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Wexford Hurling thread 2024

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Kilkenny played Waterford in a behind closed doors challenge game the weekend. Not sure team selection or how it went.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 08:14:07    2522897

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Wonder will many of the younger lads start v Kilkenny. CBD has been the pick of them in my opinion, James Byrne has showed great potential and was excellent yesterday. Seamus Casey, Cian Byrne and Richie Lawlor have done well too. Conor Foley might have but his hand up as a guaranteed starter maybe. Would expect a different animal next weekend and nobody knows this more than Keith Rossiter. Hopefully Ryan and Shane Reck are togged for it. All the keepers have done well , think Lawlor will get the nod

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 343 - 29/01/2024 09:08:47    2522903

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Wouldn't want to be reading a massive amount into January competitions but can't remember the last time we got as much out of a Walsh Cup, winning the competition is irrelevant to me, we won 2 under Davy but I remember in both those finals an experimental team started but the subs made the team stronger and more experienced on paper as the game went on and we were chasing it. The big thing the last 2 weeks is the amount of new faces who showed up well and adapting to the tactics and game plan. I said here before Xmas that introducing players from the last u20 teams will be vital for Rossiter and 6 players from those 2 teams started yesterday. James Byrne has been a complete revelation the last 2 weeks too. Interesting listening to Rossiter's interview after the game with Spratt was asked about Chin playing these early year games, made the point that the thinking behind it is Chin didn't play any competitive action for 5 months as the Harriers last game was the last weekend of July as they finished 5th in their group and he didn't play football with Sars.

Next week will be a step up again we've 4 wins in a row against KK in all competitions so I think Lyng will be targeting that game hard.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 29/01/2024 10:04:42    2522917

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Replying To Viking66:  "https://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/galway-hurlers-beaten-in-walsh-cup-final-report-and-reaction/
Some reaction from the Galway camp and media. Cyril reckoned we had a much stronger team out but we had 8 lads starting who have never started a Senior championship game, and 3 more who have started around 5 between them!"
Seen this narrative this week and last week after KK game and its annoying me to be honest, just lazy really all they have to do is look up the teams from last years championship's. I actually think Galway had 1 or 2 more experienced faces figuring that us yesterday, I suppose the 1 caveat is the value Chin is to us, he gules the thing together the same way Conor Whelan does for Galway.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 29/01/2024 10:09:32    2522919

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Replying To WexMurph:  "Wonder will many of the younger lads start v Kilkenny. CBD has been the pick of them in my opinion, James Byrne has showed great potential and was excellent yesterday. Seamus Casey, Cian Byrne and Richie Lawlor have done well too. Conor Foley might have but his hand up as a guaranteed starter maybe. Would expect a different animal next weekend and nobody knows this more than Keith Rossiter. Hopefully Ryan and Shane Reck are togged for it. All the keepers have done well , think Lawlor will get the nod"
Really looking forward to next week now.

We seem to have a good bit done fitness wise which chinner mentioned in his interview.

For the league we'll need 2 if not 3 wins. That will be a seriously though task.

Kilkenny - incredibly difficult but doable

Offaly - I would hope that is 2 points, but we're Wexford and they'll be targeting us

Clare - Very though. Would love to get a result but they're one of the best teams out there at the minute. Anything would be better than last year.

Waterford - Difficult, but doable.

Cork - Our record is very good in this fixture. In spite of how poor we were last year we still should have won. I'll be hoping for a result here.

I quite liked the attitude of Rossi and the team after the match. They got over it very quickly which is great.

Once this all starts it'll be championship before we know it

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4373 - 29/01/2024 10:11:00    2522920

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Seen this narrative this week and last week after KK game and its annoying me to be honest, just lazy really all they have to do is look up the teams from last years championship's. I actually think Galway had 1 or 2 more experienced faces figuring that us yesterday, I suppose the 1 caveat is the value Chin is to us, he gules the thing together the same way Conor Whelan does for Galway."
And Reck was covering for all the backs. Last years championship those 2 missed the game in Salthill and weren't really 100% for any of the games they played.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 10:24:23    2522926

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I wish Wexford well always liked them Clare might struggle a bit this year Ryan Taylor & Tony K side-lined for some time yet

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 1008 - 29/01/2024 10:24:45    2522927

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Wouldn't want to be reading a massive amount into January competitions but can't remember the last time we got as much out of a Walsh Cup, winning the competition is irrelevant to me, we won 2 under Davy but I remember in both those finals an experimental team started but the subs made the team stronger and more experienced on paper as the game went on and we were chasing it. The big thing the last 2 weeks is the amount of new faces who showed up well and adapting to the tactics and game plan. I said here before Xmas that introducing players from the last u20 teams will be vital for Rossiter and 6 players from those 2 teams started yesterday. James Byrne has been a complete revelation the last 2 weeks too. Interesting listening to Rossiter's interview after the game with Spratt was asked about Chin playing these early year games, made the point that the thinking behind it is Chin didn't play any competitive action for 5 months as the Harriers last game was the last weekend of July as they finished 5th in their group and he didn't play football with Sars.

Next week will be a step up again we've 4 wins in a row against KK in all competitions so I think Lyng will be targeting that game hard."
In the challenge game at the weekend they had against Waterford apparently they played 4 20 minute "quarters". Kilkenny seemingly hopped off Waterford. They will be fired up for sure.
As regards James Byrne I've seen him half a dozen or more times for Askamore the last couple of years and him and Shane Tompkins are the lads make them tick. He's an excellent heads up hurler, which is a vital attribute for the current gameplan.
I also think one reason we seem more comfortable than Kilkenny or Galway playing the way we are playing is that our lads have played that way all the way up through the underage grades from u14, whereas Kilkenny and Galway have bigger lads who can win underage games playing a more traditional style.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 10:32:06    2522929

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Really looking forward to next week now.

We seem to have a good bit done fitness wise which chinner mentioned in his interview.

For the league we'll need 2 if not 3 wins. That will be a seriously though task.

Kilkenny - incredibly difficult but doable

Offaly - I would hope that is 2 points, but we're Wexford and they'll be targeting us

Clare - Very though. Would love to get a result but they're one of the best teams out there at the minute. Anything would be better than last year.

Waterford - Difficult, but doable.

Cork - Our record is very good in this fixture. In spite of how poor we were last year we still should have won. I'll be hoping for a result here.

I quite liked the attitude of Rossi and the team after the match. They got over it very quickly which is great.

Once this all starts it'll be championship before we know it"
Our game against Cork last year was the best we played all year except the last game against Kilkenny, and we would have won except for the spate of injuries during the game.
We definitely have the tougher side of the League as McIntyre or Farrell said, but I wouldn't put it past us to win 3 games. Davy is probably trying to have his lads peak for championship for a change, Offaly will raise their game but hopefully we can beat them, Kilkenny will likely be near enough championship intensity could go either way, Clare have a few key injuries, Taylor and Kelly won't be playing for example, and we are home to Cork this year.
A couple of players have said the fitness work has been alot less "enjoyable " than the last couple of years, hopefully we will time things right to be at peak fitness for the championship. I think having a younger team out at this time of year is probably helpful that way also, as younger lads tend to recover quicker between games.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 10:40:01    2522932

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Very happy with what we've got out of the walsh cup campaign. Got to blood a lot of hungry young players who are playing with no fear and to a system that suits us. Was very impressed with Duggan in the goal and think he has to start next week. Conor Foley has been excellent and if he can continue his form will be a certain championship starter. Eoin Ryan also looks like a very good prospect. CBD was excellent yesterday although he is still very light which worries me slightly. Conor Hearne gets through a lot of work and seems to have bulked up over the winter. James Byrne has showed real promise the last 2 days. Plays heads up hurling , takes his scores well and brings intensity in the tackle. Hopefully he can keep it up next week will be a real test. Chin is flying although I wouldnt have brought him back on after injurying his neck, the game was won. We are a different to team when he is fit and firing and as another poster said I dread the day he retires. Jack O Connor is in his best form in years and need to keep doing what he is doing. Cian Byrne and Richie Lawlor are both showing promise and will continue to improve . Really looking forward to the likes of ROC , Shane Reck , Jippo etc returning. Competition for places will be fierce if we can continue early season form. Nowlan Park on Sunday is a big one. We need to keep this momemtum going . It will be very difficult but if we can win on Sunday , you would expect us to beat Offaly at home and that would leave us needing one win out of our last 3 games to finish third. A loss would put us under pressuring needing 3 wins from final 4 games. Its early days but its very encouraging so far. There will be ups and downs but I am hopeful we can have a good year

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 29/01/2024 11:55:47    2522955

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Just did a tot up. In the last 13 Senior games since the start of 2019 we have only lost once to Kilkenny over 70 minutes, and twice altogether. Yet they have won 4 Leinsters to our 1, and reached 3 AI finals to our none.
I'm really hopeful Lyng and his lads will be mindful of this statistic and come out ferocious next Sunday. They haven't beaten us at Senior over 70 minutes in the last 6 meetings, and haven't beaten us at all in the last 5, and have lost the last 4. If they lose on Sunday that will be 5 on the bounce, and I'm pretty sure that's never happened before, even in our heyday in the 50s and 60s.
Equally I'm hoping Rossiter sticks with the lads he's played so far. It will definitely stand to us come championship to know what each of our newer lads are really made of, and tbh they haven't really been tested yet. I was disappointed how poor Kilkenny and Galway were without their established big guns. I know Kilkenny only lost by a point in Callan and the weather was poor, but really that was a game we never looked like losing, even when we were down to 13 men. And the Galway game the same. And look it that's a real credit to Keith and the players and the management team.
Looking at it from a Galway or Kilkenny point of view I'd be very disappointed that their younger/newer lads didn't play better, as I think both of them need to find between 4 and 6 new top level players to add to their 26 if they are going to beat Limerick.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 12:10:56    2522962

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Replying To Afinestick:  "Very happy with what we've got out of the walsh cup campaign. Got to blood a lot of hungry young players who are playing with no fear and to a system that suits us. Was very impressed with Duggan in the goal and think he has to start next week. Conor Foley has been excellent and if he can continue his form will be a certain championship starter. Eoin Ryan also looks like a very good prospect. CBD was excellent yesterday although he is still very light which worries me slightly. Conor Hearne gets through a lot of work and seems to have bulked up over the winter. James Byrne has showed real promise the last 2 days. Plays heads up hurling , takes his scores well and brings intensity in the tackle. Hopefully he can keep it up next week will be a real test. Chin is flying although I wouldnt have brought him back on after injurying his neck, the game was won. We are a different to team when he is fit and firing and as another poster said I dread the day he retires. Jack O Connor is in his best form in years and need to keep doing what he is doing. Cian Byrne and Richie Lawlor are both showing promise and will continue to improve . Really looking forward to the likes of ROC , Shane Reck , Jippo etc returning. Competition for places will be fierce if we can continue early season form. Nowlan Park on Sunday is a big one. We need to keep this momemtum going . It will be very difficult but if we can win on Sunday , you would expect us to beat Offaly at home and that would leave us needing one win out of our last 3 games to finish third. A loss would put us under pressuring needing 3 wins from final 4 games. Its early days but its very encouraging so far. There will be ups and downs but I am hopeful we can have a good year"
Chin inspires the rest of them. Young lads see him taking these pre season games seriously and I can imagine it's setting a great example for rest of them.

Nice to have KK away straight away next weekend. Pace of play likely to increase again.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 534 - 29/01/2024 12:30:27    2522974

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Chin inspires the rest of them. Young lads see him taking these pre season games seriously and I can imagine it's setting a great example for rest of them.

Nice to have KK away straight away next weekend. Pace of play likely to increase again."
True and a big positive from the game in Callan was the young lads who stepped up in his absence albeit against a sluggish KK team.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 29/01/2024 13:11:05    2522994

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Cant see much changes to our starting 15 Sunday. The young lads who played deserve another chance . Any more of the older lads likely to be fit enough to feature on the bench on Sunday?

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 29/01/2024 15:44:59    2523048

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Any word on Rory Higgins Countyman2022?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 16:16:31    2523056

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The big question in my opinion is can the new lads meet the demands when playing against stiffer opposition. The going is inevitably much harder.
I must say I was very impressed with Corey Byrne Dunbar, Eoin Ryan in the corner, James Byrne, Cian Byrne and solid goalkeeping from Arron Duggan. The whole team played fast hard tackling no nonsense hurling, which was exciting to watch.
With Dee, Jippo, Mac, Rory,Flood, Shane Reck, Mogi?,Devitt, OHanlon still to return things are beginning to look a lot brighter. Of course it's early days and the season hasn't really started yet.
The above named players must get serious gametime in the games to come. They obviously can't all play in the first 15 but it's a 20 man game so they will I believe under Rossi get a fair chance to challenge the more established players. That is the way it has to be. Consistency is something we must strive for. We have been very poor in this regard for far too long.
I can't end this post without mentioning the magnificence of Lee Chin. He is unreal and so passionate about Wexford hurling. He has skill, stamina, speed and knows where the posts are. He is brilliant in the air and brings other players into the game. He's the real deal by a country mile.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 657 - 29/01/2024 16:38:08    2523065

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Replying To Magpie2:  "The big question in my opinion is can the new lads meet the demands when playing against stiffer opposition. The going is inevitably much harder.
I must say I was very impressed with Corey Byrne Dunbar, Eoin Ryan in the corner, James Byrne, Cian Byrne and solid goalkeeping from Arron Duggan. The whole team played fast hard tackling no nonsense hurling, which was exciting to watch.
With Dee, Jippo, Mac, Rory,Flood, Shane Reck, Mogi?,Devitt, OHanlon still to return things are beginning to look a lot brighter. Of course it's early days and the season hasn't really started yet.
The above named players must get serious gametime in the games to come. They obviously can't all play in the first 15 but it's a 20 man game so they will I believe under Rossi get a fair chance to challenge the more established players. That is the way it has to be. Consistency is something we must strive for. We have been very poor in this regard for far too long.
I can't end this post without mentioning the magnificence of Lee Chin. He is unreal and so passionate about Wexford hurling. He has skill, stamina, speed and knows where the posts are. He is brilliant in the air and brings other players into the game. He's the real deal by a country mile."
Forgot about Conall. Hopefully he will be back competing for a place soon.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 16:58:29    2523079

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Replying To Magpie2:  "The big question in my opinion is can the new lads meet the demands when playing against stiffer opposition. The going is inevitably much harder.
I must say I was very impressed with Corey Byrne Dunbar, Eoin Ryan in the corner, James Byrne, Cian Byrne and solid goalkeeping from Arron Duggan. The whole team played fast hard tackling no nonsense hurling, which was exciting to watch.
With Dee, Jippo, Mac, Rory,Flood, Shane Reck, Mogi?,Devitt, OHanlon still to return things are beginning to look a lot brighter. Of course it's early days and the season hasn't really started yet.
The above named players must get serious gametime in the games to come. They obviously can't all play in the first 15 but it's a 20 man game so they will I believe under Rossi get a fair chance to challenge the more established players. That is the way it has to be. Consistency is something we must strive for. We have been very poor in this regard for far too long.
I can't end this post without mentioning the magnificence of Lee Chin. He is unreal and so passionate about Wexford hurling. He has skill, stamina, speed and knows where the posts are. He is brilliant in the air and brings other players into the game. He's the real deal by a country mile."
Lee Chin is the best Wexford hurler I've seen play the game. And I used to think noone would ever replace Liam Dunne in my estimation.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18997 - 29/01/2024 17:01:06    2523081

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Replying To Viking66:  "Lee Chin is the best Wexford hurler I've seen play the game. And I used to think noone would ever replace Liam Dunne in my estimation."
Even as a harriers man I think that's a stretch. Most important maybe. Not the best in my opinion.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4373 - 29/01/2024 17:13:17    2523090

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Yeah just finished listening to a podcast they put out, 2 lads on that reckoned we'd at least 7 definite championship starters playing on Saturday, also weren't hopeful on our championship chances seemed to think we're closer to relegation than top 3 in Leinster, suppose the disgraceful display against Westmeath last year is still in mind."
Start listening to the KCLR podcast again this week, there at the same craic again.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 29/01/2024 17:15:48    2523091

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