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Wexford Club Hurling 2026

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Replying To hownow1: "Are you saying players training/playing matches/gyming minimum 2 or 3 nights a week since February/March don't deserve some sort of leeway for a weekend off after most of which playing 9 weekends in a row of championship matches?" See the post above that I was writing around the time you were writing this one :) The players and clubs want the structure that gives so many matches and therefore so many opportunities to qualify for the knock-out stages. People would no doubt complain if County Board went against this and changed to something like groups of four or even groups of three. But when it comes to having to line out for so many weekends in a row to get so many matches played, then there's a different complaint, that it's all too much and players need a break. Again, can't have it both ways unless our county teams go out of their own championships early, and nobody wants that either. Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3985 - 04/09/2026 12:33:09 2692692 Link
Replying To tearintom: "Was talking to a club manager over the weekend. 2 players went to EP, a couple of others took the week for their own holidays not EP. But 4 players now are informing him they've tickets for Katie Taylor fight next Saturday and not sure of availability! Maybe we should get another weekend off?" Tail wagging the dog comes to mind! Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 601 - 04/09/2026 13:05:09 2692702 Link
Replying To Pikeman96: "See the post above that I was writing around the time you were writing this one :) The players and clubs want the structure that gives so many matches and therefore so many opportunities to qualify for the knock-out stages. People would no doubt complain if County Board went against this and changed to something like groups of four or even groups of three. But when it comes to having to line out for so many weekends in a row to get so many matches played, then there's a different complaint, that it's all too much and players need a break. Again, can't have it both ways unless our county teams go out of their own championships early, and nobody wants that either." I'm not sure if players really do want that structure, albeit as a player I don't attend too many meetings so that's on players to make more of an effort there. I think it is no coincidence that Castletown in football and St. Martins are becoming so dominant within the structure. They are dual clubs to be fair but they have 20+ players more than equipped for senior football/hurling whereas some clubs are extremely dependent on the same 17/18 players and all the group games take their toll and by the time the business end comes around makes surprise results far less likely. hownow1 (Wexford) - Posts: 8 - 04/09/2026 13:25:12 2692709 Link
Replying To hownow1: "Are you saying players training/playing matches/gyming minimum 2 or 3 nights a week since February/March don't deserve some sort of leeway for a weekend off after most of which playing 9 weekends in a row of championship matches?" Couple of points on that. Thats not what im saying at all. In fact if I had my way id have more than 1 break week. But that involves sacrificing things that the said same players aren't willing to do, it involves the same players making tough decisions something again we abdicate for them. Personally id have a reduction in the amount of games we play in championship but on the flip side a ramp up in the consequences of each game where there's more pressure, more riding on these games. Across both codes But guaranteed if there's a proposal for less games the said same players will say no, cant have that. If theres a proposal for more pressure games, jesus no cant have that. Propose foregoing leinster club championships and uts no cant have that either. Oh and we want rhe county team to go far and we want EP weekend off so around 10% of fhe players in total can go for a session in a field! And when asked how's it going to work the answer will be "shur just make it work" as we have actually seen here. Do what the HAC has done and turn the hurling championship into an almost go games scenario making things worse and it will be lapped up no problem. Thats where my issue lies, the fact that people are thinking "oh if the county team goes far in the championship what are we going to do about EP break sums up the problem here. Not will have enough time for championships in total, what pitches, refs, chaps starting college, trying to get underage games done also etc etc" And secondly it takes more than players to run a championship. What about everyone else, should they get a say? The fella who's in the pitch 5 nights a week helping coach u derage teams whilst doing the same with adult team giving up practically all his free time, should he not get a say cos I guarantee in every club theres at least 2 or 3 of those. So yes im all for having breaks, in fact id like to see more of them but breaks that work for everyone involved. tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1690 - 04/09/2026 13:54:18 2692713 Link
Replying To hownow1: "I'm not sure if players really do want that structure, albeit as a player I don't attend too many meetings so that's on players to make more of an effort there. I think it is no coincidence that Castletown in football and St. Martins are becoming so dominant within the structure. They are dual clubs to be fair but they have 20+ players more than equipped for senior football/hurling whereas some clubs are extremely dependent on the same 17/18 players and all the group games take their toll and by the time the business end comes around makes surprise results far less likely." Nearly all the Martins and Castletown first team players are on both their Football and Hurling 1st teams. Gorey are the club with the most different players playing 1st team in each code, followed I think by Shels, although Shels still have over half their 1st teams playing both codes for their 1st teams. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 14:35:54 2692722 Link
Replying To Pikeman96: "It's a cold hard and maybe merciless-sounding fact that players don't always want what's best overall. Also that they can't always get what they want. For instance: - Generally speaking, players (like their clubs at the meetings that decide these things), don't want just three matches in groups of four. Perform poorly and lose your first two matches there and you're either already out or on the verge of going out, instead of having three more chances to recover and go through anyway. - But players want free weekends in amongst all the games it takes to run the two groups of six structure. Even if there was no EP or anything else to consider, that'd be a fair point, as everybody accepts it's tough going to have matches week in and week out. This affects everybody involved in running matches as well as everybody playing them. But there are only so many weeks in the calendar, and you can't make any more." Our players were polled. Most wanted 3 groups of 4. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 14:37:17 2692724 Link
Replying To Timbertony: "Tail wagging the dog comes to mind!" Think the players constitute more than the tail of the dog of playing matches. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 14:41:20 2692726 Link
Replying To hownow1: "I'm not sure if players really do want that structure, albeit as a player I don't attend too many meetings so that's on players to make more of an effort there. I think it is no coincidence that Castletown in football and St. Martins are becoming so dominant within the structure. They are dual clubs to be fair but they have 20+ players more than equipped for senior football/hurling whereas some clubs are extremely dependent on the same 17/18 players and all the group games take their toll and by the time the business end comes around makes surprise results far less likely." Clubs are always encouraged to consult with their players before deciding how to vote at the meetings on championship structures. I know however that unfortunately, many clubs don't actually do this. But it doesn't have to involve players actually going to a meeting. Every club is supposed to have a Players' Representative on their committee, and this must be somebody who played championship in the previous year. This is in the overall Rule Book and is not just something either I or Wexford GAA are making up. My club has quite a good one and he consults with the other players via a WhatsApp group and some phone calls every year when it comes time to make those decisions. If you don't mind me suggesting, that could be your first step if you really feel you don't have a voice in it. But to put your head on the block (!), as a player yourself, which of these would you choose? - a) groups of four so there are less matches and more chances of a weekend off. b) groups of six so there are more chances of going through to the knockout stages, but less chances of a weekend off. "Groups of six but with more weekends off" isn't an option for all the reasons outlined already and several times before. Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3985 - 04/09/2026 14:57:58 2692731 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Our players were polled. Most wanted 3 groups of 4." I did say "generally speaking" :) Not that it applies right across the board. You're in the minority that way, as seen by the result every time there's a vote on moving to three groups of four. Our own lads have never shown an appetite for moving away from the two groups of six. As I've already said, not every club actually consults their players even though they should, but the votes constantly show that the majority of clubs have no appetite for changing from two groups of six either, no matter how they actually arrive at that decision (i.e. player input or not). Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3985 - 04/09/2026 15:03:56 2692734 Link
Replying To Doylerwex: "I'm inclined to agree to be honest. The fact that any player would prioritize a music festival over a championship match is just off the wall to me. Go to music festivals when you're a teenager or retired." I dont rhink the point is making music festivals a priority over championship matches . The point is and always will be if it can be accomodated why not .Do u cancel ur holidays if theres an important game on the same time . Wife partner family do they not matter either . U moved away I think u said for work or whatever reason. the gra of the championship did nt stop u going . I m not criticising I m just using it as an example. Life needs a balance . Some play for the love if the gsme some love of the club others just play abd are nt thst committed . Times have cganged yes players have too much power at times but if we meet them some way fairly why not . It's them we need to make that sacrifice year on year . Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 692 - 04/09/2026 15:09:04 2692736 Link
Replying To tearintom: "Couple of points on that. Thats not what im saying at all. In fact if I had my way id have more than 1 break week. But that involves sacrificing things that the said same players aren't willing to do, it involves the same players making tough decisions something again we abdicate for them. Personally id have a reduction in the amount of games we play in championship but on the flip side a ramp up in the consequences of each game where there's more pressure, more riding on these games. Across both codes But guaranteed if there's a proposal for less games the said same players will say no, cant have that. If theres a proposal for more pressure games, jesus no cant have that. Propose foregoing leinster club championships and uts no cant have that either. Oh and we want rhe county team to go far and we want EP weekend off so around 10% of fhe players in total can go for a session in a field! And when asked how's it going to work the answer will be "shur just make it work" as we have actually seen here. Do what the HAC has done and turn the hurling championship into an almost go games scenario making things worse and it will be lapped up no problem. Thats where my issue lies, the fact that people are thinking "oh if the county team goes far in the championship what are we going to do about EP break sums up the problem here. Not will have enough time for championships in total, what pitches, refs, chaps starting college, trying to get underage games done also etc etc" And secondly it takes more than players to run a championship. What about everyone else, should they get a say? The fella who's in the pitch 5 nights a week helping coach u derage teams whilst doing the same with adult team giving up practically all his free time, should he not get a say cos I guarantee in every club theres at least 2 or 3 of those. So yes im all for having breaks, in fact id like to see more of them but breaks that work for everyone involved." Agree more than just the players should determine our championship format, but there are plenty of other people dont like the fact that groups of 6 carry less jeopardy. Im not a player, and Im one of those people. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 15:26:15 2692741 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Think the players constitute more than the tail of the dog of playing matches." I know but this is getting ridiculous. Maybe the hard questions really need to be asked if players and clubs are willing to put in the hard work to improve standards and player development, but that comes with sacrifices. That's the same for most sports or life in general. Everyone might agree standards need to improve. But....we need free weekends off for EP, Fleadh etc, we need to swap sports every two weeks, club games every weekend across the summer is too tough, we don't want to play in poor weather, championship group games should not have much jeopardy and we want championship finished in time for Leinster club. Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 601 - 04/09/2026 15:32:21 2692744 Link
Replying To Pikeman96: "I did say "generally speaking" :) Not that it applies right across the board. You're in the minority that way, as seen by the result every time there's a vote on moving to three groups of four. Our own lads have never shown an appetite for moving away from the two groups of six. As I've already said, not every club actually consults their players even though they should, but the votes constantly show that the majority of clubs have no appetite for changing from two groups of six either, no matter how they actually arrive at that decision (i.e. player input or not)." Think most clubs see 2 groups of 6 as the best way to maintain their status, but as you say thats not always a decision their players get a huge say in. The fact that the last proposal by the HAC that was adopted was based on 2 groups of 6 definitely helped sway some clubs decisions also. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 15:36:56 2692745 Link
Replying To Formertownie: "I dont rhink the point is making music festivals a priority over championship matches . The point is and always will be if it can be accomodated why not .Do u cancel ur holidays if theres an important game on the same time . Wife partner family do they not matter either . U moved away I think u said for work or whatever reason. the gra of the championship did nt stop u going . I m not criticising I m just using it as an example. Life needs a balance . Some play for the love if the gsme some love of the club others just play abd are nt thst committed . Times have cganged yes players have too much power at times but if we meet them some way fairly why not . It's them we need to make that sacrifice year on year ." I think you have me confused with somebody else. Storystash maybe? I was away in New York in my early 20s but came home. I'm also not a good example for this type of thing. I left my wife and children to make alternative arrangements home from the airport once so I could go straight to thurles to see us get bet by Clare:) Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4658 - 04/09/2026 15:41:17 2692746 Link
Replying To Timbertony: "I know but this is getting ridiculous. Maybe the hard questions really need to be asked if players and clubs are willing to put in the hard work to improve standards and player development, but that comes with sacrifices. That's the same for most sports or life in general. Everyone might agree standards need to improve. But....we need free weekends off for EP, Fleadh etc, we need to swap sports every two weeks, club games every weekend across the summer is too tough, we don't want to play in poor weather, championship group games should not have much jeopardy and we want championship finished in time for Leinster club." Agree 100%. If we are going to win All Irelands again clubs need players to be more committed. But that has to start at clu u8s and work its way up. A lad who is used to training once a week and missing traing sessions and matches for every least reason isnt suddenly going to become ultra committed when he becomes an adult. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 16:00:26 2692752 Link
Replying To Timbertony: "I know but this is getting ridiculous. Maybe the hard questions really need to be asked if players and clubs are willing to put in the hard work to improve standards and player development, but that comes with sacrifices. That's the same for most sports or life in general. Everyone might agree standards need to improve. But....we need free weekends off for EP, Fleadh etc, we need to swap sports every two weeks, club games every weekend across the summer is too tough, we don't want to play in poor weather, championship group games should not have much jeopardy and we want championship finished in time for Leinster club." Agree 100%. If we are going to win All Irelands again clubs need players to be more committed. But that has to start at clu u8s and work its way up. A lad who is used to training once a week and missing traing sessions and matches for every least reason isnt suddenly going to become ultra committed when he becomes an adult. I suppose the bottom line is this, while many people in the county want Wexford to win another AI, how many are actually prepared to do anything better to make it happen? Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20640 - 04/09/2026 16:01:49 2692753 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Think most clubs see 2 groups of 6 as the best way to maintain their status, but as you say thats not always a decision their players get a huge say in. The fact that the last proposal by the HAC that was adopted was based on 2 groups of 6 definitely helped sway some clubs decisions also." As I've said before, I can't speak of behalf of the HAC, but I suspect their proposals were all based on "no point suggesting anything other than groups of six in the first place, because nobody ever wants to change from that, so let's just think about what happens afterwards". What would be really interesting would be if HAC went in with a proposal for three groups of four. Maybe you could have a word with them! Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3985 - 04/09/2026 16:43:12 2692755 Link
Replying To Doylerwex: "I think you have me confused with somebody else. Storystash maybe? I was away in New York in my early 20s but came home. I'm also not a good example for this type of thing. I left my wife and children to make alternative arrangements home from the airport once so I could go straight to thurles to see us get bet by Clare:)" Maybe not but u still got to go on holidays and knowing the date of the game u could plan around that . And u still went to New York in ur 20s in ur peak . I m not saying u are any different than me i left to work away in another country too in my 20s . I also lost a holiday when it clashed with a county finsl as a manager of an underagd team lost all my money I never said anything to my team or club about it . My son was part of the team/squad but not even starting in it he dud nt want to miss it either. Luckily prob like yourself I had a tolerant partner who did ht mind although I think it was tolerated more fir the don than myself. We all make sacrifices but and a big but , is its too long a season and over the time of year to take holidays. We cdnt expect players to commit for 10 to 15 years year on year with no minimum brass within the season to get away . Not every player can go to Australia or Bali for the winter. . Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 692 - 04/09/2026 16:48:12 2692757 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Agree more than just the players should determine our championship format, but there are plenty of other people dont like the fact that groups of 6 carry less jeopardy. Im not a player, and Im one of those people." Ammm.....correct me if the logic is wrong here somewhere, but you could also look at it this way: Groups of six with five or even six teams going through don't bring much jeopardy. Groups of six with four teams going through (as is still the case with football) bring more jeopardy. Eight teams going through out of 12, instead of 10 out of 12 or even 12 out of 12. But here's the rub. Every proposal I've seen for three groups of four also involves eight teams going through, i.e. the top two in each group, plus the two third-placed teams with the best records. So, while that would mean fewer games and therefore probably more free weekends, it wouldn't bring any more jeopardy. Would still be only four teams going out after the group stage. Yes, you'd come to the crunch stage quicker, but no more jeopardy as regards your chances of going through in the end anyway. Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3985 - 04/09/2026 17:41:27 2692765 Link