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In truth Wicklowsupport, in Wicklow we have made a virtue of mediocrity. There is unfortunately no nice way of describing how we have handled Gaelic games since their inception. But, don't worry, the annual bash will be on again in a few weeks. Everyone will be dolled up in their finery. A slap up meal probably. Lots of back slapping and self congratulatory speeches. Another leading light in failure and mediocrity will be inducted into the Hall of Fame ? Wow, people who have spent years of their lives misguidedly slaving away to the false god of failure and disappointment. But shur a great night will be had by all. This is in no way to diminish the various awards that will be handed out to the various players of the year etc. they are 100% entitled to their moment of glory. God knows they won't have too many of those in their playing careers, particularly inter county ones. For them, they could never get enough exposure and congratulations, but please, please spare us this other stuff.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 995 - 27/11/2021 15:37:14 2390963 Link 0 |
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I don't disagree with you and i don't begrudge any player that wins an award but i find it hard to believe the mentality whereby mediocrity is acceptable. Surely players and clubs want to compete and win at a high level!!! It is the clubs who are sending representatives to the county convention; do clubs not want change at the top table? I can't help but feel that with the exception of a minority in the county that overall the majority are satisfied with the mediocity the exists currently and has existed forever. We have had some embarassing county and club results in hurling and football with no reaction nor outrage - is their no pride in the county?
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 27/11/2021 19:36:33 2390990 Link 0 |
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Do we feel Blessington have any chance this weekend against the Kildare champions? wondershorts (Wicklow) - Posts: 291 - 30/11/2021 09:07:24 2391166 Link 1 |
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A team always has a chance but in my opinion Blessington only has a very slim chance on Sunday. I can't see Blessington getting enough scores plus Naas are a high scoring team. Equally when i saw Blessington this year they weren't tight marking at the back. Bad combination. I think Naas will win comfortably unless Blessington can address these two areas in which case there might be a game. I do wish Blessington all the best and i hope they prove me wrong.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 01/12/2021 12:03:14 2391283 Link 0 |
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I don't know anything about Naas but respect your opinion of them. Still, I'm not sure that we have seen the best of Blesso. Now that they believe in themselves they could keep improving. So, I will keep the money in the pocket and wish them the very best of luck at the weekend. In reply to your question in your last post about clubs or Wicklow Gaels in general caring about how we fare at National level or not fare as is normally the case, I think the answer is obvious in the lack of interest your query deserved. So it's onwards and not quite upwards.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 995 - 02/12/2021 21:33:37 2391500 Link 0 |
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County teams getting back into training very soon, any word on new Donegal panel, any new faces or any retirements or anyone leaving panel. jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 405 - 04/12/2021 20:45:32 2391678 Link 0 |
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Think you're in the wrong thread Jack, we can barely get lads to respond to questions about who's in the Wicklow panel!
Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 04/12/2021 21:48:19 2391682 Link 0 |
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I'd imagine, jacktheboy, you are in the wrong county for info on the Donegal panel. Sorry.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 995 - 04/12/2021 21:59:35 2391686 Link 0 |
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I think Blessington have an excellent chance today and I predict a very close game and would not be at all surprised if they cone out on top. Naas are an excellent side but were pushed in some of their league and championship games in kildare The game is there for the taking . In relation to the level of interest in our county scene here in Wicklow, there are still genuine people who follow their county thick and thin. However that number is dwindling We do have talented footballers to follow this year and there will definitely be new faces on the panel
roseyinthegarden (Wicklow) - Posts: 109 - 05/12/2021 09:11:56 2391691 Link 0 |
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Twenty years ago Rathnew were Leinster senior club champions. Twenty years later, the champions of Wicklow were like boys against men today and Naas may not even be the best team in Leinster. I have followed Wicklow football for thirty years. I have seen most of the club champions compete in the Leinster championship, most years and I have seen a lot of county finals in that time. In the last few years, I haven't seen many local county championship matches but this year, I attended a few. The standards in the county is very low; the lowest I have ever seen it. Players are not physically big enough and not conditioned well. The game is played at a slower pace, no intensity in general nor in the tackle. Speed of thought is too slow. Ball is moved too slow, play in general is naïve. The county is miles behind other counties in Leinster never mind Ireland. Today should be the catalyst for change in the county. Blessington were not able to compete against Naas in any area. People can delude themselves that there are good players in the county. There are good players in the county by Wicklow standards but these same players are mediocre players when you compare them to the standards in other counties. Equally people can blame the county manager, the county board, etc but the buck stops with the clubs and the standard of player being developed by the clubs in the county is mediocre. Barndarrig (Junior), An Tocher (Intermediate) and Blessington (Senior) were all beaten in their respective competitions by double digits. How can intercounty teams expect to perform and progress if this is the standard of players and clubs that make up the county scene? They can't and they won't. Wicklow as a county in football; the clubs in the county, the clubs that make up the county board have a decision to make, do they modernise in terms of how they develop players so that they can compete at a decent level or do they fall further and further behind. It appears the latter is the answer at the moment. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 05/12/2021 14:47:25 2391731 Link 0 |
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Very well thought out, and articulated post, Wicklowsupport and there is not one person in this county or outside it who could honestly put up any cogent alternative view. You have hit every nail smack bang on the head, and I have no idea in truth how to even suggest how we can set about fixing any of our many failings.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 995 - 05/12/2021 19:54:09 2391780 Link 0 |
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I swear people in Wicklow actually enjoy the misery more than anything. Where were all the essay long posts after Blessington beat St. Columbas, a team who won Leinster a few years ago? Naas were too good for Blessington, not 13 points better, but still too good. Some of the goals Blesso conceded were poor and they had no free taker. I'd hazard a guess neither of you were at the match? That Naas team will be in a Leinster final and could run Kilmacud or Portarlington close. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 06/12/2021 09:03:18 2391803 Link 1 |
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I don't come on here to say negative things about teams in Wicklow but at the same time, there is no point coming on and pretending that Wicklow teams are up to scratch when they aren't. The point I was making doesn't just apply to Blessington. All three representatives at Junior, Intermediate and Senior were beaten by double figures. I see club football in Kildare and when I go watch club football in Wicklow, the gulf is huge so I predicted that Blessington wouldn't be able to compete yesterday. It is all aspects of the game - fitness, physicality, conditioning, speed of thought, speed of moving the ball, getting possession from kick outs, taking scores from far out, knowing how to tackle and turnover the ball; the list goes on. How can a county have a county team that can compete when the clubs can't compete and players that are perceived as good players are nowhere near as good as we think when they come up against other counties or players from other counties?
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 06/12/2021 09:51:31 2391810 Link 0 |
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Blessington wouldn't make a semifinal in Kildare Senior club championship
Cloon12 (Kildare) - Posts: 53 - 06/12/2021 11:13:19 2391822 Link 0 |
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I agree with you. And to think that the champions of Wicklow were able to compete against the champions of Kildare and on many occasions in the past come out on top. Even in 2017, Rathnew were very competitive against Moorefield who went on to win the Leinster title. Clubs in the county, not just Blessington but teams Blessington beat along the way need to reflect on this result. There is no point, thinking that they are better than they are. Also, the county board or whoever arrange football fixtures in the league and championship need to look at the format as it isn't working. If Wicklow clubs want to compete again for top spot in the province there must be changes made.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 06/12/2021 14:31:27 2391867 Link 0 |
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You ask what are the answers to Wicklow football's ills? In truth there are no easy answers but I believe with some changes and a lot of hard work that clubs could become competitive in the short term again. Alot of the hard work needs to come at club level. I think there should be more games for young players, not fewer. I think these games, if possible should be against clubs in other counties bordering the county. Clubs playing clubs in other counties of a similar size and capability. I think there should be more district teams in the senior championship like in Kerry which enables players from smaller clubs to play in the senior championship. I would introduce a pilot competition at under 23 level. This will improvement them as players and the various competitions. I think the county board should review and change the coaching that is being done by coaches at schools and club level. It is not fit for purpose as it is not getting results. Part of this change should involve looking at what Kildare, Offaly etc are doing at underage at club level. Offaly have proven what can be done in a short timeframe and Kildare in the last 10-15 years. I would suggest a clampdown on behaviour at all club matches in the county as I believe it is preventing people from getting involved. Finally, clubs should actively recruit young players to start playing football and to put a huge effort into retaining them. Other people with more knowledge than me can offer other suggestions. Finally, clubs need to show ambition, not more of the same stuff that isn't working.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 06/12/2021 16:20:56 2391884 Link 0 |
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I was disappointed to read that Kevin O'Brien won't be involved with any under age intercounty teams this year. I would like to commend the work Kevin has done at underage level in the last few years. He restored a sense of respectability into our underage teams. His teams always played a nice style of football just like his own playing style. Not only that but his teams got great results beating Dublin at minor level. Hopefully we will see Kevin involved at this level in the not too distant future. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 07/12/2021 12:02:35 2391968 Link 0 |
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Where have all the Wicklow posters gone? I appreciate that there isn't much to talk about but even throughout the year, the number of people posting on the Wicklow forum is diminishing. Have supporters/posters lost interest? Is the county at an all-time low even though the senior team stayed in Division 3. What are peoples' opinions on 2022? We have a new manager at all levels from minor to senior. Despite their hammering to Naas, Blessington will look back on this year as a success. What do supporters expect from our football teams in 2022? wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 13/12/2021 11:09:05 2392651 Link 0 |
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It's not hard to understand the lack of interest when most of our clubs representatives get hammered out the gate at provincial level, we seem to be going backwards as each year passes and we settle for it.One exception is the performance of the Tinahely Ladies football team who are operating at highest level and are more than a match for any senior Ladies team in the country. I had the pleasure of seeing them playing Dunboyne a few weeks ago in what was one of the best games of football I've seen this year,and they were very unlucky to loose to the eventual Leinster Champions by a freak og in the 90th minute of an absorbing game. It goes to show with good structures anything is possible and I have no doubt if they continue to improve Tinahely will win a Leinster title in the not to distant future. Its up to the rest of us to try improve our standards at all levels club and county
dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 13/12/2021 13:03:00 2392666 Link 0 |
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I dont disagree with some of the comments made about the club championship. To ve fair I only saw one game this year at quarter final stage, I was a little taken a back by the lack of pace and any hard hitting. It didn't look like championship match from previous years. Imo there would appear to be a huge drop off in players between minors and senior level. Players going straight from minor to junior B (in most cases at club level) is a real problem throughout the gaa but is especially the case in counties like Wicklow. Some serious attention is needed to this level to encourage players to keep playing. The more games the better at the younger age groups. If players have a reasonable number of games in a well run championship it will keep good younger players within the gaa and that will have benefits at senior level in years to come. stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 124 - 13/12/2021 18:43:54 2392734 Link 0 |