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I heard an interview on Morning Ireland with Oisin McConville this morning. I disagree with his suggestion that there needs to be a discussion about having senior, intermediate and junior level competitions at intercounty level. I wouldn't agree with this idea. I think players who play for weaker counties should aspire to play against other county teams at their own level but also to compete against teams at a higher level. WIcklow beat Westmeath in this year's lenister championship. I don't think our players will develop playing fellow weaker teams all the time as it becomes a race to the bottom plus without playing teams at a higher level how does a team know how far they are aware from a certain level? I just think it is ridiculous to ask players to train as hard as players do for six months to play in a junior championship. On a separate note, does the wicklow club championship kick off in July? wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1953 - 20/06/2024 12:45:41 2553184 Link 0 |
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I suppose, in reality, this would just mirror the league. We would be hopping back and forth between Junior and Intermediate. There is enough tinkering with the championship as it is with everyone getting 3/4/5 cracks at it .
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1068 - 20/06/2024 15:16:58 2553221 Link 0 |
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I suppose, in reality, this would just mirror the league. We would be hopping back and forth between Junior and Intermediate. There is enough tinkering with the championship as it is with everyone getting 3/4/5 cracks at it .
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1068 - 20/06/2024 15:44:50 2553227 Link 0 |
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If they just did the Tailteann based on the league positions it would be far better i.e. the next year's div 1 & 2 into Sam Maguire and 3 & 4 into Tailteann Cup. Down are the favourites to win this year and will be in div 2 next year an Meath won it from div 2 also. TopDrawer (Wicklow) - Posts: 58 - 21/06/2024 11:37:43 2553360 Link 0 |
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I agree with you. I think a two tier is about right minus relegated division two teams being parachuted into the Tailteann cup. Equally, I don't agree with beaten provincial finalists being rewarded for reaching a provincial final. In Connaught and Munster, a team may be on the easy side of the draw and a team can qualify for a provincial final much easier than in Leinster or Ulster. The two main competitions - Sam Maguire and Tailteann should be based solely on league positions.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1953 - 21/06/2024 13:44:48 2553401 Link 0 |
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I will agree with this. Tailteann for Div 3 and 4 teams only - based on the league positions in the league just finished. If there is a team who got to their respective provincial final the previous year and are as such entitled to a run for Sam, so be it but no back door if they don't do well. Tailteann winners and possibly beaten finalists qualify for Sam the following year, this being open to debate.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1068 - 21/06/2024 15:25:57 2553444 Link 0 |
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As I listened to Louth versus Cork on the radio yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder - what is Louth doing right and what could Wicklow learn from them if people involved in the administration of football in county looked? I watched the highlights of the game on the tv last night and the one thing that is obvious is the passion of both the players and the supporters. Louth has a huge passion for gaelic football. Maybe I am a bit of a romantic especially in this modern age but I think the foundation of any sporting team is a passion and a belief. A burning desire to be as good as other teams despite not having the same resources. Louth are the second best team in Leinster behind Dublin. This is an amazing achievement for such a small county. I accept that Louth probably has a decent population but so do Wicklow. Louth are not a huge hurling county, neither are Wicklow. Wicklow have more clubs. Does it come down to passion? Louth are in Division 2, they are steady in Division 2, they've contested the last two leinster finals, they are in the last eight of the All Ireland and while they may never win an all ireland as it is currently structured, they are relevant. Other counties in leinster must be wondering how Louth can do it but they can't!! wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1953 - 24/06/2024 09:07:13 2554237 Link 0 |
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I think you may have hit the nail on the head here - or gone very close. There isn't a lot of passion about our games in the county. Rathnew were a prime example of how far passion can bring you, coupled with talented footballers. We have had too many false dawns as a county to get too excited. That feeds into revenue streams, advertising and such. This old forum is a prime example. Many many passionate posters have just disappeared into the ether. Many of them are around still as you can see them involved in other forums and topics from time to time. I've been following a few counties forums recently, and there is no end of passion on there. Carlow and Leitrim are just 2 of the very active ones.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1068 - 24/06/2024 11:44:59 2554357 Link 0 |
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I would agree with what you say. So, wicklow posters are still interested in gaelic games but to a degree they've resigned themselves to anything positive ever happening in their own county. Any time I go to a club or county game in Aughrim, there are people there but feels a bit like going to the cinema as there's no atmosphere. By the way, I've been to club games in kildare where I live and it was as quiet as going to the cinema so this isn't just down to wicklow. I don't like looking back as it is hard to compete times past with now but I think when Mick O'Dwyer came to the county, there was a figure head that people could get behind. I'm not sure that we have a figure head that we can get behind plus now it is a collective thing i.e. manager, management team, players plus a backup squad etc. It is more of a collective but we can't seem to build up any momentum. It feels like one step forward, two steps backwards.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1953 - 24/06/2024 14:03:09 2554417 Link 0 |
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Was down at the Hurling feile in Wexford at the weekend supporting Bray. The lads did really well. Were beaten 1-9 to 1-7 to Castletown/Coolgreaney (Wex Div I team). Could have easily won it but we missed a goal at the end. That put us into the shield were we beat two Wexford div III teams well and won it. liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 178 - 24/06/2024 15:28:23 2554458 Link 1 |
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The minor/u17 championship fixtures are out ,who do ye fancy for the A and B Championship. I personally believe there is a lot of talent at this age group and we should have a competitive season. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 45 - 27/06/2024 09:38:55 2555089 Link 0 |
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I tend to agree with you about talent at this age group plus I think as a county, wicklow should be doing better at minor level than they've been doing recently. I think the minor/u17 grade is the last bastion where individual players (big and small) have room to express them. Given a choice, I much prefer to watch under age games than senior ones. One thing I struggle to know as someone not around the county nor involved at club level; are there many parish/district teams in the minor championship?
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1953 - 28/06/2024 14:05:48 2555391 Link 0 |
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I think there are 6 district or amalgamated teams at u17 level. This is a bit of a whinge for some of the club teams, particularly for those outside of the larger urban centres. Still it was won by one such last year - An Tochair. The standard of football is pretty good at this level, but taking that up to the next level at inter county level is beyond us as yet. I thought the u 20 manager made some very great points in his end of year report and let's hope they are acted upon. They include getting the squad together in October rather than Jan Feb.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1068 - 28/06/2024 17:45:44 2555443 Link 0 |