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Wicklow GAA thread

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I am just going to come straight out and say it.

I love Oisin.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 3025 - 20/06/2026 19:23:23    2680741

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Second half scoreline Wicklow 1-17 Offaly 1-4. My kids were ready to go home at half time. We redeemed ourselves. Roll on July 11th.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1164 - 20/06/2026 19:47:45    2680744

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It's never dull with this squad of players. It is a rollcoaster. This match sums up the team. Average first half, magnificent second half. I'm delighted to see them reach Tailteann cup final after a few heartbreaking disappointments in league and championship. The style of this victory should give them confidence as they look forward to the final in three weeks. They need to finish the job but that's for another day, I'm going to enjoy today's victory for now.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2240 - 20/06/2026 19:52:55    2680745

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Brilliant stuff from the lads today, the second half was exceptional, it might be the half of football i have seen from any Wicklow team, it was a pleasure to be there and to see so many happy Wicklow people leaving Croke Park which is an unusual sight. Thank you Oisin and team

stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 176 - 20/06/2026 20:51:31    2680750

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Well done Wicklow.
Enjoy the Final.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 674 - 20/06/2026 20:52:18    2680751

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Replying To sponger:  "I am just going to come straight out and say it.

I love Oisin."
People will always have their misgivings about outside managers, and I understand where they're coming from to be fair. But I've never for one minute doubted that man is giving the role his all. His record was very good by our standards long before today. Not perfect but very good, and lets face it we are in no position to demand perfection in this county of all counties

Bowl (Wicklow) - Posts: 14 - 20/06/2026 21:00:55    2680755

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Well done lads, great win today. Let's go on and finish it!!

liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 247 - 20/06/2026 21:53:35    2680764

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Well done lads, great second half display, lots of good footballers in that team , seem to be growing in self belief all the time , something I think Wicklow teams always lacked. Best of luck in the final.

JimmyNail (Leitrim) - Posts: 362 - 20/06/2026 22:03:53    2680767

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poor game today

TommyBermingham (Kildare) - Posts: 10 - 20/06/2026 22:05:34    2680769

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Replying To TommyBermingham:  "poor game today"
Which game are you referring to ??

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2287 - 20/06/2026 23:12:43    2680780

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Replying To TommyBermingham:  "poor game today"
Well done Wicklow - that team is capable of some great football as shown in 2nd half.

saorkick (Dublin) - Posts: 36 - 21/06/2026 00:41:55    2680794

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Replying To TommyBermingham:  "poor game today"
I think the demons have been banished from Wicklow football, Oisin sidestepped the nfl to achieve his goal of character, commitment, tenacity etc,etc. Beating a team from their own division was a big ask but beating a team after coming from div.2 was a bigger ask. Congrats on all counts, good luck in the final.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3397 - 21/06/2026 11:29:12    2680829

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How many years is McConville there? Thought he'd have been shown the door a long time ago tbh

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 723 - 21/06/2026 12:23:11    2680836

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Replying To farneygael3:  "How many years is McConville there? Thought he'd have been shown the door a long time ago tbh"
Think we might persuade him to hang on for another year.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2287 - 21/06/2026 17:18:11    2680916

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Replying To Freethinker:  "Think we might persuade him to hang on for another year."
Recency should never be a main factor in decision making.
would you deem Oisin's time in charge as being a success? if you do then why so

Wonderingnow (Wicklow) - Posts: 25 - 22/06/2026 14:13:56    2681241

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I think the whole performance on Sat was epitomized by Eoin Murtagh's two pointer from 55-ish yards in the second half. It was like a defiant statement to say "not today , we will not be bet today , no more nearly days and patronizing claps on the back telling us we done great. This time we are getting it done".

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 193 - 22/06/2026 15:22:39    2681264

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Replying To Wonderingnow:  "Recency should never be a main factor in decision making.
would you deem Oisin's time in charge as being a success? if you do then why so"
My reply was a slightly tongue in cheek one to a Monaghan supporter who obviously doesn't rate Oisin too highly. My thoughts on his performance during his tenure is a whole other debate and with a Tailteann cup final less than 3 weeks away, now is hardly the time to bring that up. I'll just enjoy the moment. In my 60 plus years of following Wicklow, I haven't had too many moments like this.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2287 - 22/06/2026 16:45:36    2681304

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Replying To Freethinker:  "My reply was a slightly tongue in cheek one to a Monaghan supporter who obviously doesn't rate Oisin too highly. My thoughts on his performance during his tenure is a whole other debate and with a Tailteann cup final less than 3 weeks away, now is hardly the time to bring that up. I'll just enjoy the moment. In my 60 plus years of following Wicklow, I haven't had too many moments like this."
I think Oisin is doing a great job with Wicklow. I've come to this conclusion based upon the players available to him. When I look at players playing in the club championship in Wicklow and Leinster, I wonder how the couty team can progress at intercounty level. Yet, the county seems to be making progress year on year. I hope Kieran McGeeney is the Armagh manager for the next couple of years because if Kieran stepped down as Armagh manager, I'd fear they'd want Oisin to take over as Armagh manager. Others will point to the fact we are still in division 4 but we've been in this division since God was a boy. Even the greatest Gaelic football manager couldn't get us out of division 4. I hope we can keep Oisin regardless of the result of Tailteann cup final. We've come close to being promoted in the last two seasons plus this team has reached a quarter, semi-finals in the last two seasons. Now, we have reached the final. This is progress to me and I see no reason why we can't have a good go in the final against a highly fancied Down team.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2240 - 24/06/2026 14:14:45    2681697

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2023: Division 4 runners-up. Beat Carlow in Leinster, pushed Kildare to 4 points. Tailteann Cup group stage.

2024: Relegated to division 4. Beat Westmeath in Leinster, pushed Kildare to 1 point. Tailteann Cup quarter-final (lost to eventual winners)

2025: 3rd in division 4. Beat Longford in Leinster, gave Dublin a decent match. Tailteann Cup semi-final.

2026: 3rd in division 4. Beat Carlow in Leinster, pushed Dublin to 2 points. Tailteann Cup final.

Considering what I see at club level, I think Oisín's record is easily one of the best we've had in this county. A win in Leinster every year. Improvement in the Tailteann Cup every single year.

Outside of 2024 relegation there are not many blots on his copy book. You can point to failure to get promoted since and that frustrates me too, but considering how often we've been the worst team in the country in our history, in the top 3 every time he has managed us in division 4 is hardly much of a stick to beat him with, is it?

The problem with supporters in counties like Wicklow is that we demand rapid success, which we have no right to demand when you consider our history, and surprise surprise, it never works out. What we need is patience and lots of it, to leave a good manager do his thing. I've already said that I completely understand the misgivings people have about outside managers, in fact it concerns me more than a little too, but that's an issue for the CB. Oisín has clearly done an honest job and the results are there.

They're not the kind of results we demand, but it's progress via two steps forward, one back, two forward, one back, and so on. That's as good as anyone has done in Wicklow in the last 140 years. Even Mick O'Dwyer, who did a brilliant job here, didn't bring us on a straight run to (for us) dizzy heights. It took time and there were setbacks along the way.

Bowl (Wicklow) - Posts: 14 - 24/06/2026 20:18:22    2681740

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Replying To Bowl:  "2023: Division 4 runners-up. Beat Carlow in Leinster, pushed Kildare to 4 points. Tailteann Cup group stage.

2024: Relegated to division 4. Beat Westmeath in Leinster, pushed Kildare to 1 point. Tailteann Cup quarter-final (lost to eventual winners)

2025: 3rd in division 4. Beat Longford in Leinster, gave Dublin a decent match. Tailteann Cup semi-final.

2026: 3rd in division 4. Beat Carlow in Leinster, pushed Dublin to 2 points. Tailteann Cup final.

Considering what I see at club level, I think Oisín's record is easily one of the best we've had in this county. A win in Leinster every year. Improvement in the Tailteann Cup every single year.

Outside of 2024 relegation there are not many blots on his copy book. You can point to failure to get promoted since and that frustrates me too, but considering how often we've been the worst team in the country in our history, in the top 3 every time he has managed us in division 4 is hardly much of a stick to beat him with, is it?

The problem with supporters in counties like Wicklow is that we demand rapid success, which we have no right to demand when you consider our history, and surprise surprise, it never works out. What we need is patience and lots of it, to leave a good manager do his thing. I've already said that I completely understand the misgivings people have about outside managers, in fact it concerns me more than a little too, but that's an issue for the CB. Oisín has clearly done an honest job and the results are there.

They're not the kind of results we demand, but it's progress via two steps forward, one back, two forward, one back, and so on. That's as good as anyone has done in Wicklow in the last 140 years. Even Mick O'Dwyer, who did a brilliant job here, didn't bring us on a straight run to (for us) dizzy heights. It took time and there were setbacks along the way."
Winning a trophy in Croke Park for the first time was back in 2007, the Tommy Murphy cup was a momentous day. Tommy Gill was captain and scored a late goal. It did bring great belief to players in the county, unfortunately Mick didn't stay after that, who knows what would have continued for that team if he stayed. Age was not on his side. Delighted for the current team and management. Great game to watch and Delighted to witness it with my young family in Croke Park

Hoggie10 (Wicklow) - Posts: 13 - 25/06/2026 09:02:30    2681789

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