(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post
|
One swallow my friend....not fit at the minute
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 157 - 11/05/2025 21:32:13 2608592 Link 0 |
|
We need as many as we can get. I know one won't fix the problem but it would be a start. Watch yesterday's game, Louth had some stand out forwards but equally their half backs and midfielders were contributing on the scoreboard.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2114 - 12/05/2025 13:44:35 2608829 Link 0 |
|
Ive been saying for a while that this possession football has become ingrained in our younger footballers. Those young fellows were scoring freely for their clubs prior to these possession tactics bring coached into them. Noe it's all about a fear of losing the ball. Hence you play a game and score 11 pts. I have also said that, in my opinion, based on what I saw over the past few yrs was that Fogarty was the best attacking half back on show. He has had restricted playing time with the county. Someone at yesterday's club game said that he played for his club and scored 3 pts, and C Fee played some of the game also and scored a few pts. This round the houses type of play that Wicklow play doesn't seem to be working. Then again, maybe that's as good as we are.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 12/05/2025 14:43:44 2608869 Link 0 |
|
You're absolutely right - the pace of the modern game has flipped the traditional script. Teams now prioritize explosive acceleration, mobility, and transitional speed over pure physical dominance. That shift is especially visible in how defenders are being selected: corner-backs and half-backs are often former midfielders or even forwards - lads who can break lines, cover ground, and counter fast. How come they were playing did you hear of anyone else on show, stand out. StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 48 - 12/05/2025 18:17:19 2608967 Link 0 |
|
Are you saying that we have the raw material in terms of quality forwards who are being restricted by Oisin's tactics? Based upon what I've seen of the team this year, here are my observations - we have two forwards who can score in general play: Kevin Quinn and Oisin McGraynor. The rest of the forwards are inconsistent. Oisin is rotating his forwards but with limiting effect. We are being opened up defensively by better teams which is part of the learning curve, provided the players are learning. Dean Healy is our key leader but his days with our county footballers is drawn to a conclusion. Back to our lack of firepower - we aren't scoring goals and we aren't scoring two-pointers. Players are over playing the ball, i'd like to see the players being instructed to go more direct.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2114 - 12/05/2025 19:19:47 2608988 Link 0 |
|
No, I only got scanty information. I see that Gavin Fogarty was named on the subs but didn't play on Saturday as was Conor Fee. Perhaps Oisin has adopted the common sense approach that the lads would be better off getting games than warming the bench I think Tochair might be under pressure now to stay in Div 1. This would be totally down to county commitments if it happens as it seems they lost a few games by a point while their players were tied up with county and u20s.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 13/05/2025 00:09:32 2609039 Link 0 |
|
You're absolutely right - the pace of the modern game has flipped the traditional script with the new rules. Teams now prioritize explosive acceleration, mobility, and transitional speed over pure physical dominance. The muscle men are on the way out. That shift is especially visible in how defenders are being selected: corner-backs and half-backs are often former midfielders or even forwards - lads who can break lines, cover ground, and counter fast. StrandedinWW (Wicklow) - Posts: 48 - 13/05/2025 08:31:23 2609065 Link 0 |
|
Stats speak for themselves. We are not getting enough return regularly from our forward division in whatever combination. These forwards can score for their clubs. If the players are overplaying the ball, this is the way they have been coached for the past few years. They are finding it difficult to balance keeping the ball and having a go. Two pointers are proving the new secret weapon. Up to this season with the new rules, losing possession was the "mortler". I am not sure we are moving on.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 13/05/2025 09:01:38 2609070 Link 0 |
|
Best of luck to all of the teams today. The hurlers are up against it but they have had a great run, I hope they make it to the final. The footballers are capable of winning today but who knows what team will turn up! Also a strange time for a game in Aughrim! stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 138 - 17/05/2025 13:19:44 2610205 Link 0 |
|
Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 765 - 17/05/2025 20:55:23 2610379 Link 0 |
|
A win for all Wicklow football teams today. liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 203 - 17/05/2025 21:36:30 2610406 Link 0 |
|
A good win for the footballers yesterday, and even better as it was against a traditionally higher ranked county. Scoring was better but many more missed, particularly a few goal chances. That has been the Achilles heel of this current squad. Caution would be advised against next weeks opposition. We almost let it slip against them in the league and they are knocking up decent scores even in defeat. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 18/05/2025 08:38:04 2610488 Link 0 |
|
This is good to see even if the opposition wasn't top class, it is still good to see we are achieving consistent results across the board. Hurling team is making progress, seems yesterday was a step too far but hopefully they can re group and give the competition a good go again next season. Considering where they were previously, I think progress is definitely being made.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2114 - 18/05/2025 08:48:21 2610494 Link 0 |
|
A very enjoyable evening in Aughrim, very good display from the team, they all worked very hard and had a good win. I'm still a bit a bit baffled about sone of the goal misses. I would agree with urging caution about Waterford they seem to be much improved. Onwards and upwards from here. stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 138 - 18/05/2025 11:44:13 2610548 Link 0 |
|
Brilliant win yesterday.Well done . brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 180 - 18/05/2025 20:10:38 2610738 Link 0 |
|
Yes, you're right, we are achieving the same results from u14 to u17 academy squads, winning against non football dominant counties, such as Limerick, Kilkenny, Waterford, the odd time Wexford and Carlow. Every few years, we might get the odd surprise win over Meath, Kildare or possibly Louth, a few years back. I'm not sure that progress is really being made. It's an awful pity that the minors didn't beat Offaly in normal time recently and the ref did not do Wicklow any favours either. Match reviews indicated that it was Offaly's fitness level that saw them through the extra time. I understand the academy squad are training frequently, doing S&C, possibly friendlies in between etc. What on earth is not working? Is it the quality of the training, is it the quality or experience of the manager? Is it the same people involved in the county, albeit change a few seats every few years, that don't bring belief, passion to these academy squads? Is keeping the appropriate age profile all the way up, then at minor level, they bring in 6 or 7 players from u16 group, dropping a few vital u17 players. Or out of sense of loyalty, keep players from town or villages so they might use their facilities, or Include players from.a mix of clubs to keep the clubs or county board happy. . Offaly county board have a programme set up coaching underage at school levels, reaching out to a wide range of talent, consistently over time. This prevents selecting a team based on Wicklow current format: played on the development squad from under 13 number. A number of years ago Offaly were slated for dropping lads from the u14 county panel for having played a soccer match. This is the team that won the Leinster Minor last week.
Hoggie10 (Wicklow) - Posts: 11 - 22/05/2025 01:51:07 2611675 Link 0 |
|
This is one of the best posts I have read on this forum. It echoes what I have been banging on about here for years. Bottom line is, we are NOT making progress and you have eloquently named possible / probable causes. Having said that, some of our clubs are just not making sufficient progress at juvenile level. Whether this be their own fault or a lack of oversight from the governing body within the county. My thoughts on them have been made several times so I won't go there again. I was at an u17 match recently at which one team from a former powerhouse club was the worst coached team I have seen at this age group for a while. That is a good point you made about the standard of club that we can beat. Results speak for themselves
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 22/05/2025 09:07:56 2611682 Link 0 |
|
When anyone sits down to analysis the results at intercounty and club level, our level across the board is Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Longford etc. It is rare that we beat Kildare, Dublin, Meath, Offaly in Leinster football at under age or senior level. A few years ago, we produced a good minor team comprising of Eoin Darcy, Matthew Ging etc. We produced a good u20 team with Malachy Stone, Kevin Quinn etc - a team capable of beating Dublin but didn't take our chances when presented with the chance to win the game. Our footballers seldom win a game when it is presented to them - last year we had Kildare for the taken and somehow managed to lose it when it seemed easier for us to win. For supporters like myself, I convince myself that we can do a Louth, Derry and Cavan on it. Teams we competed against in Division 4 a few years ago, who are now competing in higher divisions and getting results. Our footballers actually beat Cavan to stay in Division 3. My opinion is our clubs are not producing enough quality players. Also, I think our players are hindered with a history of failure which means that even when they are good enough as players, they lack the belief to get over the line when opportunities are presented to them. Louth are a great example to any county like Wicklow. They've proven it can be done. It involves a lot of self sacrifice, hard work with every club pulling aiming for the same objective and an ability to put the bigger picture above our own self interests.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2114 - 29/05/2025 20:08:57 2613511 Link 0 |
|
Best of luck to the senior and u17s at the weekend. The seniors should qualify for the knockouts but Waterford could be a banana skin, so, one game at a time. Be good to see a few goals going in and more 2 pointers. This u17 final is a kind of B all Ireland but anything that gives those young lads tough competitive games has to be good in the long term for them and the county. Our tribulations in underage in Leinster were magnified in how Tyrone dispatched Louth in the AI u20 final. It seems that this Tyrone team has mastered the art of defending and making teams pay with a turnover and card break out. Has someone figured a way out of these new rules already ? Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 30/05/2025 10:09:25 2613564 Link 0 |
|
I've just seen the Tailteann Cup team announced for the Waterford game. One positive, is that if it starts as announced, it is at last starting to look a reasonably settled team. I suppose if JP Nolan was fit, he might be on there. Good to see Darcy too. Best of luck to them. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1705 - 30/05/2025 13:56:14 2613625 Link 0 |