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Wexford Hurling thread 2024

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Replying To OasisorBlur:  "All valid points except I would completely disagree on D Reck being our best hurler.

Chin is by a good distance our best player and has been for a number of years, I would have ROC on his day in second place.

I didnt think D Reck had a great season last year by his standards. As you stated I think he needs to move out of the Centre to the wing. He tends to drift too much from the centre as he likes to attack and play loosely. This approach would be better suited to the wing. Conall Clancy needs to be given time on the field, he was a stand out performer in the club championship. Bringing him on for 15 mins or taking him off at HT isnt enough in my opinion. Leave him wing forward for most of the league and see how he gets on. His pace and power are suited to intercounty and we are desperately short on forwards as has been the case for years. O Foley wont be back by all accounts which is big shame. Conal Flood needs to be given a proper chance in the forwards also. S Casey had a good league but seemed to disappear completely from the pecking order come championship. He didnt figure well for Oylegate in the championship after that so I am not sure where he will be this season with the county.

Has Darren Codd been asked to come in before? He was outstanding for the martins this year so he has to be in if he wants to be obvioulsy."
Who do you think should play 6 for us next year?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 10:36:30    2582442

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Here's hoping some of the names mentioned will come in and step up . But I fear they'll lack that bit extra needed for intercounty all have potential and certain aspects but lack in other areas. Can't see many of them above 70% to 75% of what's required . Where i feel every player at intercounty needs to be 80% to 90% plus to make a difference on the team .
It's the sum of all parts and I feel wexford as county somewhere in the high 70s percentage wise . Where clare and Limerick hovering around 90% Cork very high 80s kilkenny mid to high 80s waterford mid 80s tipp galway Dublin wexford high 70s offaly ,Antrim mid 70s.
No team can be 100%

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 305 - 05/12/2024 10:42:15    2582444

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Replying To Viking66:  "Who do you think should play 6 for us next year?"
I think Conor Foley is the best option there at the moment, if we had the forwards I think Chin would be a great option there but we dont have that luxury.

OasisorBlur (Wexford) - Posts: 51 - 05/12/2024 11:02:33    2582446

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I won't go over old ground. Chin is our most important player. For context I think Reck is the most natural we have in all the aspects of the game. Fielding, touch, vision, decision making, striking, control, balance. I think Chin has to work harder to have developed those skills that have come more naturally to Reck and Rory of course.

Similar to Rory McCarthy back in the day. Not always our most effective player, but probably the best pure hurler of his era.

I don't know about Codd but I agree. He's shown enough to be given a go.

Casey is a hard one to judge. We played to his strengths in the league then abandoned a very good gameplan when chin was playing and were worse off for it."
I take your point , Reck is a serious talent I would just feel Chin is equally as talented but add unrivalled power to that and you have a serious hurler. Possibly the strongest physically in the country.

I think a weakness of Recks is his discipline, Wexford give away far too many free's in scoreable area's and Reck far too often is loose with the hurl or over zealous in the tackle. Rossiter was a bit like that himself as a hurler but you got away with a lot more ten years ago.

OasisorBlur (Wexford) - Posts: 51 - 05/12/2024 11:17:16    2582449

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Dont think any of the 3 will come near championship."
They might in 2 or 3 years.

Do you understand how rare it is that anyone jumps straight into a championship team and makes an immediate impact?

Rory and Mac are the only ones I can think of in the last 20 years for us.

Those days are gone with the changes In minor and 21. The gap is too big for lads to just jump in. They need time to develop physically.

If there's lads at that level in Wexford right now I haven't seen them.

We aren't going to win the all Ireland this year barring several miracles so what do we do?

Look at improving things we need to improve.

Two of our better defenders are ageing and injury prone. We need to find replacements for them who can match the physicality of Limerick or Clare and have the hurling to implement a game plan with their head up.

Our most important forward is reaching the end of his career.

We need to find lads who can compete physically and contribute on the scoreboard.

If we do that we can do the same thing in 26 and 27 and maybe reach a level that we can talk seriously about winning an all Ireland.

Or we could just give out about everyone not being up to it and say Wexford hurling is in an awful state to a phone or computer. I'm sure that will result in silverware.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 05/12/2024 11:20:53    2582450

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Here's hoping some of the names mentioned will come in and step up . But I fear they'll lack that bit extra needed for intercounty all have potential and certain aspects but lack in other areas. Can't see many of them above 70% to 75% of what's required . Where i feel every player at intercounty needs to be 80% to 90% plus to make a difference on the team .
It's the sum of all parts and I feel wexford as county somewhere in the high 70s percentage wise . Where clare and Limerick hovering around 90% Cork very high 80s kilkenny mid to high 80s waterford mid 80s tipp galway Dublin wexford high 70s offaly ,Antrim mid 70s.
No team can be 100%"
You're probably right.

Looking back on my experience following Wexford it was only really 55,56 we were totally dominant (before my time)

We obviously had some very competitive teams in 60s, 80s, 90s.

The one all Ireland I've actually seen was maybe 4 exceptional players with a great manager and an even better attitude. We won in 96 because we were the hardest working team in Ireland that year.

Through 01,03,04,07 we had a few stars and played above ourselves on a particular day.

17-19 is the best I've seen in terms of consistency. Again a few superstars and some very industrious lads with a good plan, a great attitude and a little bit of luck.

We still have a few stars. We need the attitude, the plan and the luck. Then we might do something.

Leinster is wide open. With the above in place we can win 4 of 5 games. That will get us to a Leinster final against a team that will be rebuilding as well.

If you're lucky enough to get a semi final anything can happen.

Limerick, Clare and Cork are the standard bearers. Is there any scenario where we beat them in croke park? It's hard to imagine, but we are Wexford, and stranger things have happened.

The ideal is for them to take eachother out so we only have to worry about one or potentially none of Kilkenny managed it.

Then again we could just as easily be out in the round robin but that's day dreaming for you.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 05/12/2024 11:28:37    2582452

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Replying To OasisorBlur:  "I think Conor Foley is the best option there at the moment, if we had the forwards I think Chin would be a great option there but we dont have that luxury."
Not sure Conor is the answer at halfback. He's still too inclined to overcommit and let the ball go by him. I think he's more a natural midfielder. Even a half forward- he has an excellent eye for the posts.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 13:03:22    2582468

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "They might in 2 or 3 years.

Do you understand how rare it is that anyone jumps straight into a championship team and makes an immediate impact?

Rory and Mac are the only ones I can think of in the last 20 years for us.

Those days are gone with the changes In minor and 21. The gap is too big for lads to just jump in. They need time to develop physically.

If there's lads at that level in Wexford right now I haven't seen them.

We aren't going to win the all Ireland this year barring several miracles so what do we do?

Look at improving things we need to improve.

Two of our better defenders are ageing and injury prone. We need to find replacements for them who can match the physicality of Limerick or Clare and have the hurling to implement a game plan with their head up.

Our most important forward is reaching the end of his career.

We need to find lads who can compete physically and contribute on the scoreboard.

If we do that we can do the same thing in 26 and 27 and maybe reach a level that we can talk seriously about winning an all Ireland.

Or we could just give out about everyone not being up to it and say Wexford hurling is in an awful state to a phone or computer. I'm sure that will result in silverware."
Agree with most of that, except Damien was good enough to come straight in as a teenager also.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 13:05:14    2582470

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "You're probably right.

Looking back on my experience following Wexford it was only really 55,56 we were totally dominant (before my time)

We obviously had some very competitive teams in 60s, 80s, 90s.

The one all Ireland I've actually seen was maybe 4 exceptional players with a great manager and an even better attitude. We won in 96 because we were the hardest working team in Ireland that year.

Through 01,03,04,07 we had a few stars and played above ourselves on a particular day.

17-19 is the best I've seen in terms of consistency. Again a few superstars and some very industrious lads with a good plan, a great attitude and a little bit of luck.

We still have a few stars. We need the attitude, the plan and the luck. Then we might do something.

Leinster is wide open. With the above in place we can win 4 of 5 games. That will get us to a Leinster final against a team that will be rebuilding as well.

If you're lucky enough to get a semi final anything can happen.

Limerick, Clare and Cork are the standard bearers. Is there any scenario where we beat them in croke park? It's hard to imagine, but we are Wexford, and stranger things have happened.

The ideal is for them to take eachother out so we only have to worry about one or potentially none of Kilkenny managed it.

Then again we could just as easily be out in the round robin but that's day dreaming for you."
One of the very best, and very worst, things about following Wexford hurling is that you just never ####ing know at the start of any season ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 13:11:15    2582472

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Replying To Viking66:  "Agree with most of that, except Damien was good enough to come straight in as a teenager also."
You're right actually. 19 starting corner back in championship I think.

League fixtures released

25th Jan Cork at home

2nd Feb Tipp away

8th Kilkenny home

23rd Clare away

1st march Galway home

22nd Limerick away

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 05/12/2024 13:44:17    2582480

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Championship

April 19/20 Antrim home

26/27 Dublin away

May 10/11 Galway away

May 17/18 Offaly home

May 25 Kilkenny home

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 05/12/2024 13:49:08    2582483

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "You're probably right.

Looking back on my experience following Wexford it was only really 55,56 we were totally dominant (before my time)

We obviously had some very competitive teams in 60s, 80s, 90s.

The one all Ireland I've actually seen was maybe 4 exceptional players with a great manager and an even better attitude. We won in 96 because we were the hardest working team in Ireland that year.

Through 01,03,04,07 we had a few stars and played above ourselves on a particular day.

17-19 is the best I've seen in terms of consistency. Again a few superstars and some very industrious lads with a good plan, a great attitude and a little bit of luck.

We still have a few stars. We need the attitude, the plan and the luck. Then we might do something.

Leinster is wide open. With the above in place we can win 4 of 5 games. That will get us to a Leinster final against a team that will be rebuilding as well.

If you're lucky enough to get a semi final anything can happen.

Limerick, Clare and Cork are the standard bearers. Is there any scenario where we beat them in croke park? It's hard to imagine, but we are Wexford, and stranger things have happened.

The ideal is for them to take eachother out so we only have to worry about one or potentially none of Kilkenny managed it.

Then again we could just as easily be out in the round robin but that's day dreaming for you."
We were at our most consistent between 17-19 because of Davy's system, as I said to many people at the time who complained about it if we didn't play it we wouldn't be half as competitive as we were, which was probably highlighted in the AISF in 19 in the last 15 mins, Fanning started launching ball down on top of probably one of the best ball winning half back lines we'll ever see and our short game disappeared.

Our biggest problem is when we go to Thurles or Cork, we get out-witted, overwhelmed and out hurled, as seen in 14,16,17,18,21,22 and this year. That's seven examples and only once we were in with a realistic chance to win the game with 10 mins to go.

In our two biggest games this year our main threats simply disappeared and that cannot be denied if we're going to be any sort of threat Chin and O'Connor need to be spearheading it.

Clare Limerick and Cork definitely would not lose games to Antrim or Westmeath either or capsize like we did against Dublin in the park, granted those 3 are a lot further down the line than we are, if you can't beat teams who flirt with the Joe Mc every second year you dont deserve to be in a Leinster Final as seen this year.

OpenStandWall (Wexford) - Posts: 146 - 05/12/2024 14:12:06    2582488

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Championship

April 19/20 Antrim home

26/27 Dublin away

May 10/11 Galway away

May 17/18 Offaly home

May 25 Kilkenny home"
All winnable games ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 17:36:22    2582530

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Replying To OpenStandWall:  "We were at our most consistent between 17-19 because of Davy's system, as I said to many people at the time who complained about it if we didn't play it we wouldn't be half as competitive as we were, which was probably highlighted in the AISF in 19 in the last 15 mins, Fanning started launching ball down on top of probably one of the best ball winning half back lines we'll ever see and our short game disappeared.

Our biggest problem is when we go to Thurles or Cork, we get out-witted, overwhelmed and out hurled, as seen in 14,16,17,18,21,22 and this year. That's seven examples and only once we were in with a realistic chance to win the game with 10 mins to go.

In our two biggest games this year our main threats simply disappeared and that cannot be denied if we're going to be any sort of threat Chin and O'Connor need to be spearheading it.

Clare Limerick and Cork definitely would not lose games to Antrim or Westmeath either or capsize like we did against Dublin in the park, granted those 3 are a lot further down the line than we are, if you can't beat teams who flirt with the Joe Mc every second year you dont deserve to be in a Leinster Final as seen this year."
With 10 to go we were in with a chance in 21, and were favourites in 19 and 22. We were only 4 down with 10 to go in 17 too.
While I agree with your opening statement about Davy, equally it could be pointed out that his failure to build a panel/bench cost us badly in 17, 19, 21 and 22. Especially as his system required the starters to do so much running.
As regards your last paragraph with 10 to go Cork were in trouble in Belfast in 22, but I guess you are right insofar as they didn't actually lose like we did.
As regards the lads you mention spearheading our threat I still believe if Lee Chin hadn't been playing in Antrim this year we probably would've won, though the blame for that would lie at the feet of some of his teammates, rather than the man himself. I was there, and it was shocking how badly some of our lads panicked when Antrim got the couple of goals, and resorted to just looking for the red helmet up the field.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 17:50:53    2582531

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Why is Osin foley not playing this year?or who heard that

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1023 - 05/12/2024 18:33:18    2582537

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Championship

April 19/20 Antrim home

26/27 Dublin away

May 10/11 Galway away

May 17/18 Offaly home

May 25 Kilkenny home"
Its remarkable how we always play Kilkenny in our last game and Dublin in one of our first two, you'd swear it was pre-planned that way.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1460 - 05/12/2024 19:37:52    2582545

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Championship

April 19/20 Antrim home

26/27 Dublin away

May 10/11 Galway away

May 17/18 Offaly home

May 25 Kilkenny home"
Simply have to bury this Dublin hoodoo next year! Key game that one. Word from KK and Galway is that they are both rebuilding their teams next year so might be very open.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 309 - 05/12/2024 20:46:56    2582552

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Replying To OpenStandWall:  "We were at our most consistent between 17-19 because of Davy's system, as I said to many people at the time who complained about it if we didn't play it we wouldn't be half as competitive as we were, which was probably highlighted in the AISF in 19 in the last 15 mins, Fanning started launching ball down on top of probably one of the best ball winning half back lines we'll ever see and our short game disappeared.

Our biggest problem is when we go to Thurles or Cork, we get out-witted, overwhelmed and out hurled, as seen in 14,16,17,18,21,22 and this year. That's seven examples and only once we were in with a realistic chance to win the game with 10 mins to go.

In our two biggest games this year our main threats simply disappeared and that cannot be denied if we're going to be any sort of threat Chin and O'Connor need to be spearheading it.

Clare Limerick and Cork definitely would not lose games to Antrim or Westmeath either or capsize like we did against Dublin in the park, granted those 3 are a lot further down the line than we are, if you can't beat teams who flirt with the Joe Mc every second year you dont deserve to be in a Leinster Final as seen this year."
Chin and Rory are far too inconsistent in the games that matter for me. Rory was brilliant v Galway, maybe his best display for Wexford but in Antrim and KK he was anonymous. Against Clare, he was one of the few to front up before getting himself sent off (nobody else to blame). Chin was outstanding in the early games but hardly hit a ball v KK and CE. Agreed with viking, Im not a fan at all of him dropping into the full forward line. Other players take the easy way out then and lump it in his direction. Hope it isn't a case of management letting him play where he likes.

Damien Reck is a very talented player but absolutely not a 6. Antrim ran straight down the middle for their two goals. Id be putting Chin there next year, it helped Conlan extend his career by a few years. Also Liam Ryan can be a bit rash at times but I think he's every bit as good as the three above. He would be well able to play at 6 too but we have a big problem at 3 then. Need him fully fit next year to have any hope.

The league isn't too far off lads!

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 309 - 05/12/2024 21:23:56    2582557

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Replying To Viking66:  "Not sure Conor is the answer at halfback. He's still too inclined to overcommit and let the ball go by him. I think he's more a natural midfielder. Even a half forward- he has an excellent eye for the posts."
He needs to improve in the air for sure but I thought he did very well last year. Full back in league and wing back in championship. Got a lot stronger and very good with ball in hand. One of the few who left the Clare game with any credit. We need lads in the half back line who are confident on the ball and able to deliver it..

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 309 - 05/12/2024 21:35:16    2582561

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Replying To Past hurler:  "I would be of the opposite view, is that I actually think a couple of the older players holding onto starting Jersies are holding us back and keeping a few younger lads on the bench who need a proper run of games.

Great servants but 2 or 3 are slowing down at this level."
Id be in agreement with this and was 12 months ago too. I know we aren't in a position where we have loads of talented young players available. But you have to give lads proper chances too, we did that in the league but went back to the tried and trusted in the championship. The Leinster championship is what 5 games in 6 weeks? I thought the longer it went on and into the Clare game, the more some experienced players struggled as the intensity lifted game on game. Leinster was weak this year and looks like it could be again next year. So making the final should be the target.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 309 - 05/12/2024 22:07:44    2582564

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