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So what did we learn over the weekend?
Baltinglass are still in the hunt and for me have the best set of footballers around the field to retain Miley. An Tochar winning a huge match after extra time will bring them on so much that I think they will beat AGB in the semi final. AGB are very poor in the full back line. Bray were atrocious to say the least. They got sucked out the pitch and AGB used their pace to go at them for goals. The winner of Baltinglass v Blessington should be co. Champions this year.
The intermediate has cracking semifinals up for display. Dunlavin v Avondale will be a good match but I expect Dunlavin to win this. The other semifinal between Shillelagh/Coolboy and laragh will be tight. This young shillelagh/coolboy team could take out laragh this time.
Great games to look forward to in 2 weeks time
kodak13 (Wicklow) - Posts: 145 - 13/09/2026 20:03:41
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I think Blessington have the momentum in the business end of this season.
Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 153 - 13/09/2026 22:22:04
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Replying To kodak13: "So what did we learn over the weekend?
Baltinglass are still in the hunt and for me have the best set of footballers around the field to retain Miley. An Tochar winning a huge match after extra time will bring them on so much that I think they will beat AGB in the semi final. AGB are very poor in the full back line. Bray were atrocious to say the least. They got sucked out the pitch and AGB used their pace to go at them for goals. The winner of Baltinglass v Blessington should be co. Champions this year.
The intermediate has cracking semifinals up for display. Dunlavin v Avondale will be a good match but I expect Dunlavin to win this. The other semifinal between Shillelagh/Coolboy and laragh will be tight. This young shillelagh/coolboy team could take out laragh this time.
Great games to look forward to in 2 weeks time" Though An Tochar spluttered over the line. Rathnew had a few goal chances in the second half with their direct play that caused big problems and they literally ran out of legs in the end. An Tochar tended to overengineer every score, taking far too much out off the ball. Yeah Bray forget even the hinges to the barn door and its hard to read into a result like that. I take your point about the AGB fullback line but i though they had serious options off the bench especially going forward especially with some of the injuries they picked up
ponger (Cavan) - Posts: 618 - 14/09/2026 11:58:46
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Replying To ponger: "Though An Tochar spluttered over the line. Rathnew had a few goal chances in the second half with their direct play that caused big problems and they literally ran out of legs in the end. An Tochar tended to overengineer every score, taking far too much out off the ball. Yeah Bray forget even the hinges to the barn door and its hard to read into a result like that. I take your point about the AGB fullback line but i though they had serious options off the bench especially going forward especially with some of the injuries they picked up" I would have to agree with your summation of An Tochair. They are not nearly direct enough. Having said that, they left a lot of scores behind them, particularly in the first half. Beating Rathnew in the championship, was a major achievement for them as I don't think anyone can remember when that happened last. It could be a catalyst for them. I think that if they or AGB play to their ability, they would trouble either of Balto or Blessington. Same could be said of Blessington. I will stick to my original pick. Baltinglass to win out.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2347 - 14/09/2026 12:30:41
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Interesting weekend alright. Balto are my favourites I think going forward.
Steering away from the top side of the championship, I see Kiltegan and Hollywood drew in the first relegation game. Was anyone at it? I heard Hollywood kicked a lot of wides in the second half and should have been clear despite needing a late goal to salvage the draw. I think both teams plus Carnew will be kicking themselves they're in the relegation particularly Hollywood having drew with Eire og and only losing to Rathnew and tinahely by 2 points.
Further, does anyway else feel the relegation structure is an absolute farce? Having a 3 teams in relegation lends itself to situations where teams can be relegated on score difference plus the team who doesn't play in the final round game is at a serious disadvantage as the other two teams may seek a result that could relegate the first team. Don't see why there's not 4 teams in relegation and have a straight forward relegation semi final and final. Would appreciate peoples thoughts?
Wicklowmen (Wicklow) - Posts: 16 - 14/09/2026 14:34:52
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Interesting weekend alright. Balto are my favourites I think going forward.
Steering away from the top side of the championship, I see Kiltegan and Hollywood drew in the first relegation game. Was anyone at it? I heard Hollywood kicked a lot of wides in the second half and should have been clear despite needing a late goal to salvage the draw. I think both teams plus Carnew will be kicking themselves they're in the relegation particularly Hollywood having drew with Eire og and only losing to Rathnew and tinahely by 2 points.
Further, does anyway else feel the relegation structure is an absolute farce? Having a 3 teams in relegation lends itself to situations where teams can be relegated on score difference plus the team who doesn't play in the final round game is at a serious disadvantage as the other two teams may seek a result that could relegate the first team. Don't see why there's not 4 teams in relegation and have a straight forward relegation semi final and final. Would appreciate peoples thoughts?
Wicklowmen (Wicklow) - Posts: 16 - 14/09/2026 14:51:27
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Replying To Wicklowmen: "Interesting weekend alright. Balto are my favourites I think going forward.
Steering away from the top side of the championship, I see Kiltegan and Hollywood drew in the first relegation game. Was anyone at it? I heard Hollywood kicked a lot of wides in the second half and should have been clear despite needing a late goal to salvage the draw. I think both teams plus Carnew will be kicking themselves they're in the relegation particularly Hollywood having drew with Eire og and only losing to Rathnew and tinahely by 2 points.
Further, does anyway else feel the relegation structure is an absolute farce? Having a 3 teams in relegation lends itself to situations where teams can be relegated on score difference plus the team who doesn't play in the final round game is at a serious disadvantage as the other two teams may seek a result that could relegate the first team. Don't see why there's not 4 teams in relegation and have a straight forward relegation semi final and final. Would appreciate peoples thoughts?" Over here in Kildare in the Intermediate Championship, there are 4 groups of 4. Top 2 go forward to the A quarter finals, bottom 8 play in the B championship, with a relegation final.
3 teams playing off is ridiculous.
sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 3046 - 14/09/2026 16:17:39
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Replying To sponger: "Over here in Kildare in the Intermediate Championship, there are 4 groups of 4. Top 2 go forward to the A quarter finals, bottom 8 play in the B championship, with a relegation final.
3 teams playing off is ridiculous." We had a system only two yrs ago of two groups of 6 teams were involved. Top four in each qualified for quarters or semis, bottom two played off with bottom team relegated. This didn't suit as there were two extra games to be played in each group. I think it was possibly our intercounty involvement in the latter stages of the TC which prompted the three by four grouping. And it was repeated for this year. Obviously the majority of clubs voted for it, but it certainly is an odd one. Top 2 in each group qualify, while two of the "best" third placed teams make up the last 8. The other third placed team is in a kind of limbo, iimmune to relegation but no more football until next year. God bless the thought processes of whoever came up with this formula. Does any other county have a similar system.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2347 - 14/09/2026 17:13:25
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Replying To Wicklowmen: "Interesting weekend alright. Balto are my favourites I think going forward.
Steering away from the top side of the championship, I see Kiltegan and Hollywood drew in the first relegation game. Was anyone at it? I heard Hollywood kicked a lot of wides in the second half and should have been clear despite needing a late goal to salvage the draw. I think both teams plus Carnew will be kicking themselves they're in the relegation particularly Hollywood having drew with Eire og and only losing to Rathnew and tinahely by 2 points.
Further, does anyway else feel the relegation structure is an absolute farce? Having a 3 teams in relegation lends itself to situations where teams can be relegated on score difference plus the team who doesn't play in the final round game is at a serious disadvantage as the other two teams may seek a result that could relegate the first team. Don't see why there's not 4 teams in relegation and have a straight forward relegation semi final and final. Would appreciate peoples thoughts?" The previous championship structure was far superior to what is currently in place.
Two groups of 6, top four go to quarter final and bottom two play relegation final. Every team was guaranteed 5 championship games, which I think is only right given the amount of work and preparation that clubs and players invest each year.
The new structure is a mess and does not create a great championship. One 3rd placed team goes out on score difference, Tinahely this time. Bray got through despite being really poor and winning one game. It favours whoever gets the easier group. A round robin for relegation is a disaster, teams in the last game can create the scoreline they both need to stay up.
The Wicklow championship switched to the current format last minute in 2025 due to lack of planning by the County board when Wicklow reached the Tailteann semi-final. It was retained for 2026, which was a mistake. Hopefully it is put back to two groups of 6 for 2027, which created very good championships when it was in place.
OldSchoolRules (Australia) - Posts: 40 - 14/09/2026 19:55:39
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