling if football clubs are becoming ma lot more prevalent in the hurling.
Hoping these clubs at least give it equal attention god we all know we need new blood, physicality /fotness level competition for places and a fresh direction with new faces to enhance our prospects . And less egos ."]I don't get what you're trying to say really?
Why would it not be good for wexford hurling if more and more clubs who are promoting hurking and football equally are producing better hurlers than they previously have and as it seems in a lot for cases producing better hurlers than those who don't promote both equally?
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1557 - 20/08/2025 09:45:41
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