Groundball (Wexford) - Posts: 122 - 06/10/2017 11:32:33    2053524

I am going for an Oulart Martins final, I think they will have too much for the 2 town teams unfortunately as it would be a huge boost for hurling in the 2 towns.
Good day for it, hope a big crowd heading in to it. Cant expect much better in October!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 08/10/2017 12:42:45    2053847

Fethard were deserving winners yesterday. Duffry will be disappointed with their performance but Fethard were dominant for the most part and probably could have won by more than the final scoreline. Duffry got very little from open play but they rallied well after going down to 14 men and it was a right in the melting pot until Fethard worked some good scores at the end. Fethard have some excellent hurlers and they'll be a handful for any team in intermediate next year.

Dirk (Wexford) - Posts: 65 - 08/10/2017 13:12:03    2053851

As a neutral, having seen about 20 senior hurling games this year it has become clear to me that the standard of referring is very poor. There are lads getting senior games who are terrible referees. James Owens, Niall McDonald, John Carton and Justin Heffernan are the 4 best and after that the other senior referees are either too old or too useless. Today's second game was very poor in terms of refereeing and the first two quarter finals a fortnight ago were also poor. Whatever criteria is being used to select referees for senior hurling games needs to be changed as soon as possible. And the refereeing performance in the St Martins v Shels football game last week was the worst display I've ever seen from a referee on an intercounty refereeing panel.

In relation to the hurling itself the best way to describe both St Martins and Oulart is functional. Not spectacular. Gorey had a chance for a lot of the game but the two goals really came at perfect times for st martins. Gorey were impressive and worked very hard but the better team won. The second game I believe the rapps had every chance to win but just didn't take them. Des Mythen was given too much space and Liam Ryan should have been put on Garret Sinnott. Other than those two tactical errors I believe the Rapps are every bit as good a team as oulart, but experience showed in the end. Oulart will definitely be more happy with the refereeing than the Rapps.

I expect oulart to win the final. I don't think the Martins have the required battling qualities when push comes to shove.

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 08/10/2017 18:55:07    2053891

First post, only discovered this forum recently and held off on posting until now. Was in Wexford park today and thought there were a lot of good hurlers on display. For Gorey the Doyles and Jack Cullen were impressive in my view, while Rory O Connor was the martins main man with Willie Devereux hurling an excellent game also. Mark Maloney was also quite good I believe. Not surprised to see the Martin's win. They have the talent needed to be successful but they can't seem to get on a run and pull away from teams which means they are always likely to be dragged into tight games. The second game was good as well, particularly in the second half when it began to get close. For oulart, Keith rossitter, Kevin Sheridan, des mythen and rory Jacob were the standouts in my opinion while Sinnott caught a few balls and caused a bit of trouble in the first half. For the Rapps I believe they are one of the nicest teams to watch. Ricky Fox hurled a lot of ball but he also gave mythen a lot of space. Jack Kelly and James Peare were outstanding all year and Kelly in particular was Brilliant again today. Kevin Foley hurled very well as usual while up front Liam Ryan broke up a lot of play and won balls for others around him. Ryan Mahan was good as was Darragh Pepper despite a slow start. He probably should have been awarded a penalty too. Looking forward to see if they can build on this next year

I wouldn't be surprised if the final was a draw!!!

And about the standard of refereeing I largely agree with the post above. It has been poor at times particularly in the second game today and in previous rounds too. Hard to know how to improve it other than just pick 6 referees and only give senior games to them rather than the 10/12 lads that currently get them.

Onfor15 (Wexford) - Posts: 533 - 08/10/2017 19:56:31    2053918

Was at 2 games today, expected winners prevailed after both opposing teams didn't have a cut or belief if you ask me.

On another note. Desperately saddened to hear of the death of Willie Sunderland before throw in in the Oulart game today. A fantastic hurling man who'll be sorely missed. One of the most passionate hurling men I ever came across.

My thoughts are with his family and may he rest in peace.

dbyrney1 (Wexford) - Posts: 74 - 08/10/2017 20:00:58    2053920

Was at 2 games today, expected winners prevailed after both opposing teams didn't have a cut or belief if you ask me.

On another note. Desperately saddened to hear of the death of Willie Sunderland before throw in in the Oulart game today. A fantastic hurling man who'll be sorely missed. One of the most passionate hurling men I ever came across.

My thoughts are with his family and may he rest in peace.

dbyrney1 (Wexford) - Posts: 74 - 08/10/2017 20:06:19    2053923

As expected all year, Oulart Martins final.
I thought the Rapps believed they could beat Oulart, they just lacked that bit of experience. It was Oularts seasoned men who got them over the line, along with Kevin Sheridan who was fantastic I thought.
The chasing pack are getting close, and will overtake in the next few years as they are aging. It is a long time since we had so many good young hurlers, and more coming through.
A point worth noting here which I heard in WP today. If Mick Jacob wins a county title, he will overtake Fr. Martin Caseys 12 county title medal haul, and equal John Quigley's record of winning a county medal 20 years after he won his first in 1997. It would be fittig to a player and family have given so much to club and county.
I expect Naomh Eanna and Rapps to be back, Gorey are doing so much right having won lots at underage in recent times.
I still think Oularts experience and guile, and the fact that St. Martins might have to play 2 football matches before it, will be the difference and I expect them to retain the Bowe cup in 3 weeks time.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 08/10/2017 20:42:30    2053932

Was in Wexford Park also today,I would disagree with some of the posters above, I thought the first game was very poor, zero life in it, always felt Martins were going to win, I thought Gorey were very poor apart from a few highlights during the game and Oylegate must be disappointed looking at them today. Refereeing was extremely poor in first game, in fairness Conor McDonald was held pulled any everything else and not given a free. The second game was a much better standard and the play seemed to flow a lot better. Rapps will be kicking themselves looking back, when they were only 1 point down, Liam Ryan had a glorious chance and instead of picking it up pulled it across the goal with the resulting forward missing and then having a chance himself a few minutes later. But it seems to be the same storey every day with Oulart, teams have chances but just can't finish them. The referee in the second game nearly made a shocking decision, giving a point when he had blown his whistle and the Rapps players stopping, only for a Rapps selector to come on and make him change his mind.

Overall I expect Oulart to win the final as they will have that extra week break which should stand to them.

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 474 - 08/10/2017 20:44:01    2053933

Rumours of Oularts demise were greatly exaggerated. When you think about it, there's a perception that because Jacob, Rossiter and Sinnott retired from inter-county, that they are old team. They aren't really though. Plenty left in the tank based on today's performance. Sprayed the ball around with ease.

I felt Gorey shot themselves in the foot. Their backs to a man where generally on top, particularly Eoin Molloy and Jack Cullen, but they did not supply enough ball into Mac et all. Positioning Conroy at corner forward was a strange move as well. He didn't get a feel of the ball at all. Martin's were far more efficient up front and picked off more scores from play. Their first goal should have been cleared twice by Gorey in the build-up, but fair dues to Rory O'Connor. He has shown maturity and leadership beyond his years. Outstanding talent.

I expect Oulart to dismantle them in the final though. Their game management is far above anyone else in the county.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1485 - 08/10/2017 21:04:14    2053939

freshoh (Wexford) - Posts: 131 - 08/10/2017 21:27:58    2053944

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 09/10/2017 10:19:22    2054015

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 09/10/2017 10:48:00    2054029

hurlorhurley,can you show me where i said i dont want them to win both?your just looking to pick a fight,and as a dual supporter i think i can say that it is great that they embrace both.
do i believe they will win both?i think they are more likely to win the football.do i think they will win either?no,i dont.
there was no need to open up a dual debate over a throw-away comment.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 09/10/2017 11:06:38    2054036

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 09/10/2017 12:11:15    2054073

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 09/10/2017 12:22:05    2054079

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 09/10/2017 12:36:43    2054084

hurlin101 (Wexford) - Posts: 114 - 09/10/2017 12:48:55    2054091

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 09/10/2017 13:06:45    2054104

yelowbelly (Wexford) - Posts: 409 - 09/10/2017 13:38:45    2054117