Conor Hearne MOTM. Of the other newer lads Higgins and Carthy played well bar the wides. Mcguckin looked good also. Banville was busy when he came on as was Byrne Dunbar. Jacko looked well off the pace is he still carrying a knock? Mogie played well but looked a little rusty as regards first touch. But he is only just back with the panel. Dee still isn't playing to his ability but then he always seems to play better come Championship. Damien Reck had a quiet game by his standards. Mac also. Dunbar covered alot of ground. Clarke and Conor Foley did OK. Donohue and Devitt likewise. Westmeath moved their forwards around so it was hard to see who was playing where at times. Overall good to get the win but 20 wides is a shocking total.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16692 - 12/02/2023 16:15:27    2457934

Always rated Conor Hearne as a serious hurler, hopefully he kicks on from here.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 970 - 12/02/2023 17:05:45    2457944

An ok result in the end, won comfortably enough but we shot 20 wides to their 9 so it could have and should have been more.

Fanning: His distribution was very good
Clarke: Thought he struggled at times
Damien Reck: Solid, no real issues
Devitt: Struggled a bit in the first half but much better in the second half
Donohoe: Very good in the second half
Conor Foley: Very good, very promising hurler
Ian Carty: Decent enough in general play but his shooting left a lot to be desired
Dee: I'm worried about his legs, I'm not quite sure he's the same hurler he used to be
Chin: Ok, am hoping that his injury isn't too serious
McGuckin: Very good, has proved me wrong alright
Liam Óg: Decent enough although I'm also worried about his legs
Conor Hearne: Very good, hopefully he builds on this
Cathal Dunbar: I'd be expecting a lot more from him tbh if he is to start come summertime, didn't do much in general play for me
Mac: Solid, think Tommy Doyle was injured so that made an admittedly difficult task somewhat easier
Rory Higgins: Showed good speed and good hurling ability, think he might be a bit physically weak for senior inter-county hurling but he was still decent enough

Subs
Ross Banville: Decent enough
Corey Byrne-Dunbar: Very good cameo, one of the few players not afflicted by Wideitis
Jack O'Connor: Can't say he really did much
Kevin Foley: Can't really say he did too much either
Mikie Dwyer: Wasn't on for long enough to rate

Just looking at the stats on Twitter after the game, if we had have had the same points-to-wides ratio as Westmeath, we would have scored about 2-31, not 2-23. Much like last week, we can defend well, we can work the ball up the pitch well, but we just can't seem to shoot well. Fix that (No easy task unfortunately given how longstanding of an issue it is) and we can improve on last year.

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 608 - 12/02/2023 18:21:52    2457956

Got in early, around the same time as the team, and watched the whole warmup. The 3 on 3s were an excellent idea for touch and control which did look better then than it did against Galway. But maybe an idea would be to add in a shot at the end of each passage, for different players each time, especially when the wind is as changeable as it was.
In the course of 5 minutes every 5 minutes for the whole match the big flags above the scoreboard would point the whole 360 degrees from North to South to East to West. And was really noticeable out on the middle of the pitch when we were out there after the game. This undoubtedly contributed to the shocking wide count of 20 wides. Even Westmeath had a good few, and the normally reliable Chin and Banville both missed 2 frees each.
So maybe even just a little shooting practice for the whole team before the game might have stood to us. Not presuming to tell Darragh and his management team their business; )

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16692 - 12/02/2023 18:25:47    2457958

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2866 - 12/02/2023 18:46:21    2457962

What's the situation with Chin? Heard he's picked up another injury. Very worrying. Praying he is fit cone championship. On his day, he's a superstar in fairness

Finchfurlong996 (Wexford) - Posts: 255 - 12/02/2023 20:01:07    2457978

goreyll (Wexford) - Posts: 164 - 12/02/2023 20:11:01    2457986

Felt hamstring tightening, egan said he ok, that they are just getting him ready to be fully fit for championship

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1150 - 12/02/2023 20:17:10    2457987

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16692 - 12/02/2023 20:33:27    2457988

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16692 - 12/02/2023 20:35:55    2457989

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Simon Donohoe, Shane Reck, Liam Ryan; Matthew O'Hanlon, Damien Reck, Paudie Foley; Conor Devitt, Liam Óg McGovern; Rory O'Connor, Jack O'Connor, Oisin Foley; Lee Chin, Conor McDonald, Diarmuid O'Keeffe.

That's the team which started our last championship game. Only 7 outfield starters started the game today and Chin and Mogie weren't fully up to speed. Dee either tbh. Darragh Egan said he'd use the League to give new or newer players an idea what Senior intercounty was all about and he's been true to his word.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16692 - 12/02/2023 20:42:03    2457991

Darragh egan said Chin is good and that his hamstring was a bit tight and they'll be monitoring him over the next few weeks and making sure he is fresh and ready for the championship.. still a worry though

juan31 (Wexford) - Posts: 169 - 12/02/2023 20:50:41    2457994

Delighted with the result yesterday but the wide count again is a big concern. Thought Conor Foley did well again for a lad only 19 and Conor Hearne played his best game for Wexford . Chins hamstring issues is becoming a huge concern we need him and Rory flying fit come April. Our division 1 status is more or less secured now and we have 3 games left Clare at home and Cork and Limerick away. If we can beat Clare at home while being very competitive against Cork and Limerick away I think Egan will be happy enough with this league .

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2023 10:49:00    2458027

That was probably the most important game to win over the League and Walsh Cup in that a defeat could have had consequences in terms of a relegation play off, pressure is now off to an extent in that unless Westmeath produce something seismic in the last 3 games vs Cork, Limerick and Galway we won't be dragged into the relegation picture. Wides have to be a concern, they cost us in Westmeath and Dublin championship games last year and if we don't improve it more than likely will in a championship game this year, the stats yesterday in terms of wides, scoring chances etc. which were on social media were probably similar to the championship game in Mullingar last year, that day we left Westmeath in the game when we shouldn't yesterday we did for 45-50 mins when we were in complete control in terms of general play bar the 1st 15 mins in my opinion. Hearne was very good as mentioned hopefully he can develop consistency now can tend to drift in and out of games, taught the half forward line did well, McGuckin is the most improved player on the panel this year while Liam Og knitted the play nicely and was a good link man. Taught our backs were under pressure at times in the 1st half but had the complete upper hand in the 2nd, Carty got on the world of ball although hit 4 wides I think, I wasn't far away from Joe Fortune and I think Westmeath had a ploy going on some of his instructions for get Reck bottled up in traffic hence why he wasn't on the ball as much as usual, hopefully it was just as case of managing the load with Chin rather than a injury, Banville is mentioned here alot and understandably given the free taking situation but I don't think he's shown enough in general play as yet to warrant a championship starting spot I'd still give him a few runs in the remaining league games, hopefully some of the injured players get back in the 26 for the Clare game, would like maybe players getting a chance in each line in that game, for example Lawlor in goal(Fanning decent yesterday again in fairness), maybe Niall Murphy in the full back line think Devitt has started every game so far, in the half back line someone like Kyle Scallan, give Banville and Corey Byrne Dunbar starts in the forwards. Mix up midfield as Dee and Dunbar have started the last 2 games.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/02/2023 11:06:38    2458030

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2023 11:24:28    2458034

A few things to keep in mind for the 2023 season;

I "thought" not "taught".

We will "lose" not "loose" (hopefully we won't need to spell this word too much)

He should "have" not should "of"

Up Wexford

Yellow (Wexford) - Posts: 589 - 13/02/2023 12:11:00    2458041

Heard the minors were beaten by Kildare on Saturday . Given the schools struggles in Leinster what has gone wrong with underage hurling in the county? I hate to say it but it seems we are slipping again

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 13/02/2023 12:27:54    2458047

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16692 - 13/02/2023 12:28:01    2458048

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/02/2023 12:29:20    2458049

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 13/02/2023 12:31:23    2458051