(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post
|
Match at the weekend in Bray. SF v Longford. That should be a good test n Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 06/01/2026 11:47:55 2650019 Link 0 |
|
I have heard that the county u17 football management has changed. I was told why, but I would like to hear other opinions. This can't be good. This particular squad has been worked on for a while and was considered above average. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 08/01/2026 10:02:31 2650236 Link 0 |
|
Changed from what was communicated at convention?
Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 182 - 08/01/2026 15:49:55 2650289 Link 0 |
|
No. I wasn't paying much attention to the convention unfortunately. I'm talking about the reason that people working for 2 years with some of these young fellows walked away. . This is supposed to be a promising group. I wouldn't have a lot of confidence in the new set up.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 08/01/2026 16:49:33 2650298 Link 0 |
|
What was the reason(s) they removed themselves?
Wonderingnow (Wicklow) - Posts: 19 - 08/01/2026 19:03:06 2650310 Link 0 |
|
I'm told they applied for some more funding but there was no spares so, walked. Seems like the senior team is gobbling up the lions share. If we don't look after our minors, we won't have decent seniors - but, what's new here?
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 08/01/2026 20:43:53 2650322 Link 0 |
|
An improved performance and a good win by our senior footballers against Longford. Much improved start to the game. If evidence was needed as to how to win games, it was in this game. Goals plus three quick consecutive two-pointers in the second half killed off the game and saw the team win by eleven points. Question for other observers: is Mark Jackson our most consistent two-point option? If so, I'd be concerned when we play tougher opposition in the league. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2155 - 11/01/2026 16:43:27 2650673 Link 0 |
|
Couldnt make the game but followed it on x. A good win and each win inspires confidence and raises morale and comradery within the panel...I know posters will say its only the O Byrne shield but every win is important and it gives Oisin a chance to try out different combinations and players in a competitive setting. What impressed me most was the greater spread of scorers, the success at the 2 pointers and the movement of players off the ball. It is quite some time since we scored 3 16 against any team so maybe there is a general improvement. I think the game against Carlow in the league is essentially a 4 pointer and whoever loses that i believe will lose out on a chance for promotion. I get the feeling that there is a buzz about the team and preparations at the moment and we wont be caught out cold in the league as we were against London last year. Looking forward to friday night but im sure we wont learn much as both sides will not want to show their hand before the acid test in Netwatch a few weeks later. Neverthe less a win would set us up nicely for the league. Anyone know where the match is ? .. Optimisticobserver (Wicklow) - Posts: 139 - 11/01/2026 19:21:36 2650693 Link 0 |
|
Looking back on last year we went into the London game "cold". We were scheduled to play Waterford the week before which would have given us a taste of the new rules. That game was called off due to bad weather. I think i team somewhere that any team in all divisions who didn't play the first round were beaten in round 2. I see that Pat Spillane in yesterday's article says that football has gone back to the old values - the ability to catch the ball and kick it with accuracy. This is an area that has continually let us down. I read somewhere too that the new Mayo manager has doubled down on practising long and accurate kicking. I would like to see Oisin relenting a bit on his ball retention philosophy and get the ball in to the forwards without giving the opposing defence time to regroup. As we scored pretty well on Saturday, perhaps this is happening. We haven't been getting enough return from our inside forwards and we know from club matches that these guys can score, given quick ball into them.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 12/01/2026 09:28:19 2650743 Link 0 |
|
What is happening in relation to the O'Byrne shield cup tonight? Why aren't Wicklow playing a team from their senior squad? wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2155 - 16/01/2026 18:07:36 2651362 Link 0 |
|
I see the senior team aren't playing Carlow tonight in the shield final. They are sending over the U20 squad. Is this a good idea or bad? Would the fringe players on the senior panel not benefit from a game or is it more down to the fact we play carlow in 2 weeks time in the national league? Oisin is keeping his cards close to his chest. kodak13 (Wicklow) - Posts: 114 - 16/01/2026 18:14:21 2651363 Link 0 |
|
I think there was a training / bonding weekend away organised for a while for this weekend. Possibly 2 challenge games involved.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 16/01/2026 20:59:57 2651372 Link 0 |
|
I don't understand the rationale for this move. Ok, it is close to the start of the league and both teams are in the same division but as was pointed out, why not play some of the fringe players who are part of an extended squad these days. Surely competitive games are more beneficial than training sessions. In his interview after last weekend's game against Longford, Oisin talked to Michael Sargent about how great it was to be playing games before the league starts. Time will tell if this decision was the right decision or not. I think the senior squad should've played in the game tonight.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2155 - 16/01/2026 21:13:01 2651376 Link 0 |
|
From what I heard the senior squad is down in cork this weekend for a challenge match or something. Shows huge disrespect to the competition though.
Dunlavin4Miley (Wicklow) - Posts: 36 - 17/01/2026 08:46:37 2651407 Link 0 |
|
Shows disrespect to Carlow and the competition. Question is why refuse to play in the final of a national competition, alas a shield final and instead decide to play a challenge match two hundred miles away? Only possible explanation is the management didn't want to play against Carlow as we play them in the league and championship. Playing challenge matches is glorified training sessions.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2155 - 17/01/2026 12:35:27 2651439 Link 0 |
|
No doubt Wicklow didn't want to play Carlow last night. They are down in dungarvan this weekend and would have passed within 3km of last night's venue on the way there. It's impossible to imagine Wicklow would not have played the dubs or Kildare in any venue last night if it was one of them they were playing, so yeah it's disrespect in my view. Noted!
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1744 - 17/01/2026 14:52:06 2651452 Link 0 |
|
I think that there are 2 challenge matches arranged for this weekend on this "trip", so fringe players will get a run out. Admittedly, it has a bad look about it. Time will tell how it works out, but it certainly gives Carlow a little bit extra bite for the League match. I don't know what the u20s found out last night. I don't have a whole lot of faith in that setup anyway. To me, they have under performed the past few years. Looking at last nights team, the back 3 must be good if that Roundwood player - Fox, could be left warming the bench. If the 3 starters are better than him, then we should sweep to a Leinster final. Sadly can't see that happening. Again, I hope I'm wrong.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2015 - 17/01/2026 15:28:51 2651455 Link 0 |
|
Wicklow's best player was the corner forward Small. Hard to say anyone else really stood out. Plenty of very tall lads around the middle but they were very scrawny and lost possession too often as they couldn't compete physically. To some extent that's to be expected when up against lads a few years older.
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1744 - 17/01/2026 16:02:06 2651459 Link 0 |
|
What is the reaction with Carlow GAA to what Wicklow did last night? I cam't imagine it did for our u20 team any good; to be playing against a conditioned senior county team. Your observation about the physical condition of our players turning over possession is something our players are struggling with at all levels. I think we're lagging behind other counties in term of physique and conditioning. Also I think there'll be more pressure on Wicklow to perform well when they play Carlow in the league due to not turning up for last night's game.
wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2155 - 17/01/2026 16:36:12 2651464 Link 0 |
|
I think it shows more disrespect to GAA in Wicklow to be honest and imagine it was player driven either. There is surely a minimum panel of 30 players and if I'm not mistaken the starting team for the previous games in the O'Byrne cup were the same - what does that say?. Finals of both shield and cup were long scheduled for this weekend so either there was no confidence or intent to qualify for finals or amateur planning. If rumours that senior management were prepared to give a walkover are true then I'll say no more, a lot of respect to our young players for making sure this didn't happen regardless of the result.
Wonderingnow (Wicklow) - Posts: 19 - 17/01/2026 17:20:44 2651468 Link 0 |