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I was in Aughrim yesterday and was happy enough Roundwood won.Some great players on show with the majority on the winning side. The standard of reffing in this game was poor in my opinion. After witnessing two good performances from the referees in the drawn and replayed senior finals this was miles off. Red card looked a correct call but he didn't make that one either! Tomnafinogue fooling nobody only themselves in the long term. On to the under 19 now where it should be a good championship if the weather allows.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 146 - 31/10/2023 15:02:33 2511065 Link 1 |
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Agree with all above - particularly about the state of the ground. Was poor for the u17 yesterday as well. Pity that competition is so late in the year. I realise this is a particularly wet year but still, underage football, particularly minor and U21/20, is normally a great sporting spectacle and deserves better ground, or at least to be played August / Sept when there might be a chance of better going, as they say in horse racing.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1328 - 31/10/2023 16:59:07 2511088 Link 0 |
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I was in Aughrim yesterday and was happy enough Roundwood won.Some great players on show with the majority on the winning side. The standard of reffing in this game was appalling to say the least. After witnessing two good performances from the referees in the drawn and replayed senior finals this was miles off from him. Red card looked a correct call but he didn't make that one either! Tomnafinogue fooling nobody only themselves in the long term. On to the under 19 now where it should be a good championship if the weather allows.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 146 - 31/10/2023 21:58:18 2511113 Link 1 |
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Blessington would want to take a good long hard look at themselves. neutralfan (Wicklow) - Posts: 224 - 01/11/2023 19:42:07 2511222 Link 0 |
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Can't do it all with the lack of referees we have. We've 6 men's football, 3 hurling and 2 women's football championship that all take place in the one window.
Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 601 - 02/11/2023 05:00:08 2511239 Link 0 |
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Enjoyed both games but thought the original final was more entertaining as a neutral. Blessington seemed to have the stronger squad and were able to replace Anto McLoughlin with a stronger replacement than Rathnew could replace JT. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 601 - 02/11/2023 05:08:18 2511240 Link 0 |
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When you look at it from that perspective, that's a problem. I wonder if the format of the U17 was a bit unwieldy this year ? 2 groups of 6. That's 5 games. Then the top 3 in each group form another 6 who play off against each other. That's another 5 ? Then the final. To my reckoning that's 11 games. And someone said that the finalists actually met 3 times during the campaign. I remember back in the day, minors would be lucky to get 3 or 4 games in a year and that was ridiculous, but 11?, and is there a type of league early earlier in the year ? Many of these young players are also playing county and schools.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1328 - 02/11/2023 10:57:30 2511263 Link 1 |
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I was at the minor final myself and thought it was an excellent game of football. Joe Heatley the difference on the day. I don't buy into the hesitancy around group teams. I think if it affords players an opportunity to play at a higher level then that can only be good for our game. St Nick's been competitive at the minor level for a long time and have produced some very good footballers who have gone on to represent our county very well. I suspect hesitancy comes from clubs who are not involved in these teams and see group teams as a threat to their possible success. I can see how that would be a worry but An Tochar have just shown that a group team won't just walk any championship. Did they have to push to a new level to get over the line? If so I think that's a good thing. Without group teams David Clifford wouldn't yet have played senior club football. Personally I think it would mean more to players to win something with their own club but for development purposes I see the merit in amalgamations. Dreamer (Wicklow) - Posts: 41 - 02/11/2023 11:53:09 2511274 Link 0 |
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Why? Blessington don't appear to be well liked around the county but they have won 2 of the last 3 championships. They are a very good team and beat last year's champions St. Pats and everyone's favourites AGB on the way to the final. The short turnaround to the Leinster match isn't ideal but hopefully they can represent the county with pride.
wondershorts (Wicklow) - Posts: 291 - 02/11/2023 13:40:22 2511296 Link 0 |
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Why can't the minor A final be played as a curtain raiser to the senior final like in previous decades. I attended both county finals. I don't live in the county so I don't see under age games; I would love to see the minor A final and assess the emerging talent. I can't see why the minor can't be played before the senior. I'd happily pay an increased admission fee to see both matches on the one day.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2039 - 02/11/2023 14:21:35 2511305 Link 1 |
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I'm not sure that your comment is an accurate description of other clubs or peoples opinions of Blessington. There will always be a few clubs / people who dislike other clubs in all counties but in the main I have never heard much anti Blessington comment. They have often been a frustrating club to watch or support in that they invariably have a fine selection of good footballers but who don't always produce the goods. They have rarely if ever been in danger of relegation and have produced some of our finest county players. I have been dismissive of them in the past when it comes to forecasting match winners , but only for the above reasons and I would imagine most Gaelic football followers in the county would feel the same.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1328 - 02/11/2023 20:39:33 2511350 Link 0 |
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I was more so referring to their celebrations which circulated around social media this week. Such a lack of respect but I'm not surprised either.
neutralfan (Wicklow) - Posts: 224 - 02/11/2023 22:10:30 2511361 Link 0 |
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Agree on group teams for underage. Talented kids have will rarely just play one sport at that age. If a 15/16 year old is really strong they should be able to play at the highest level possible to them. Tinahely punch above their weight at adult level in football, I don't see the issue with them being in a group team at underage. I'd have more of an issue with Baltinglass not being able to field a team in the minor A this year. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 601 - 03/11/2023 01:44:51 2511370 Link 0 |
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In fairness, I think there are always a few followers in a lot of counties and clubs that don't always behave as they should plus social media tends to bring out the worst of these type of people. I thought both sets of supporters produced a brilliant atmosphere on both days and I didn't see nor hear any unsavoury behaviour outside the playing field either days. I agree that in the past Blessington produced fine players but always fell when expected to produce the goods. This team have got past this psychological barrier and have now won two in three years which their supporters should celebrate. It will be interesting to see if AGB can get past a similar psychological barrier and win a championship; if they can, a bit like Blessington, they could go on to win a few as some of the traditional powers in the county don't seem to have the talent to win on a regular basis as has been the case in the last thirty years. Teams to beat next year will be AGB, An Tochar and Blessington. Rathnew are short top class forwards which will prevent them getting past the likes of Blessington while Baltinglass appear to be short a few themselves. There is an opportunity window for some of the teams that have lived in the shadow of Rathnew and Baltinglass to win a championship before the inevitable of one or both of the big two getting back to where they deem they should be.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2039 - 03/11/2023 10:51:56 2511389 Link 0 |
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A lack of respect for who?
Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 601 - 03/11/2023 12:54:39 2511417 Link 0 |
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They are a club thats hard to like. Arrogant without basis I think. A lack of class runs right through the club.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 146 - 03/11/2023 15:06:51 2511446 Link 0 |
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Lack of class? Ask yourself why they would have been celebrating the way they did. Did you forget what happened earlier in season during the league. Therealtruth (Wicklow) - Posts: 1 - 03/11/2023 23:20:03 2511476 Link 0 |
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I'm lost. Know nothing about a league game I just think they lack class regardless.
heavyheart19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 146 - 05/11/2023 10:34:42 2511539 Link 0 |
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Blessington really poor today. Ardee a much better team physically and looked better coached. Kevin Quinn and Paul McLoughlin the only standout players for Blessington, who defended woefully. Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 601 - 05/11/2023 15:21:52 2511579 Link 0 |
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So, another Leinster campaign falls at the first fence. Blessington did have a horrific start to which they responded well and got their noses in front but at the end there was only one team in it. And for all their representatives on the Wee County panel, I can't see St Mary's lifting the cup in a few weeks. This really just bears out the standard of club football in Wicklow. Ah well, there is always next year. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1328 - 05/11/2023 15:50:10 2511584 Link 0 |