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Firstly, congratulations to Longford. They've proved that it can be done. There's too many counties in Leinster who are using Dublin's vast resources as an excuse for their own failure. Those stats that you outline are damning indeed if you are involved in football in Wicklow. To me as a supporter and an observer (albeit from outside the county), I think there is a lot of incompetency behind the scenes. A lot of counties such as Longford, Louth etc are making progress. They've a plan and are implementing the structures which is resulting in varying degrees of success. As a county we don't seem to have a plan (maybe someone can confirm or deny) other than getting an outside manager and hoping that they can smooth over what is wrong. Sadly, this is a fallacy, a manager can only work with what he is given in terms of players. One stat that you omitted is our poor record in the Leinster club championship across junior, intermediate and senior. This is a competition where clubs were near the top of the pile but in the last 20 years, the clubs have slide to the bottom in this particular category. As I say, it is about planning for the future, implementing the right structure and working hard to make inroads. There is no silver bullet. The question I pose every year is - where is the plan? and if there is a plan why isn't it working?
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1951 - 21/05/2024 10:18:19 2546073 Link 0 |
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We were doing this and the powers that be removed all coaches from squads at the start of this season and the results aren't good.
Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 44 - 21/05/2024 15:43:41 2546192 Link 0 |
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tailteann cup in my view is not structured right . kildare are in my views miles better then the teams in this competition. I think there will be very one sided matches . Kildare , down are sam maguires teams . This competition is devalued al ready . Wicklow have still a change to finish 3rd in group , they need to play better . I was at the match against laois and was disappointed wicklow did not score a goal . Matthew ging in my view has to be picked on wicklow team he can score goals . Eoin Darcy is also a great player as well with Kevin Quinn . lor12 (Wicklow) - Posts: 242 - 21/05/2024 16:47:49 2546219 Link 0 |
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I think you will find that all of the forwards on view on Sunday can score goals for their clubs. That is a given - but - it's not easy to get goals when you are pegged back in your own half. Our style of play would need a miracle to score a goal almost. It's a long way from your own 40 mt line to the other 21 if you do manage to turn the ball over and break out. You would need 3/4 players running with you and when every player is expected to defend, and we struggle to field our own kick outs , I just can't see where goals might come from. On the plus side, the team is young and green. Who knows what another year or two might do to them.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1067 - 21/05/2024 18:47:02 2546230 Link 0 |
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Truly horrific reading. I went back over the years and the Leinster minor championship is 95 yrs old. We have appeared in 4 finals, winning 1. The Leinster U20/21 is a little younger at 60 yrs old this year. Again we have appeared in 4 finals winning none. Stark, isn't it ?
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1067 - 21/05/2024 18:59:24 2546237 Link 0 |
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Are you serious? More to football games than scoring a goal. Ging doesn't show anything at club level to warrant inclusion. Have seen plenty of him against AGB over the years. You may go again with your remedy
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 118 - 22/05/2024 10:51:52 2546329 Link 0 |
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With pack defences at intercounty level, the odds on scoring a goal/goals are dramatically reduced. I've seen this present Wicklow team a number of times this year and one thing that stood out is how close the players need to be to the goal before attempting or scoring a point. One of the best ways to score against a packed defence is to be able to score points from about 40 metres from the goal. This gives the defence a problem and can result in them having to push further out the field in order to defend which then opens up space in front of goal. Also on Sunday, it appears from how the team setup that they were concerned about conceding goals which meant that they brought 14 players back behind the ball and left Kevin Quinn or Oisin McGraynor up front on their own. They did manage to turn over the Laois possession on a few occasions but the transition to attack was too slow which afforded Laois players time to get back and defend. While Laois's attack when they turned over our possession was much quicker and resulted in a few scores which cost us the game. This team needs to speed up their play both in attack and in transition. Any time I watch club football in Wicklow, clubs are slow and ponders in their play. This might be ok in the local county championships but it won't work against teams from other counties who have perfected the speed of their attacking play. Finally, another poster indicated that there was a change this year to coaches continuing to manage under age teams through the age groups - I'd love to know the rationale behind such a decision. It seems a retro step. Despite the talk of conditioning and tactics, one thing that has stayed the same is the relationship/bond between a manager/management team and the players. This bond can galvanise a team to put in an extra effort. Longford's minor manager said as much in an interview he gave after their great Leinster minor triumph earlier this week. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1951 - 22/05/2024 11:35:26 2546351 Link 0 |
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How ironic that we waited so long for a lower tier competition, and then when it arrives we still fail. sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2911 - 22/05/2024 11:45:10 2546353 Link 0 |
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Me thinks no matter how many tiers, they will bring only tears for us.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1067 - 22/05/2024 12:32:11 2546372 Link 1 |
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One concern I have about all this is the effect these possession tactics and slow slow buildup might have on these younger players. I don't think that club football within the county has slowed to Sundays extent. If it has, there will be no attendance at this years championship whenever it takes place. Two yrs ago when Tochair played senior their first year they almost snuck the thing with speed play. AGB and others put paid to that last year by speeding up their own game. I suppose what I am trying to say is that the game on Sunday bears no resemblance to how our senior teams play. Maybe I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1067 - 22/05/2024 12:41:20 2546374 Link 0 |
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I think it is unfair to say we belong in a third tier. We've been competitive in most games this year against division 2, 3 and 4 teams: westmeath (win), kildare (1 point defeat), laois (1 point defeat). It is frustrating that we don't seem to be able to get across the line and get a result despite having the opportunities - kildare and laois games as two examples. I think our players find it hard to break down defensive styles which most county teams employ now because it is a style of play that the players aren't use to playing against on a regular basis. Most clubs in the county play a pretty open game which is more enjoyable to watch but when this style goes up against the defensive style; it is the defensive style that is winning out most of the time, unfortunately.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1951 - 22/05/2024 15:59:37 2546435 Link 0 |
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Does anyone know how the all ireland minor championship is structured this year? I see from the fixtures list on the gaa website that Wicklow are due to play Cavan away this weekend. I didn't realise that there was a different structure at minor; it seems that teams are grouped!!! wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1951 - 24/05/2024 12:05:41 2546790 Link 0 |
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I hear the 16s got hammered in Wexford this team has gone majorly backwards since last season, let's hope the 17s do better in Cavan.
Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 44 - 25/05/2024 16:02:58 2546984 Link 0 |
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Round 3 fixed for Parnell Park this Saturday. Obviously need to beat Carlow to have any hope. Only 3 of the 4 third placed teams go through as New York enter the competition at the prelim quarter stage. TopDrawer (Wicklow) - Posts: 58 - 27/05/2024 12:57:33 2547602 Link 0 |
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A big game for the county footballers this weekend. Just like the league, their performances and results in this competition has been mediocre. Based upon what I saw against Laois, I hope that the manager tweaks the game plan so that there are more forwards in scoring positions when the ball is turned over. The game plan against Laois was very defensive with no players advances which meant that when the ball was turned over, the transition was slower which allowed Laois to get players back. I would like 2-3 forwards in the oppositions side of the field. On current form, Carlow are favourites. Their performances against Laois and Fermanagh is better than our performances against the same opposition. I assume that Kevin Quinn won't be available for the game against Carlow due to this red card against Laois. I can't make the game on Sunday but I will be trying to following it from abroad. Best of luck to the players and management - hopefully we can get a result and advance to the next round. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1951 - 28/05/2024 11:42:06 2547872 Link 0 |
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Indeed it would be hard to be confident with our lads after that Laois game. It was a game we could have won but the whole game to me was - odd. Someone mentioned the slow transition of our minors but the "transition" in the Laois game was ponderous. Laois had oodles of time and space to cover back. Someone else mentioned stats and what we needed to win by. We can never be confidant of beating Carlow, never mind by double figures. In my mind, due to the fact that they came from 8 down against Laois, they would have to be favourites. Our lads are so Jekyll and Hyde it is impossible to have any confidence in them at the weekend. Having said that, I hope for those young players, that they can get a win. It would be a nice morale booster after the rollercoaster or topsy-turvy summer they have had.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1067 - 28/05/2024 16:05:53 2547966 Link 0 |
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I didn't realise any 3rd's got through in the Tailteann and presumed all week that they were already out. FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 81 - 28/05/2024 21:05:46 2548041 Link 0 |
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I think it would take a super optimist to give us any chance, but there is always hope …..
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1067 - 29/05/2024 09:33:39 2548074 Link 0 |
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Like you, I thought coming away from Aughrim after defeat to Laois that we were gone out of the competition but the GAA seem determine to keep team in these various competitions. In this instance, I'm glad of another chance. I'm hoping that the team can put a performance similar to the one (which came out of the blue) against Westmeath in the Leinster championship. As another contributor stated, the team's performances are very Jekyll and Hyde. I don't reckon a performance similar to the one against Laois will be enough to get a win against Carlow who seem to be improving as the year is progressing. Defeat on Sunday and it will be back to the local club championship.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1951 - 29/05/2024 13:48:11 2548157 Link 0 |
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Anyone else finding the current football championship tough going? Hurling championship is on fire and in football we have an endless sequence of meaningless games , perhaps bar the Ulster championship. Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 123 - 30/05/2024 14:03:40 2548399 Link 0 |