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I'm going to try getting to Roundwood tomorrow night to see what these AGB u17s are made of. I've already seen Blesso who are very impressive. I will have seen all the teams in this section and so far, Blessington impressed me most, and I have heard that the lads from Arklow feel this might be their year. Tochair are going very well but might have too many younger players than Arklow or Blessington. This is a great grade of football and doesn't get enough support in my opinion. Can't wait for the knockouts. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 22/09/2024 19:33:11 2571300 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "The drop back to Div 4 was the only blot on Oisins copybook - albeit a pretty big one. As regards coaches and management material internally, there aren't many if any standing out. K O'Brien looked as if he might have "it" after his first sojourn with the minors but subsequent attempts petered out. I don't think P Garrigan has ever put himself forward and perhaps that tells its own story. I personally don't think that we have the material at any level presently to take any of our teams to a Leinster semi or final. I would love to be proved wrong in this. Neither have I heard of any Wicklow men performing in any capacity outside the county. Wicklow men had some involvement with Tipperary last year but that didn't go too well." If that's the case then our players are not being developed to the standard required at club level and we have a chicken and egg scenario. Do we need to refocus on developing quality coaches across the county so that we can reap the long term rewards? HowISeeIt (Wicklow) - Posts: 9 - 22/09/2024 19:42:50 2571304 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "Bray look nailed on for their 6? in a row. I know that Carnew gave them a scare last year but I'm not sure they have improved enough to scare the current aristocrats of Wicklow hurling." Very low scoring semi final on the face of things. Where are Kiltegan at do you reckon? Haven't seen them hurl for a long number of years. Would love to see them or Carnew break through again. Kiltegan performed well in the past against the likes of Birr in their heyday. It's a shame that they seemed to regress. Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 519 - 22/09/2024 21:37:14 2571323 Link
Replying To OldSchoolRules: "Just an independent observer. Arklow probably did bottle it, but that penalty did the damage to Greystones. Not in support of any club over any other. Although I had a fancy for Tinahely before it all started, a lot of talent there." I think umpires need some training, plenty of things happened in the quarter finals last week, no umpire no lines person gave any assistance to the referees. StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 35 - 22/09/2024 22:59:33 2571335 Link
Replying To Passer_By: "Very low scoring semi final on the face of things. Where are Kiltegan at do you reckon? Haven't seen them hurl for a long number of years. Would love to see them or Carnew break through again. Kiltegan performed well in the past against the likes of Birr in their heyday. It's a shame that they seemed to regress." The standard of hurling in Wicklow has slipped back since those days, I'm afraid. Some of our traditional strong clubs are operating at intermediate level. Kiltegan looked a year or two ago as if they might be on a forward march but they seem to have plateaued. Carnew are struggling to get back to the top of the pile. Glenealy didn't qualify for the knockouts for the first time in yonks this year. And that wasn't because of the quality of the opposition. Bray have come with a good team and a great club setup. They have been thereabouts for 10/12 yrs or more and are going for 6 in a row, I think , having done a three in a row before losing a few. The only thing that is going to stop them is age, and in fairness that could be a few years away still. I don't mean to disrespect Carnew here as I have long been an admirer of the grit and spirit they bring to the game - and the quality of player they supplied to the county over the years. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 22/09/2024 23:07:34 2571337 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "I'm going to try getting to Roundwood tomorrow night to see what these AGB u17s are made of. I've already seen Blesso who are very impressive. I will have seen all the teams in this section and so far, Blessington impressed me most, and I have heard that the lads from Arklow feel this might be their year. Tochair are going very well but might have too many younger players than Arklow or Blessington. This is a great grade of football and doesn't get enough support in my opinion. Can't wait for the knockouts." Should be a good game, AGB also have a young team so it'll be even enough. Some big games in the 17s A and B this week. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 62 - 23/09/2024 12:20:31 2571435 Link
Replying To HowISeeIt: "If that's the case then our players are not being developed to the standard required at club level and we have a chicken and egg scenario. Do we need to refocus on developing quality coaches across the county so that we can reap the long term rewards?" Based upon what I've seen of the club championship over the last couple of years and our club champions record in the leinster club championship over the last decade; the clubs are not producing the right calibre of player. If you include the fact that we haven't a secondary school competing in the A or B grade at provincial level then it's hardly surprising that we don't have the calibre of player to setup at county level. As a result, it is hard to apportion blame to whoever is managing the county team. I don't know if it is a coincidence but Blessington seem to be strong at under age, in particular, the u17/minor grade; I wonder if this is related to the fact that some of their players attend school in Naas which has a very strong schools team? Might be just a coincidence. Blessington are the only club that have done well at underage in recent years, who have been able to turn their success at underage into senior success. AGB, Tinahely and Án Tochar have, to date, been unable to achieve success at senior level. Maybe Tinahely can rectify this particular statistic in the coming weeks, time will tell. From a traditional point of view, it must be worrying for the likes of Baltinglass and Rathnew that they are so dependant on John McGrath and James Stafford respectively. I was very surprised to see Rathnew resort to kicking high balls into James Stafford who was being marked by three Tinahely players in the recent semi-final. In terms of managers, it seems that ex players are unwilling or unable to make a mark at club level in Wicklow. Here in Kildare, it seems that the county board have decided that mangers who manage at underage and achieve success are been given a chance to bring those players through to the senior ranks. WIthout any inside knowledge, it seems that they've dispensed with the high profile outside manager. Based upon statistics, it seems that the chances of success with outside manager is very low. If Wicklow as a county want to venture down this route and save themselves financially then the county board need to establish a pathway to assist managers at underage and at club level to develop so that these managers are in a position to realistically apply for the county manager job in either hurling or football. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2004 - 23/09/2024 14:11:06 2571456 Link
I was lucky enough to be able to make Roundwood tonight and was treated to a cracking game of football. Tochair shaded it but in truth it could have gone either way. Great young footballers - I don't think there was a passenger among the 30/40!players on show. This was only 2 teams out many, surely we should be able to go further in Leinster than we do ?? Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 23/09/2024 21:23:07 2571524 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "I was lucky enough to be able to make Roundwood tonight and was treated to a cracking game of football. Tochair shaded it but in truth it could have gone either way. Great young footballers - I don't think there was a passenger among the 30/40!players on show. This was only 2 teams out many, surely we should be able to go further in Leinster than we do ??" Good to hear that the standard of young footballers is as high as you outlined. I think our best bet is to win a leinster title at u17/u20 in the next five years. I think this is a realistic expectation and I think questions should be asked if clubs are producing talented players and this talent is not translating into results at intercounty level. Just to add - I think Wicklow should've reached a Leinster final, at a minimum, at u17 or u20 in the last five years. The team containing Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy, Matthew Ging etc had the talent to compete for a Leinster title. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2004 - 24/09/2024 10:12:49 2571561 Link
I wonder what is the status of the injury sustained by young Baker in the match at the weekend. I heard it wasn't maybe as bad as initially thought, while still very serious, I hope that young chap makes a full recovery quickly. To me, he is one of the best young dual players in the county. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 24/09/2024 10:54:58 2571573 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "Good to hear that the standard of young footballers is as high as you outlined. I think our best bet is to win a leinster title at u17/u20 in the next five years. I think this is a realistic expectation and I think questions should be asked if clubs are producing talented players and this talent is not translating into results at intercounty level. Just to add - I think Wicklow should've reached a Leinster final, at a minimum, at u17 or u20 in the last five years. The team containing Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy, Matthew Ging etc had the talent to compete for a Leinster title." Just thinking back on last nights game and other U17 games I've been at lately. The pace was electric when either side got on a run - which was in fact for most of the game. The skills from some of these guys is amazing - trying for scores, blocking, turnovers etc all on show. Certainly no danger of dozing off, which can be a danger at some adult games. I wonder if at inter county level, does possession play take over from the coaches. Is there a possibility that the intuitive footballing skills ingrained in young players might be getting tempered with a more cautious and defensive structures and possession dominated game ? Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 24/09/2024 11:08:47 2571582 Link
Predictions for the weekend ahead? Senior: Tinahely v Dunlavin Baltinglass v Kiltegan Intermediate: Carnew v Avondale Hollywood v Annacurra Junior A: Kilmac v Aughrim Shillelagh v Ashford All games fixed for Aughrim if weather holds up I suppose, otherwise Junior will be moved elsewhere. Hopefully weather doesn't have an impact on proceedings! WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 21 - 24/09/2024 14:02:27 2571618 Link
Replying To WicklowB1973: "Predictions for the weekend ahead? Senior: Tinahely v Dunlavin Baltinglass v Kiltegan Intermediate: Carnew v Avondale Hollywood v Annacurra Junior A: Kilmac v Aughrim Shillelagh v Ashford All games fixed for Aughrim if weather holds up I suppose, otherwise Junior will be moved elsewhere. Hopefully weather doesn't have an impact on proceedings!" Tinahely v Dunlavin. Tinahely by 5 Balto v Kiltegan. Kiltegan by 2 Avondale v Carnew. Avondale by 2 Hollywood v Annacurra. Hollywood by 1 Kilmac v Aughrim. Aughrim by 3 Ashford b Shillelagh. Ashford by 4. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 24/09/2024 15:49:24 2571640 Link
Replying To WicklowB1973: "Predictions for the weekend ahead? Senior: Tinahely v Dunlavin Baltinglass v Kiltegan Intermediate: Carnew v Avondale Hollywood v Annacurra Junior A: Kilmac v Aughrim Shillelagh v Ashford All games fixed for Aughrim if weather holds up I suppose, otherwise Junior will be moved elsewhere. Hopefully weather doesn't have an impact on proceedings!" Tinahely v Dunlavin - Dunlavin by 2 Baltinglass v Kiltegan - Baltinglass by 3 Dunlavin to go on and surprise many by going all the way. Dunlavin Baltinglass final. Intermediate: Carnew v Avondale - Carnew by 4 Hollywood v Annacurra - Annacurra by 2 Carnew and Mr Brosnan to go all the way and to remain at top tier football for a year or two. The likes of Bray & St Pats to struggle at the top tier in years to come. Junior A: Kilmac v Aughrim - Kilmac by 5 Shillelagh v Ashford- Ashford by 3 Kilmac to go on and win and return to where they belong. WestWicklow14 (Wicklow) - Posts: 9 - 24/09/2024 17:31:08 2571652 Link
Replying To WicklowB1973: "Predictions for the weekend ahead? Senior: Tinahely v Dunlavin Baltinglass v Kiltegan Intermediate: Carnew v Avondale Hollywood v Annacurra Junior A: Kilmac v Aughrim Shillelagh v Ashford All games fixed for Aughrim if weather holds up I suppose, otherwise Junior will be moved elsewhere. Hopefully weather doesn't have an impact on proceedings!" Senior Tinahely V Dunlavin. Dunlavin by 1 Balto v Kiltegan. Kiltegan by 2 Intermediate Carnew v Avondale. Avondale by 3 Hollywood v Annacurra. Hollywood by 4 Junior A Kilmac v Aughrim. Kilmac by 5 Shillelagh v Ashford. shillelagh by 2 Dunlavin4Miley (Wicklow) - Posts: 9 - 25/09/2024 11:14:30 2571747 Link
Senior Tinahely V Dunlavin. I'd be very surprised if Tinahely don't win this one. They would be my favourites from here on out. Balto v Kiltegan. Very difficult to call. I'm hearing Kiltegan are missing one or two players because of injury and so I'll go with Baltinglass. Repeat of the 2020 final. Intermediate Carnew v Avondale. Avondale down quite a few to injury. I think there might be an upset here. Carnew by 3. Hollywood v Annacurra. Hollywood have too much for Annacurra. Hollywood by 4. Junior A Kilmac v Aughrim. Kilmac by 7. They shouldn't be at this grade. Shillelagh v Ashford. I'd only be guessing. Not really familiar with either team. HowISeeIt (Wicklow) - Posts: 9 - 27/09/2024 12:36:01 2572082 Link
Any thing on the grape vine regarding the minor management. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 62 - 27/09/2024 17:18:38 2572128 Link
Senior Tinahely V Dunlavin. Tinahely by 9 in this one. We beat Dunlavin easily so will they. Balto v Kiltegan. Baltinglass by 4. They were good against Arklow. Tinahely to win final heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 137 - 27/09/2024 22:19:43 2572153 Link
Anyone know what's gone wrong with the Wicklow Results and Fixtures page. It's reverted to July 2023 with me anyway. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 28/09/2024 11:39:05 2572184 Link
Replying To Albundy19: "Any thing on the grape vine regarding the minor management." No word on any management yet, to the best of my knowledge. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1216 - 28/09/2024 12:24:44 2572186 Link