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Replying To Spuds&GAA: "Dublin has been ahead of us for at least 15 years, at all levels. KK slipping but still way ahead of us. Galway have better hurlers than Dublin or Kilkenny but don't seem to be able to put it together lately. We are on a par with Offaly though at present they would beat our senior team 7/10 games. It seems we have to hit rock bottom before something changes for the better…" This year we werent on a par with Offaly at Senior. They were ahead of us. In the League and the Championship.
We were ahead of them at all the other age groups though, not that that means anything really right now.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19923 - 01/06/2026 17:54:26
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Replying To Spuds&GAA: "Dublin has been ahead of us for at least 15 years, at all levels. KK slipping but still way ahead of us. Galway have better hurlers than Dublin or Kilkenny but don't seem to be able to put it together lately. We are on a par with Offaly though at present they would beat our senior team 7/10 games. It seems we have to hit rock bottom before something changes for the better…" At Senior, yeah
Wouldn't say they've been that much ahead of us at Minor or U20 level in that time though, it's usually KK and Galway the top two, then a gap to us and Dublin, and then a gap to everyone else at underage level
This is not me saying our underage results are good enough btw
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 01/06/2026 18:40:06
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Replying To Spuds&GAA: "Dublin has been ahead of us for at least 15 years, at all levels. KK slipping but still way ahead of us. Galway have better hurlers than Dublin or Kilkenny but don't seem to be able to put it together lately. We are on a par with Offaly though at present they would beat our senior team 7/10 games. It seems we have to hit rock bottom before something changes for the better…" How are Dublin ahead of us at every level for 15 years? Please qualify that statement.
What are you basing the Offaly 7/10 on ?
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4556 - 01/06/2026 18:50:58
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Replying To countyman2022: "He has indeed, great hurler. However as I said, he says alot of things. Have you ever been involved in any teams at any levels with him?" He's a great man to talk alright. No I haven't. I'm quite a bit younger than Larry.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4556 - 01/06/2026 18:51:49
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "How many of that Féile-winning team are hurling at Senior level?" Probably the best conversion we've ever had. There's about 8 of them involved I think.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4556 - 01/06/2026 18:53:00
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Billy Byrne was saying on the Wexford Hurling Podcast that Kinnerk had made 5 or 6 very good suggestions and that not one of them had been acted upon yet and that these suggestions had been made before in the county
Do we know the 5 or 6 suggestions he was on about?
Looking at the report presentation, I'm guessing it might have been some of the following points:
SCHOOLS
• Renew and relaunch the Hurling 365 initiative
• Prioritise urban schools through dedicated GPO support
• Establish a SETU Teacher Pathway Programme for S&C and coaching support
• Enhance the Post-Primary S&C Programme
• Develop a Schools Coaching Curriculum
• Pilot an U15 Schools Competition under lights (November-December)
• Introduce a Wexford GAA Primary School Teacher Coaching Course
CLUBS
• Transition to a new district and urban development model
• Renew and enhance the Club Coach Education Programme
• Establish a County-Club Strength & Conditioning initiative
• Expand informal, supplementary, and resourcesupported hurling contact opportunities
• Support clubs through fundraising and self-sufficiency workshops
• Pilot district league and blitz concepts at select age groups
COUNTY SQUADS
• Director of Hurling to oversee all U14 to U20 squads with key focus on quality of coaching, elite player pathway and develop a shared curriculum, principles of play, and player competency framework
• Establish a high-quality Coach Development Programme
• Implement Individual Coach Development Plans
• Appoint Head of Athletic Performance with Strategic Emphasis on Squads
• Establish an intern recruitment programme with SETU
• Implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for all squad players
• Introduce a formal Quality Review System for County Squads, by external experts
• Develop a sports psychology and playerwellbeing programme
COACHING & GAMES
• Re-structure GDA & GPO models
• Introduce a performance management framework for coaching staff & volunteers
• Develop a pro-active coaching and games calendar for the year, resourced by appropriate personnel
• Create a central digital platform to manage planning, and data tracking across Coaching & Games
• Develop a 4G pitch to facilitate year-round hurling training/coaching of coaches and practical workshops
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 01/06/2026 22:09:47
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Replying To Paull: "U10s and U12s at that competition with clubs from Wexford and Waterford/Kilkenny. Very strong teams from Ballygunner , Mount Sion ,Thomastown at 12s but Harriers, Martin's and Oulart were equally as strong . Glynn the host club had 2 teams and not overly strong that age anyway.
Also I have been told Blackwater and Rathnure are the two best 12s teams in Wexford and neither were there.
As for the 10s Ballyhale were the best there but told none of the best U10 teams in Wexford at it so again no point in worrying about results at an U10 competition. I would not overly worry about our 10s and 12s to be honest. Of course we can and need to do better/more at those age groups but we need to do more at 16s onwards." There are some very strong U10 / U11 / U12 tournaments in Wexford / Waterford / Kilkenny and Wexford clubs do play in and compete very strongly.
The Glynn Barntown tournament is decent standard and good teams come but with the likes of Ballygunner, because they have so many numbers, it is hard to gauge it. Blackwater aren't invited to that tournament (as far as I'm aware) and Rathnure were due to play in it but pulled out due to Communion on
Last weekend Rathnure and Blackwater were to play in U12 tournament in Mooncoin. Blackwater pulled out as were involved in U12 soccer final but Rathnure played and got to the final before been beaten by a very strong Mooncoin team. They beat James Stephens, Sarsfields (Cork) and drew with O Loughlain Gaels. OLG have 3 U12 teams so again they may not have their strongest 15 out. Sarsfields have a pick of over 100 boys at that grade and Rathnure have about 7/8 up to the age!!
There is also a Mullinahone U11 tournament which happens mid summer - very good standard and I think as it is considered "competitive", that it is changed to U13 this year. I do know Rathnure won the Shield version in 2024 and got bet in the semi final last year to the eventual winners.
Ballyhogue and Blackwater do play in a lot of torunaments outside the county and I think these games help teams alot - especially as Go Games are so hit and miss.
Blackwater play Rathnure tonight in U12 championship.
MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 321 - 02/06/2026 09:08:16
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Billy Byrne was saying on the Wexford Hurling Podcast that Kinnerk had made 5 or 6 very good suggestions and that not one of them had been acted upon yet and that these suggestions had been made before in the county
Do we know the 5 or 6 suggestions he was on about?
Looking at the report presentation, I'm guessing it might have been some of the following points:
SCHOOLS
• Renew and relaunch the Hurling 365 initiative
• Prioritise urban schools through dedicated GPO support
• Establish a SETU Teacher Pathway Programme for S&C and coaching support
• Enhance the Post-Primary S&C Programme
• Develop a Schools Coaching Curriculum
• Pilot an U15 Schools Competition under lights (November-December)
• Introduce a Wexford GAA Primary School Teacher Coaching Course
CLUBS
• Transition to a new district and urban development model
• Renew and enhance the Club Coach Education Programme
• Establish a County-Club Strength & Conditioning initiative
• Expand informal, supplementary, and resourcesupported hurling contact opportunities
• Support clubs through fundraising and self-sufficiency workshops
• Pilot district league and blitz concepts at select age groups
COUNTY SQUADS
• Director of Hurling to oversee all U14 to U20 squads with key focus on quality of coaching, elite player pathway and develop a shared curriculum, principles of play, and player competency framework
• Establish a high-quality Coach Development Programme
• Implement Individual Coach Development Plans
• Appoint Head of Athletic Performance with Strategic Emphasis on Squads
• Establish an intern recruitment programme with SETU
• Implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for all squad players
• Introduce a formal Quality Review System for County Squads, by external experts
• Develop a sports psychology and playerwellbeing programme
COACHING & GAMES
• Re-structure GDA & GPO models
• Introduce a performance management framework for coaching staff & volunteers
• Develop a pro-active coaching and games calendar for the year, resourced by appropriate personnel
• Create a central digital platform to manage planning, and data tracking across Coaching & Games
• Develop a 4G pitch to facilitate year-round hurling training/coaching of coaches and practical workshops" Its happening slowly for sure. CB have been acting on some of the stuff, for example there was a meeting with NS teachers which was really poorly attended.
The secondary school meeting was better attended, think pretty much all the schools were represented. There will hopefully be a combined schools team next year, but alot of bridges still to cross there.
Volunteerism, one of the main planks of the strategic plan which affects nearly all the others, is an interesting one to tackle. How do we encourage more people to put unpaid time into what's increasingly becoming a more and more complex job at club and county level, be it on the coaching side or administrative side.
Its been agreed that referees are to get more expenses, so hopefully that will encourage more lads to take up refereeing.
In general clubs have been returning to training earlier this year, and more seem to be going twice a week for training.
Awkward at u16/u18 with exams though.
The 4g pitch is held up by probate, not CB.
Plenty of ideas and feedback on the need for better tracking and data for underage players has been got.
We dont have many GPOs and GDCs. Only 11 total. New head of coaching and games is apparently a good man for the job, plenty of positive feedback about him, though Ive not talked to him myself yet. Hes only started a few weeks, so I suppose hes still finding his feet and working out how to implement the bits of the strategic plan in his area of responsibility.
Its probably a little unfair of Billy Byrne to say nothing in the report has been acted on, though I would agree with him that Id like to see more done quicker. We are nearly halfway through year 1 of the strategic plan.
The lads at the top table are all volunteers though, most have families and work to contend with, as well as doing whatever job they are doing for the County.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19923 - 02/06/2026 11:01:42
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I d rather talk to Larry Murphy than Billy Byrne .
Billys own club are nt exactly enriching the county teams with exceptionally talented playes at preent .
Saying that there are nt that many of the super satelite clubs doing that either. The drop off from some teams on outskirts of the larger urban areas has to be of huge concern .. starting out with 40 to 50 underage and by time they get to minor lucky to have 15 . I m not talking about town clubs either
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 611 - 02/06/2026 11:59:41
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@ElGranSenor - a "glass half full" view might be that if the Kinnerk report includes at least the 26 recommendations that you list, and Billy Byrne says that five or six of them haven't been actioned yet, then we're not too bad overall with the other 20.
Seriously, though - some of those actions are easier said than done, or wouldn't be done overnight (e.g. establish a SETU Pathway Programme). One or two would need the mechanics worked out (e.g., under 'Clubs', transition to a new district and urban development model - what exactly would that mean in practice, and how might it be received?).
Most of all though, and as Viking points out, to implement them all would require massive investment and time from volunteers, and volunteerism is probably the single biggest issue we face. Even if you assign tasks to a Director of Hurling or a Head of Games or a team of GPOs etc., oversight of how those tasks are performed falls to volunteers at the top table.
I happen to be friends with one of them myself. I get a lot of information from him and I know the sort of hours he puts into his end of things. Am sure it's the same across the board in all other areas too, so stands to reason that some of these launches/re-launches/transitions/restructures/etc. may take time.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3740 - 02/06/2026 12:31:13
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Here's something interesting for ye….
County Finals in the Golden Age of Wexford Hurling, 1950-1970
St Aidan's (Enniscorthy): Made 11 finals & won 7
GOH: Made 4 finals & won 1
Harriers: Made 6 finals and won 3
(Old) Enniscorthy Shamrocks: Made 4 finals and won 2
21 different finals so 42 finalists; 25/42 of the finalists were Town teams and 13/21 of the winners were Town teams
Since 1971….
Rapps: Made 8 finals and won 2
Harriers: Made 7 finals and won 2
Gorey: Made 3 finals and won 1
So that's 55 finals and 110 finalists; 18/110 of the finalists were Town teams and 5/55 of the winners were Town teams
I know others have mentioned it before so it's not an original point but that's surely the elephant in the room, can't expect Wexford hurling to be strong if the town teams aren't strong, over 25% of our population are Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, and Gorey?
Opens up a different can of worms though when it comes to addressing that, I'm not from a town club and wouldn't mind the CB making a concerted effort to drive the game in the towns but I suppose others would have very fair arguments that this would be unfair on rural clubs who have their act together
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 02/06/2026 12:41:20
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Here's something interesting for ye….
County Finals in the Golden Age of Wexford Hurling, 1950-1970
St Aidan's (Enniscorthy): Made 11 finals & won 7
GOH: Made 4 finals & won 1
Harriers: Made 6 finals and won 3
(Old) Enniscorthy Shamrocks: Made 4 finals and won 2
21 different finals so 42 finalists; 25/42 of the finalists were Town teams and 13/21 of the winners were Town teams
Since 1971….
Rapps: Made 8 finals and won 2
Harriers: Made 7 finals and won 2
Gorey: Made 3 finals and won 1
So that's 55 finals and 110 finalists; 18/110 of the finalists were Town teams and 5/55 of the winners were Town teams
I know others have mentioned it before so it's not an original point but that's surely the elephant in the room, can't expect Wexford hurling to be strong if the town teams aren't strong, over 25% of our population are Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, and Gorey?
Opens up a different can of worms though when it comes to addressing that, I'm not from a town club and wouldn't mind the CB making a concerted effort to drive the game in the towns but I suppose others would have very fair arguments that this would be unfair on rural clubs who have their act together" I've actually looked at that towns thing before myself. If you scratch into a bit, it says something about the society of the time as well.
One thing to consider is how there was far greater "leakage" into the town clubs from the surrounding rural clubs back then than there is now. Actually had an uncle myself (now deceased) who won titles with St. Aidan's during the 1950s, but who was from and who lived all his life in a parish outside of Enniscorthy that had its own club.
The way he told it, back then you were allowed to play for the club were you worked as well as the place you were from, and he worked in Enniscorthy. Don't know if this was an actual rule or just "the way things were done". But in effect, it meant St. Aidan's could have a pick of everybody who worked in the town, and not just everybody actually from the town.
I remember him saying there were two other factors about rural clubs at the time too, that made town clubs tend to be stronger:
1 - Some of the rural clubs would struggle to keep going at all for maybe two or three years at a time. Some of their players would join the nearby town club during those years, and then maybe stay there after the rural club revived itself after all.
2 - Large numbers of players in rural clubs being involved in agriculture, which was far more labour-intensive then than it is today. The rural clubs found it hard to organise regular training. The "townies" were more likely to have factory jobs or shop jobs etc. with fixed working hours, and so they tended to be better organised and better trained.
Incidentally, with mention of agriculture - he reckoned that the increased mechanisation of agriculture from the 1970s onwards helped the rural clubs in this regard. Things like planting and harvesting didn't take nearly as many "man hours", and so the clubs were able to start better organising themselves.
Anyway, this is mostly anecdotal, but maybe relevant to the bigger picture about the strength of town clubs then compared to their strength since.
FWIW, always conflicted myself about the notion of giving extra supports to urban areas. Wearing a county hat, of course I'd like to see everything possible done in an area that could produce top-class county hurlers in the future. But wearing a club hat, would think it maybe unfair on the rural clubs who wouldn't be getting these extras.
For example, Ballyhogue are often cited here as an example of a club doing great stuff with younger groups in particular, and probably fair to say they now rank ahead of Rapparees at those grades. But if Rapps got extra supports such that they pass Ballyhogue out again in maybe five years time, and then stay ahead - would that be fair on Ballyhogue?
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3740 - 02/06/2026 13:33:27
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Replying To Formertownie: "I d rather talk to Larry Murphy than Billy Byrne .
Billys own club are nt exactly enriching the county teams with exceptionally talented playes at preent .
Saying that there are nt that many of the super satelite clubs doing that either. The drop off from some teams on outskirts of the larger urban areas has to be of huge concern .. starting out with 40 to 50 underage and by time they get to minor lucky to have 15 . I m not talking about town clubs either" Don't really mean to single anyone out but for a Senior club, it's not a good look for Gorey that Cian Molloy was their only representative on a Wexford Senior, U20, or Minor squad
Like Castletown had starters in Minor and U20 and they're a football club, now tbf they've good numbers themselves but if they've starters on county teams, Gorey really should have starters on county teams too
Don't know what they're doing at underage or schools level tbf, not saying they're not doing the work but from the outside, I'm not seeing the results I'd expect for a club of their size
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 02/06/2026 14:42:09
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Replying To Pikeman96: "@ElGranSenor - a "glass half full" view might be that if the Kinnerk report includes at least the 26 recommendations that you list, and Billy Byrne says that five or six of them haven't been actioned yet, then we're not too bad overall with the other 20.
Seriously, though - some of those actions are easier said than done, or wouldn't be done overnight (e.g. establish a SETU Pathway Programme). One or two would need the mechanics worked out (e.g., under 'Clubs', transition to a new district and urban development model - what exactly would that mean in practice, and how might it be received?).
Most of all though, and as Viking points out, to implement them all would require massive investment and time from volunteers, and volunteerism is probably the single biggest issue we face. Even if you assign tasks to a Director of Hurling or a Head of Games or a team of GPOs etc., oversight of how those tasks are performed falls to volunteers at the top table.
I happen to be friends with one of them myself. I get a lot of information from him and I know the sort of hours he puts into his end of things. Am sure it's the same across the board in all other areas too, so stands to reason that some of these launches/re-launches/transitions/restructures/etc. may take time." Tbf, Billy said 5/6 key points, I'm not sure the 26 points are all key points but I'm guessing the 5/6 points are included somewhere in there
Although some are hard to work out, I'm not sure what they mean by the U15 schools competition under the lights, Junior schools hurling would be around that time although the 2nd Year hurling isn't until later in the year, I think, maybe they want them in an U15 schools competition in the autumn and then 2nd year hurling in the spring?
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 02/06/2026 14:45:45
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I've actually looked at that towns thing before myself. If you scratch into a bit, it says something about the society of the time as well.
One thing to consider is how there was far greater "leakage" into the town clubs from the surrounding rural clubs back then than there is now. Actually had an uncle myself (now deceased) who won titles with St. Aidan's during the 1950s, but who was from and who lived all his life in a parish outside of Enniscorthy that had its own club.
The way he told it, back then you were allowed to play for the club were you worked as well as the place you were from, and he worked in Enniscorthy. Don't know if this was an actual rule or just "the way things were done". But in effect, it meant St. Aidan's could have a pick of everybody who worked in the town, and not just everybody actually from the town.
I remember him saying there were two other factors about rural clubs at the time too, that made town clubs tend to be stronger:
1 - Some of the rural clubs would struggle to keep going at all for maybe two or three years at a time. Some of their players would join the nearby town club during those years, and then maybe stay there after the rural club revived itself after all.
2 - Large numbers of players in rural clubs being involved in agriculture, which was far more labour-intensive then than it is today. The rural clubs found it hard to organise regular training. The "townies" were more likely to have factory jobs or shop jobs etc. with fixed working hours, and so they tended to be better organised and better trained.
Incidentally, with mention of agriculture - he reckoned that the increased mechanisation of agriculture from the 1970s onwards helped the rural clubs in this regard. Things like planting and harvesting didn't take nearly as many "man hours", and so the clubs were able to start better organising themselves.
Anyway, this is mostly anecdotal, but maybe relevant to the bigger picture about the strength of town clubs then compared to their strength since.
FWIW, always conflicted myself about the notion of giving extra supports to urban areas. Wearing a county hat, of course I'd like to see everything possible done in an area that could produce top-class county hurlers in the future. But wearing a club hat, would think it maybe unfair on the rural clubs who wouldn't be getting these extras.
For example, Ballyhogue are often cited here as an example of a club doing great stuff with younger groups in particular, and probably fair to say they now rank ahead of Rapparees at those grades. But if Rapps got extra supports such that they pass Ballyhogue out again in maybe five years time, and then stay ahead - would that be fair on Ballyhogue?" Interesting reading that and a very quick analysis of a fairly long period in time . But it all makes sense .
The spread of young families to the surrounding towns areas outside the catchment of town areas gas certainly helped the progression of clubs like ballyhogue cushionstown oilgate Castletown ballyfad barntown st martins and shelmaliers . Genuine gaa people gave moved into these areas from towns clubs . This imo is the single biggest factor in their progression over last 15 20 years and longerr . If you look at the surnames of players coaches etc. It's left a lot of the traditionally strong towns clubs without some of their greatest assets . And are Constantly searching for new coaches personel.and families to survive and are left with skeleton crew of former club stalwarts .
I do think work cycles ie shift work . , travelling for work and weekend work incresed attendance to 3rd level added with the cost and cost of living has also had an impact .
With an ever increasing commitment even at club level it takes up so much of your time for coaches and players club officials etc totally committed numbers are and will dwindle .
One last point as a coach all the negativity around hurling in the county certainly hits our confidence too .
And question our own abilities . Rightly or wrongly everything we ve done is the reason we are in this position at present whether we accept it or not .
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 611 - 02/06/2026 14:47:12
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I've actually looked at that towns thing before myself. If you scratch into a bit, it says something about the society of the time as well.
One thing to consider is how there was far greater "leakage" into the town clubs from the surrounding rural clubs back then than there is now. Actually had an uncle myself (now deceased) who won titles with St. Aidan's during the 1950s, but who was from and who lived all his life in a parish outside of Enniscorthy that had its own club.
The way he told it, back then you were allowed to play for the club were you worked as well as the place you were from, and he worked in Enniscorthy. Don't know if this was an actual rule or just "the way things were done". But in effect, it meant St. Aidan's could have a pick of everybody who worked in the town, and not just everybody actually from the town.
I remember him saying there were two other factors about rural clubs at the time too, that made town clubs tend to be stronger:
1 - Some of the rural clubs would struggle to keep going at all for maybe two or three years at a time. Some of their players would join the nearby town club during those years, and then maybe stay there after the rural club revived itself after all.
2 - Large numbers of players in rural clubs being involved in agriculture, which was far more labour-intensive then than it is today. The rural clubs found it hard to organise regular training. The "townies" were more likely to have factory jobs or shop jobs etc. with fixed working hours, and so they tended to be better organised and better trained.
Incidentally, with mention of agriculture - he reckoned that the increased mechanisation of agriculture from the 1970s onwards helped the rural clubs in this regard. Things like planting and harvesting didn't take nearly as many "man hours", and so the clubs were able to start better organising themselves.
Anyway, this is mostly anecdotal, but maybe relevant to the bigger picture about the strength of town clubs then compared to their strength since.
FWIW, always conflicted myself about the notion of giving extra supports to urban areas. Wearing a county hat, of course I'd like to see everything possible done in an area that could produce top-class county hurlers in the future. But wearing a club hat, would think it maybe unfair on the rural clubs who wouldn't be getting these extras.
For example, Ballyhogue are often cited here as an example of a club doing great stuff with younger groups in particular, and probably fair to say they now rank ahead of Rapparees at those grades. But if Rapps got extra supports such that they pass Ballyhogue out again in maybe five years time, and then stay ahead - would that be fair on Ballyhogue?" I can see what it'd be unfair alright but I think the towns issue does need to be addressed whether that be through funding or else by encouraging them to improve their schools
Now maybe their schools are doing well (I'd say they're not tbh) but the bigger town schools are really the most critical places when it comes to implementing Hurling 365
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 02/06/2026 14:48:43
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I've actually looked at that towns thing before myself. If you scratch into a bit, it says something about the society of the time as well.
One thing to consider is how there was far greater "leakage" into the town clubs from the surrounding rural clubs back then than there is now. Actually had an uncle myself (now deceased) who won titles with St. Aidan's during the 1950s, but who was from and who lived all his life in a parish outside of Enniscorthy that had its own club.
The way he told it, back then you were allowed to play for the club were you worked as well as the place you were from, and he worked in Enniscorthy. Don't know if this was an actual rule or just "the way things were done". But in effect, it meant St. Aidan's could have a pick of everybody who worked in the town, and not just everybody actually from the town.
I remember him saying there were two other factors about rural clubs at the time too, that made town clubs tend to be stronger:
1 - Some of the rural clubs would struggle to keep going at all for maybe two or three years at a time. Some of their players would join the nearby town club during those years, and then maybe stay there after the rural club revived itself after all.
2 - Large numbers of players in rural clubs being involved in agriculture, which was far more labour-intensive then than it is today. The rural clubs found it hard to organise regular training. The "townies" were more likely to have factory jobs or shop jobs etc. with fixed working hours, and so they tended to be better organised and better trained.
Incidentally, with mention of agriculture - he reckoned that the increased mechanisation of agriculture from the 1970s onwards helped the rural clubs in this regard. Things like planting and harvesting didn't take nearly as many "man hours", and so the clubs were able to start better organising themselves.
Anyway, this is mostly anecdotal, but maybe relevant to the bigger picture about the strength of town clubs then compared to their strength since.
FWIW, always conflicted myself about the notion of giving extra supports to urban areas. Wearing a county hat, of course I'd like to see everything possible done in an area that could produce top-class county hurlers in the future. But wearing a club hat, would think it maybe unfair on the rural clubs who wouldn't be getting these extras.
For example, Ballyhogue are often cited here as an example of a club doing great stuff with younger groups in particular, and probably fair to say they now rank ahead of Rapparees at those grades. But if Rapps got extra supports such that they pass Ballyhogue out again in maybe five years time, and then stay ahead - would that be fair on Ballyhogue?" Those are fair points but the urban population of Wexford is growing especially in the north of the county so while we can't compare things directly to the 1950s and 1960s, we should expect more from our town clubs given their population
It was in the paper earlier in the year that they're expecting Enniscorthy's population to double from around 10k to 20k in the next 10-20 years so population increases aren't just a Gorey thing, town clubs need to be prepared for us or else we're wasting our time as a county
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1364 - 02/06/2026 14:53:22
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Those are fair points but the urban population of Wexford is growing especially in the north of the county so while we can't compare things directly to the 1950s and 1960s, we should expect more from our town clubs given their population
It was in the paper earlier in the year that they're expecting Enniscorthy's population to double from around 10k to 20k in the next 10-20 years so population increases aren't just a Gorey thing, town clubs need to be prepared for us or else we're wasting our time as a county" Oh, I don't disagree. I was just trying to give some insight into some of the likely reasons why the town clubs dominated 60 or 70 years ago. Life and society in general are obviously very much different now!
I know I'm not alone in wondering how the four town teams between them could only contribute one starting player to this year's county Minor team, for example, and that from probably the most unlikely of the four (no disrespect to GOH, but since the other three are senior clubs, you'd expect more from them). How Harriers only had two in the extended Minor/Celtic Challenge squad of 43 or 44 or whatever it was, and how Rapparees and Naomh Éanna had none at all.
There's clearly something not quite right in the towns. It's what can be done about it is the issue.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3740 - 02/06/2026 15:25:29
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Tbf, Billy said 5/6 key points, I'm not sure the 26 points are all key points but I'm guessing the 5/6 points are included somewhere in there
Although some are hard to work out, I'm not sure what they mean by the U15 schools competition under the lights, Junior schools hurling would be around that time although the 2nd Year hurling isn't until later in the year, I think, maybe they want them in an U15 schools competition in the autumn and then 2nd year hurling in the spring?" That sounds like a good idea if the schools support it
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19923 - 02/06/2026 17:36:57
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I've actually looked at that towns thing before myself. If you scratch into a bit, it says something about the society of the time as well.
One thing to consider is how there was far greater "leakage" into the town clubs from the surrounding rural clubs back then than there is now. Actually had an uncle myself (now deceased) who won titles with St. Aidan's during the 1950s, but who was from and who lived all his life in a parish outside of Enniscorthy that had its own club.
The way he told it, back then you were allowed to play for the club were you worked as well as the place you were from, and he worked in Enniscorthy. Don't know if this was an actual rule or just "the way things were done". But in effect, it meant St. Aidan's could have a pick of everybody who worked in the town, and not just everybody actually from the town.
I remember him saying there were two other factors about rural clubs at the time too, that made town clubs tend to be stronger:
1 - Some of the rural clubs would struggle to keep going at all for maybe two or three years at a time. Some of their players would join the nearby town club during those years, and then maybe stay there after the rural club revived itself after all.
2 - Large numbers of players in rural clubs being involved in agriculture, which was far more labour-intensive then than it is today. The rural clubs found it hard to organise regular training. The "townies" were more likely to have factory jobs or shop jobs etc. with fixed working hours, and so they tended to be better organised and better trained.
Incidentally, with mention of agriculture - he reckoned that the increased mechanisation of agriculture from the 1970s onwards helped the rural clubs in this regard. Things like planting and harvesting didn't take nearly as many "man hours", and so the clubs were able to start better organising themselves.
Anyway, this is mostly anecdotal, but maybe relevant to the bigger picture about the strength of town clubs then compared to their strength since.
FWIW, always conflicted myself about the notion of giving extra supports to urban areas. Wearing a county hat, of course I'd like to see everything possible done in an area that could produce top-class county hurlers in the future. But wearing a club hat, would think it maybe unfair on the rural clubs who wouldn't be getting these extras.
For example, Ballyhogue are often cited here as an example of a club doing great stuff with younger groups in particular, and probably fair to say they now rank ahead of Rapparees at those grades. But if Rapps got extra supports such that they pass Ballyhogue out again in maybe five years time, and then stay ahead - would that be fair on Ballyhogue?" It wouldn't be fair on Ballyhogue.
And yes you are spot on about St Aidans. Some of the Morrisseys from Taghmon played for them, Ted won 8 or 9 senior club titles with them I think, and was captain for a time. Jim hurled with them too for the 1961 season, although the farmhouse he bought when he moved up there to drive an oil lorry for Esso was probably in Davidstown. He still came down to play for Taghmon until 1961.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19923 - 02/06/2026 17:43:58
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