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Well put Passer-By. He is indeed one of the best around imo. It's long overdue. Within the county he joins a select group - or pair - who have reffed All Ireland Finals. Eamonn Moules and Jimmy Hatton.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1325 - 14/07/2023 13:32:24 2494340 Link 0 |
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Fair play bud.
sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2913 - 14/07/2023 21:04:26 2494431 Link 0 |
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Was anything new learned from the weekends hurling matches ? Bray will improve. Kiltegan will need to, and improve their discipline. Carnew and Glenealy next weekend will give us a clue as to who plays Bray in the final - provided the draw allows that. I'm not sure on that. Either way, if Bray find their form, which I am sure they will, I can't see anyone stopping them lifting the cup again. I've often been wrong before but I can't see past them for another few years at least. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1325 - 18/07/2023 10:00:14 2495304 Link 0 |
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Best of luck to John Keenan on Sunday. A great way to bow out at this level; refereeing an All Ireland final is a great achievement. Hope John does a great job as he has been one of the best referees at this level in recent years; lets the game flow and doesn't blow for every little indiscretion.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2037 - 21/07/2023 15:48:36 2496015 Link 0 |
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I agree, AGB look very interesting, have got their 4 county lads back. They have very tight backline with Tom Maher, Ciaran Hyland and Jack Hamilton. With Andy maher, Darragh Fitzgerald and Chris O Brien up the business end, I can see them Being the best in a bang average championship. An Tochar to chase them home with Rathnew and Baltinglass. willielee (Wicklow) - Posts: 42 - 22/07/2023 17:15:27 2496154 Link 0 |
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What happened to the other members of those really good minor team that AGB produced about 6 or 7 years ago? I'm thinking Cal Kelly, Cormac and Ciaran O'Shea Cathal Kellagher and those guys. clubfan17 (Wicklow) - Posts: 107 - 28/07/2023 10:00:37 2497390 Link 0 |
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Unfortunately, for most counties the drop off rate after minor (now u17) is massive. Other interests, hobbies etc take over. Some just stop playing altogether. The commitment levels required for the senior or first teams are not for everyone. It used be a rule of thumb that you might get 2/3 off any decent minor team - if you were lucky. Sometimes a team gives maybe 7 plus to senior but these would be the exception rather than the rule. That doesn't answer your question I know regarding those you named, but it might go some way to explain.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1325 - 28/07/2023 12:15:35 2497424 Link 0 |
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Most of those guys are still playing. New management this year at AGB has them back to their best. Big 2023 expected in Arklow. willielee (Wicklow) - Posts: 42 - 31/07/2023 10:27:21 2497938 Link 0 |
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The drop off at 15s to 17s is massive, we need to go back to 16s and 18s and keep these boys around the club and academy squads for longer.
Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 76 - 31/07/2023 16:01:58 2498116 Link 0 |
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As a matter of interest; what would going back to 16s and 18s achieve if the drop off at 15s and 17s is massive? What difference does shifting 12 months make? I don't know the statistics but if I were a young lad, I would probably enjoy playing gaelic football until I reach minor but once they began coaching me to run up and down a field and hand pass the ball more than I kick it; I would say 'no, thank you' and probably go play another sport. I'm not sure that playing gaelic football is enjoyable based upon current coaching trends.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2037 - 03/08/2023 16:55:13 2498916 Link 0 |
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Possibly is something in what you say. From passing any of the local clubs - or local to me- in the North East part of the county, the numbers at juvenile level are massive. I think it is the same all over. And the drop off does begin around u15. Whether that be from other sports or whatever. Maybe it's the way it always was. Just human nature. "Weaker" players are better looked after up to u15 as a club could have 2 or more teams entered but then it starts to get serious and the weaker ones fall away. We sometimes appear to be making strides with our underage teams but we still seem to stumble at the business end of these competitions. I would suggest that Leinster has almost got a 3 tier under age set up. Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and possibly Longford on the bottom tier, Louth , Laois and Westmeath middle tier and Kildare, Meath, Offaly and Dublin top of the pile. We are making strides to be maybe middle tier but how many of them would we beat regularly ? Occasionally (very) we beat a top tier side but just not consistently enough to make a mark. We seem to be making strides as I said with our academy sides but it's how we compete with these other sides that is the real barometer.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1325 - 04/08/2023 11:11:53 2498983 Link 0 |
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Over the history of the GAA we are in the bottom tier. We have one leinster minor title; achieve in 1974. That is it. In recent years i.e. last 10 years we are in the middle tier probably behind Dublin and Kildare. We're able to compete most other counties outside those two. I live in Kildare and they have an established pathway right through from underage to the senior setup. Its been hugely successful in the last 10 years particularly at u20 level. The difference for me between the setup in wicklow and kildare is in strength & conditioning. I think Wicklow are a fair bit behind in this area. Programmes are followed religious in top counties as it takes a number of years to build up players in this area.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2037 - 04/08/2023 18:05:25 2499076 Link 0 |
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Tinahealy will be a lot happier than Rathnew with that result last evening, there are to many passengers on that Rathnew team. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 76 - 05/08/2023 07:45:01 2499093 Link 0 |
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Shows that there is a big difference between league and championship. I've seen Rathnew in the championship over the last couple of years and they are definitely in transition but they seem to he well short of championship contenders.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2037 - 05/08/2023 12:46:17 2499120 Link 0 |
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Watching An Tochar versus AGB; where has Conor Fee gone? He was one of the stand out players for An Tochar's run to the semi final last year. If An Tochar want to go one step further and win the championship; they need Conor Fee in the team. Second year syndrome is always a challenge when a young team makes the breakthrough. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2037 - 05/08/2023 15:54:39 2499157 Link 0 |
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I also made the game. Conor fee is out with an injury according to some An Tochair people, as are a few more. Fair play to AGB. Well worth the win. They are a better team than last year and will go a long way. I always thought that An Tochair would need a few more years. They were a tad off the pace today, not so much with fitness as passing, hand and foot. Over compensating for the breeze in the first half, etc . But again, AGB were way ahead on the day. I said in an earlier post that Div 1 was crazy this year. I was chatting to a man that saw Rathnew and Tinahely last night and he said it was a poor game which Tinahely were unlucky to not win. . When you consider that Bray and Rathnew contested the final, and Wicklow and Balto relegated, it certainly puts Div 1 in perspective. It certainly is making for an interesting campaign. I think a few bob on AGB before their odds shorten might be a good investment.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1325 - 05/08/2023 18:46:47 2499168 Link 0 |
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Agb the stand out over the weekend, they look the team who everyone has to beat this year. Blesso were superior to an unbelievably terrible Bray effort. willielee (Wicklow) - Posts: 42 - 07/08/2023 10:47:28 2499343 Link 0 |
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Predicting the top 4 in each group is tough at this point. Interesting but tough. Probably on the weekends showings, AGB and Blessington in Div 2 are definites. Only Balto out of Div 1 at this point. Picking 3 out of the remains 5 here might be a little easier after the coming weekend when we see everyone again, and how they perform. . Div 2 game between Blesso and Tochair will be interesting. Will Blessington maintain their whirlwind start or can An Tochair get their free flowing machine back on track ? Avondale are probably looking good for a place. I don't think Tochair will sail in as people thought they might and will certainly need to improve on Saturdays display to progress. Having said that, again on the weekends showings they should be able to get past Bray and maybe Kiltegan, always bearing in mind that Kiltegan were the only team to take a point off them in the league proper.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1325 - 07/08/2023 12:04:56 2499355 Link 0 |
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It will be interesting to see if AGB can finally get over the line. I agree they are a team that has a championship in them but have failed at the latter end of the championship so they will be doubted by me and others until such time that they do cross the line. The main lesson from the weekend matches is that there is a world of difference between the league and the championship; the two teams that contested the league final are not going to factor in the business end of the championship. The less said about Bray's effort the better. Baltinglass will be happy with their result and will be there or thereabouts. Dunlavin have a lot of work to do if they are going to make any sort of an impact. Scoring seven points won't get you much in terms of results. Blessington are another team that seem to be on track to challenge agin, it will be interesting to see how they perform in the next round of games. Does anyone know why Kevin Quinn wasn't playing over the weekend? An Tochar need to get their full team on the field if they want to make the same impact as last year. This year's championship like last years is wide open. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2037 - 07/08/2023 12:12:32 2499357 Link 0 |
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Yes I agree. Arklow were very good and have a strong squad.An Tochar seemed lethargic and almost disinterested. Baltinglass were very strong. Yesterday St Pats and Eire Og were hesitant and Avondale looked good for 20 minutes.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 146 - 07/08/2023 14:01:25 2499373 Link 0 |