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Wexford Hurling Thread

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Hard to judge on a night like that but it is worrying as Antrim were nt any great shakes and we strugglrd In many aspects most notably ball winning and at times workrate in the forwards. Physicality is a major worry . Saying that the subs made a difference . Terrible conditions lets hope a win like that will boost confidence . Early days .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 522 - 24/01/2026 19:23:25    2652955

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Never going to be a good game.
Antrim will be kicking themselves for standing too close for that last gasp free. Making it a goal scoring opportunity which Fanning blasted to the net.
Both sides hugely understrength and really the safrons looked the better team for most of that game.
The bottom line is of course we got the win.
The reason we got the win was the subs brought on. Reck, the two Codds,CBD and Redmond.
We got turned over a lot and gave them around 15 frees that will have to be corrected quickly.
Down next up in Ballycran. Should be another brace of points but we should tread warily.
We have a name for performing poorly against poor opposition.
Hopefully the weather will be kind next weekend.
A final word about Simon Roche. He plays with a maturity well above his age. He'll be around for years to come.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 586 - 24/01/2026 19:40:53    2652957

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Horrible conditions all game. Would not read anything into that game. Good to get a win and lucky to do so. Onto next week and hopefully better conditions.

Yellowhelmet (Australia) - Posts: 163 - 24/01/2026 19:49:43    2652960

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As mentioned what an evening for hurling horrible conditions,2 points on the board very lucky to get them but got them let's see what happens over next couple of week's

Ryanworld (Wexford) - Posts: 49 - 24/01/2026 20:30:03    2652962

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Hopefully its good enough to get the win . Time to move on back the new lads and get behind the team and management .
Everyone knew it was coming that we needed to rebuild this is the real start .
Not to be dismissive but the team over last 15 years has nt exactly set the world alight bar maybe 2years maybe this crop with little expectation will flourish and give us a more consistent competive edge .
We stared relegation in the face barely 3 years ago it is time for change .
Following wexford hurlers for nearly 50 years I d say we were very rarely at top table in that time does nt mean I did nt enjoy it most years.
As long as the players with the privilege of wearing that jersey give 100% and never throw the towel in I ll be happy if we are good enough then we may just be successful.
Keep trying to improve in every way from underage club to senior county and everyone that can help out with whatever they have to offer .
Best of luck today and for the year ahead as well and to the footballers. Lets hope we see progress on both fronts"
I first thought "that lad must be getting on bit if he's been following Wexford for nearly 50 years" until I realised my father first brought me to see Wexford when I was six years old and I'm now a couple of years past 50 years old :D

Absolutely horrible conditions in the Park this evening and all that matters is we got the win in the end.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3334 - 24/01/2026 21:52:47    2652978

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Expectations were low coming into this season. They're even lower now."
Why? That was near enough Antrims Championship team according to the Antrim lad I watched the game with. His son started and played the whole game. Anyone making any judgement on our team or players in that weather needs to take a good long look at themselves. At the same time we were waxxed to win that. Maybe its going to be our year!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18188 - 24/01/2026 22:08:25    2652982

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Give them a chance, winter hurling first game, lot of new starters, every time a post comes on here just depressing.

Jedobi (Wexford) - Posts: 271 - 24/01/2026 22:13:21    2652984

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Replying To Jedobi:  "Give them a chance, winter hurling first game, lot of new starters, every time a post comes on here just depressing."
Exactly it's January and if you had to make the worst day possible to play hurling you'd do well to come up with a worse day than today. I wouldn't read anything into today's game only the fact that we got two points which is the aim after all. Onto Down now.

ChinCanHurl (Wexford) - Posts: 304 - 24/01/2026 22:38:33    2652989

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I first thought "that lad must be getting on bit if he's been following Wexford for nearly 50 years" until I realised my father first brought me to see Wexford when I was six years old and I'm now a couple of years past 50 years old :D

Absolutely horrible conditions in the Park this evening and all that matters is we got the win in the end."
My dad was nt into hurling or football . But he did bring me to croke park at an early age . I don't know why he must ve sensed my growing appetite for gaa even back then .
I look back now and wished he was more into it but its not for everyone . Times were different he had to work hard to keep our family fed and looked after . To give us the opportunity to play and encourages us to play . Was nt mad about injuries sustained but that went with the territory I m afraid . Did nt have to be involved in gaa to help it along its course .
What I m saying is yes encouragement and support is important but the love for our games comes from within.
If he had ve been an intercounty hurler would I have had a choice to play or not . I chose to play and followed my own path.
Like lot of folk of my era do we look back and ask could we have done more for today's crop. Simple answer yes and simple amswe no . We done what we could .
But the love for the game and our county will always be there . Regardless. We may sometimes get down , pessimistic negative about our teams does nt mean we don't care and want the best . . The joys of being a wexford man and supporter I would nt want to be anything else .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 522 - 24/01/2026 22:44:20    2652992

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Replying To Viking66:  "Why? That was near enough Antrims Championship team according to the Antrim lad I watched the game with. His son started and played the whole game. Anyone making any judgement on our team or players in that weather needs to take a good long look at themselves. At the same time we were waxxed to win that. Maybe its going to be our year!"
When I was thinking about it last night, I've often remarked that we absolutely never get the rub of the green. We most certainly got it last night. Let's hope lessons are learned.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4189 - 25/01/2026 08:43:09    2653013

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Replying To Viking66:  "Why? That was near enough Antrims Championship team according to the Antrim lad I watched the game with. His son started and played the whole game. Anyone making any judgement on our team or players in that weather needs to take a good long look at themselves. At the same time we were waxxed to win that. Maybe its going to be our year!"
Yeah, TBF when you get conditions like that, it's a bit of a leveller, the game pretty much becomes who can win the most dirty ball

There was no real point in trying to work the ball short because it was so easy to make a mistake and any mistake would have handed Antrim an easy score and they pretty much parked the bus in the second half, couldn't score deep in their half because they had so many players back there and was hard to score from out the pitch even with the wind because the conditions were so bad, best hope was to win a dirty ball in their half and then to win a free after that

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 831 - 25/01/2026 09:31:44    2653018

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As stated above conditions awful and to be honest very lucky to win the game. The goal we gave away was very soft. Davy pretty much had everyone back and we weren't shooting from distance due to conditions. Unfortunately with the long puc outs we we had a very small half forward line. So it is probably unfair to be too critical of the the wing forwards as it wasn't a night for small men. Thought backs did ok and Simon Roche hurled well. Lawlor was in and out of the game so still undecided about him at centre back but that's what the league is for. Hopefully beat Down next week and start building a small bit of momentum

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 588 - 25/01/2026 10:44:36    2653021

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Were you actually in the open side this evening? God help ya if ya were"
In the comfort of the covered stand, feel that's the side where any flash point between players breaks out too.

OpenStandWall (Wexford) - Posts: 332 - 25/01/2026 11:37:46    2653031

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Yesterday never going to be pretty and didn't care if we won by 1 or 10 points so long as we got the 2 points. As Mullane said on the Indo GAA podcast during the week we're going to have to be patient with this team.

Was impressed by Wickham again and thought the subs in particular the two Codds made a big difference when they got on.

OpenStandWall (Wexford) - Posts: 332 - 25/01/2026 11:48:57    2653034

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I don't know if you can play yourself on to the Champiomship team in the league but you can certainly play your way off it

I was surprised by a few of the starters last night as I thought the players we brought on as subs would've actually started in their place, suppose you have to take your opportunity when it comes, think some on the team didn't do that last night

On a positive note, I thought our three best players were Simon Roche, Conor Foley, and Darragh Carley, I do think there's genuine talent there in the 21-24 group, the real problem for us right now is our lack of talent in the 25-27 group, the players in the 21-24 age group still need time to develop

Wickham was bright enough too, I like him and I think he has the ability to be a good hurler but his striking and decision-making need to improve, tbf he's still young and this is his first year in the set-up so he still has time on his side, just need to be patient

The team we had out last night was quite small and in the conditions, that was asking for trouble, thought Jack Redmond offered something when he came in that we didn't have earlier

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 831 - 25/01/2026 12:21:12    2653042

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Looking ahead to next week, I think I'd like to see something like the following:

Mark Fanning
David Clarke/Eoin Whelan
Niall Murphy
Darragh Carley
Conor Foley
Richie Lawlor
Éamon Wickham/Eoin Whelan
Conor Hearne
Damien Reck/David Codd
Darren Codd
CBD/Tucker Kinsella
Jack Redmond
Kevin Foley
Simon Roche
Cian Byrne

After Kevin Foley and Mark Fanning last night, our three next most experienced hurlers are 24, 23, and 23 this year (Richie Lawlor, Conor Foley, and Cian Byrne). All these young players need game time and we also need to win, think a lot of the team names above could be starters come Championship, just need to give them as much experience as possible in the league

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 831 - 25/01/2026 12:25:54    2653043

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Replying To OpenStandWall:  "In the comfort of the covered stand, feel that's the side where any flash point between players breaks out too."
Don't think I saw anyone on the open side except a lonely cameraman in the booth!!!!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18188 - 25/01/2026 15:00:10    2653071

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "I don't know if you can play yourself on to the Champiomship team in the league but you can certainly play your way off it

I was surprised by a few of the starters last night as I thought the players we brought on as subs would've actually started in their place, suppose you have to take your opportunity when it comes, think some on the team didn't do that last night

On a positive note, I thought our three best players were Simon Roche, Conor Foley, and Darragh Carley, I do think there's genuine talent there in the 21-24 group, the real problem for us right now is our lack of talent in the 25-27 group, the players in the 21-24 age group still need time to develop

Wickham was bright enough too, I like him and I think he has the ability to be a good hurler but his striking and decision-making need to improve, tbf he's still young and this is his first year in the set-up so he still has time on his side, just need to be patient

The team we had out last night was quite small and in the conditions, that was asking for trouble, thought Jack Redmond offered something when he came in that we didn't have earlier"
Simon Roche played very well but is he a scoring forward from play at intercounty level? He was a very good back at u20. Redmond and Darren Codd just looked more dangerous that way when they came on. Obviously not going to judge anyone on how they did in those conditions, conditions that also absolutely didnt suit Cian Byrnes game, probably more so than any of the other forwards on either side.
When we get to championship we will need to be scoring 30 points plus in total to give ourselves a chance to win games. Forwards at intercounty level don't get many scoring chances, and they need to make them count.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18188 - 25/01/2026 15:07:09    2653073

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Looking ahead to next week, I think I'd like to see something like the following:

Mark Fanning
David Clarke/Eoin Whelan
Niall Murphy
Darragh Carley
Conor Foley
Richie Lawlor
Éamon Wickham/Eoin Whelan
Conor Hearne
Damien Reck/David Codd
Darren Codd
CBD/Tucker Kinsella
Jack Redmond
Kevin Foley
Simon Roche
Cian Byrne

After Kevin Foley and Mark Fanning last night, our three next most experienced hurlers are 24, 23, and 23 this year (Richie Lawlor, Conor Foley, and Cian Byrne). All these young players need game time and we also need to win, think a lot of the team names above could be starters come Championship, just need to give them as much experience as possible in the league"
Conor Foley won't be 23 until after the club championships are over. Nearly at the end of the year. Thought he played well last night.
Conor Hearne will be 28 this year I think? One of our best players the last couple years.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18188 - 25/01/2026 15:32:17    2653077

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Replying To Viking66:  "Conor Foley won't be 23 until after the club championships are over. Nearly at the end of the year. Thought he played well last night.
Conor Hearne will be 28 this year I think? One of our best players the last couple years."
Actually had forgotten about Hearne, he pretty much has the same experience as Foley though, didn't really play any minutes until 2023 and only really got his first crack at starting in 2024

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 831 - 25/01/2026 17:28:41    2653126

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