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Wexford Hurling 2025

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Replying To WEXILE:  "Galway or Carlow last year? Carlow got a.few scores in a row vefore half time but ya couldn't call it "switched off"

I'd love to see us just go get the job done on Saturday with no fuss. It's a team we should beat. Antrim will be up for it etc. But if we can't beat them at home then we have no business thinking of Leinster finals.

If we don't beat them at home then I think we are in a shaky situation where we could conceivably be in a relegation fight."
You can bet Davy will see this game against Wexford as a big opportunity for Antrim. They hadn't a great league campaign. I do think Wexford should have enough fire power to win and and a home game is important to us but it definitely will not be an easy game - If Liam Ryan isn't at full back Antrims big men may cause us trouble. Interesting to see will Wexford persist with a Sweeper - It's starting to make its way out of intercounty hurling now and I'd expect very few (apart from Waterford) Munster Teams to deploy one. I do think it is a specialised position now and if the person in the position isn't comfortable in the position it's of no benefit. We haven't had anyone comfortable in this position I think since Kevin Foley

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 176 - 16/04/2025 08:59:00    2602166

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "You can bet Davy will see this game against Wexford as a big opportunity for Antrim. They hadn't a great league campaign. I do think Wexford should have enough fire power to win and and a home game is important to us but it definitely will not be an easy game - If Liam Ryan isn't at full back Antrims big men may cause us trouble. Interesting to see will Wexford persist with a Sweeper - It's starting to make its way out of intercounty hurling now and I'd expect very few (apart from Waterford) Munster Teams to deploy one. I do think it is a specialised position now and if the person in the position isn't comfortable in the position it's of no benefit. We haven't had anyone comfortable in this position I think since Kevin Foley"
We haven't played a sweeper in years

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15466 - 16/04/2025 09:23:33    2602169

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Replying To Viking66:  "I'd pick the same 15 as you, though I doubt Keith will. Who would you put Mac in instead of, and what would you say to him to make sure he chases his man back if he's carrying the ball out? And makes runs outside to give our halfbacks and midfielders someone to aim for when we are in possession?"
Possible drop Dunbar, so 6 forwards would be, Jack, Chin, K Foley, Rory, Mac, Byrne.
I be telling him that work rate is essential or he be coming off. Mac offers us a real goal threat in my opinion. He is a lethal finisher of the highest level. When he not playing I think our goals per game ratio drops. He also offers an aerial threat and Byrne and Rory are well suited to be picking uo dropping balls that break off him. I understand the question marks about his pace and work rate but to be far to Mac he has usually have to mark to defenders as we have played with only 2 inside forwards for a number of years with wexford. I have him starting fully fit all day long

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1108 - 16/04/2025 10:08:30    2602178

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Keith revealed to The Wexford People this morning that Jippo will be fit to feature this weekend having trained fully last Sunday. Shane Reck will be touch and go and a decision will be made the end of this week on his availability

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 528 - 16/04/2025 10:29:41    2602183

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Replying To Viking66:  "We haven't played a sweeper in years"
FWIW, think there's a good chance they end up playing a sweeper against us given Davy is over them and Pat Bennett is coaching them, would rather they do play a sweeper tbh, we've conceded 9 goals in our last four championship games against Antrim and Westmeath, very hard to score goals playing with a sweeper

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 445 - 16/04/2025 11:30:34    2602196

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Replying To hunting:  "Possible drop Dunbar, so 6 forwards would be, Jack, Chin, K Foley, Rory, Mac, Byrne.
I be telling him that work rate is essential or he be coming off. Mac offers us a real goal threat in my opinion. He is a lethal finisher of the highest level. When he not playing I think our goals per game ratio drops. He also offers an aerial threat and Byrne and Rory are well suited to be picking uo dropping balls that break off him. I understand the question marks about his pace and work rate but to be far to Mac he has usually have to mark to defenders as we have played with only 2 inside forwards for a number of years with wexford. I have him starting fully fit all day long"
Id start a fully fit Mac but we'll have to wait and see if he can back fully fit or he is still struggling with his hips after the minor surgery he had. IF we can get him back fully fit he is a big asset to us of course. Following the news Jippo will be available and presuming Shane Reck is fit id go with for Saturday
Fanning
S Reck
L Ryan ( Give him 40-50 mins if fully fit) doesnt matter what the score is 70 mins championship hurling is a lot to chance him on his first game back and we need him for the rest of the games)
C Foley
Molloy ( Harsh on McGuckin but I think Molloy has huge potential. Think Keith will go with Charlie though)
D Reck
R Lawlor
Hearne
Donohoe
Jacko
Chin
Dunbar
Kevin Foley ( Roaming)
ROC
C Byrne

Subs Kennedy, Eoin Ryan, Niall Murphy, C McGuckin, Mike Kelly, Jack Redmond, Conall Clancy, Darragh Carley, Seamus Casey, Tucker Kinsella, Simon Roche

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 528 - 16/04/2025 11:44:31    2602202

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Don't mean to be unfair but when was Conor McDonald last a goal threat for you? I feel he has massively failed to deliver in the last 5-6 years against the teams that matter.
Well done to your u20s, I saw none if it but from reports it sounds like for once a Wexford team were up for a battle in Parnell Park. Never underestimate the power and value of winning tight matches.
As somebody said it is not fair to be overly critical of young underage players playing our games, but we always need to be mindful are our structures contributing to have these players the best they can be? Players are products of systems and if the players year in year out are not good enough, then its very valid to ask questions of the system and structure. But with the questions, they have to be proposing a better solution, not just settling a score or calling out individuals.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1320 - 16/04/2025 12:16:57    2602206

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Don't mean to be unfair but when was Conor McDonald last a goal threat for you? I feel he has massively failed to deliver in the last 5-6 years against the teams that matter.
Well done to your u20s, I saw none if it but from reports it sounds like for once a Wexford team were up for a battle in Parnell Park. Never underestimate the power and value of winning tight matches.
As somebody said it is not fair to be overly critical of young underage players playing our games, but we always need to be mindful are our structures contributing to have these players the best they can be? Players are products of systems and if the players year in year out are not good enough, then its very valid to ask questions of the system and structure. But with the questions, they have to be proposing a better solution, not just settling a score or calling out individuals."
He was fantastic against Kilkenny in nowlan park last year and salt hill the year before.

In 46 appearances he's scored 19-119

That'd 3.83 scores per game.

Those stats may be slightly out of date but still a useful reference.

The only players ahead of him in that regard are Chin (taking frees and penalties) and maybe Rory.

It is madness to suggest a fully fit Mac isn't in our best 6 forwards.

I think he gets so much stick because we know how good he can be and set the bar so high at the start of his career.

He hasn't achieved all time greatest like we thought he would, but even the level he's at is one of the best of his generation in Wexford.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3515 - 16/04/2025 12:54:08    2602212

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Replying To hunting:  "Possible drop Dunbar, so 6 forwards would be, Jack, Chin, K Foley, Rory, Mac, Byrne.
I be telling him that work rate is essential or he be coming off. Mac offers us a real goal threat in my opinion. He is a lethal finisher of the highest level. When he not playing I think our goals per game ratio drops. He also offers an aerial threat and Byrne and Rory are well suited to be picking uo dropping balls that break off him. I understand the question marks about his pace and work rate but to be far to Mac he has usually have to mark to defenders as we have played with only 2 inside forwards for a number of years with wexford. I have him starting fully fit all day long"
Can't remember the last time he offered a genuine aerial threat against a Liam McCarthy standard fullback tbh.
He did get a goal in Salthill when Mcinerney fell over. He got a decent goal in Nowlan Park last year but only scored a point against Clare. And only 2 points against Galway last year.
Long time since he was a regular top level intercounty goal scorer tbh.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15466 - 16/04/2025 13:19:28    2602222

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "FWIW, think there's a good chance they end up playing a sweeper against us given Davy is over them and Pat Bennett is coaching them, would rather they do play a sweeper tbh, we've conceded 9 goals in our last four championship games against Antrim and Westmeath, very hard to score goals playing with a sweeper"
Look at the two goals they got against us in Belfast last year, the first one in particular, practically allowed to walk through the defence and if they're set up in anyway similar to how we were under Davy I'd be betting they're going to try do more or less the same.

OpenStandWall (Wexford) - Posts: 241 - 16/04/2025 13:36:25    2602224

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Replying To OpenStandWall:  "Look at the two goals they got against us in Belfast last year, the first one in particular, practically allowed to walk through the defence and if they're set up in anyway similar to how we were under Davy I'd be betting they're going to try do more or less the same."
Harder to run through teams and get goals when you have a sweeper though, think we struggled to get goals in big games under Davy for a long time, ended up playing Conor Mac in a role that didn't really suit him

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 445 - 16/04/2025 14:32:52    2602236

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "He was fantastic against Kilkenny in nowlan park last year and salt hill the year before.

In 46 appearances he's scored 19-119

That'd 3.83 scores per game.

Those stats may be slightly out of date but still a useful reference.

The only players ahead of him in that regard are Chin (taking frees and penalties) and maybe Rory.

It is madness to suggest a fully fit Mac isn't in our best 6 forwards.

I think he gets so much stick because we know how good he can be and set the bar so high at the start of his career.

He hasn't achieved all time greatest like we thought he would, but even the level he's at is one of the best of his generation in Wexford."
I disagree. The days of a forward being judged on purely what he scores are a long way back in the rear view mirror at this stage. It's more about net worth to the team these days. He scored 1-02 in Nowlan Park last year, and Lee got 0-01, but Kilkenny scored more than 1-03 from the 2 lads not tracking their backs out.
Cian Byrne score 1-03 from play, and did his best to pressure the backs coming out. 2 are intercounty stars, one was playing his first year as a starter.
Chin of course offers way more than just his play, so even though he was very poor in our big last 2 championship games last year, no disrespect to Laois, he's obviously starting even if not fully fit, as I'm still sure he wasn't after the Carlow game.
As regards Mac if he puts the effort in that he put in the county final win against Oylegate then sure, he's the next starting forward after Chin, Rory and Byrne. If he doesn't he'd be off after 15 minutes of a game against a top team if I was manager, I wouldn't be leaving him on in the vague hope this might be the 1 in every 3 or 4 games, or even 5 or 6 at this stage, that he might get a goal against a top team.
And that's nothing personal, his partner was very generous to my kids in Thurles and while I haven't met him myself I've been told he's really sound, that's just about wanting the best Wexford team out on the pitch to win a championship game.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15466 - 16/04/2025 14:38:58    2602238

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "He was fantastic against Kilkenny in nowlan park last year and salt hill the year before.

In 46 appearances he's scored 19-119

That'd 3.83 scores per game.

Those stats may be slightly out of date but still a useful reference.

The only players ahead of him in that regard are Chin (taking frees and penalties) and maybe Rory.

It is madness to suggest a fully fit Mac isn't in our best 6 forwards.

I think he gets so much stick because we know how good he can be and set the bar so high at the start of his career.

He hasn't achieved all time greatest like we thought he would, but even the level he's at is one of the best of his generation in Wexford."
I like Mac, great season last year.

Just on the goal point, I think he's missed some sitters in last few years. Remember the point black miss away to KK in 2022. He basically hit it straight at keeper from a few yards out. It didn't impact.on the result that day.

Also the same year against Dublin in the park, he was in front of goal and for some reason chose to spin around ànd strike instead of just taking the goal.....that went wide and unfortunately did impact on the result.

As previously said it's the potential he showed underage that means we expect so much from him.

But he's definitely in our top 6 forwards no doubt about that. I feel Davy wasted some of his prime years by having him up on his own surrounded by defenders

WEXILE (Wexford) - Posts: 349 - 16/04/2025 14:48:50    2602244

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Replying To OpenStandWall:  "Look at the two goals they got against us in Belfast last year, the first one in particular, practically allowed to walk through the defence and if they're set up in anyway similar to how we were under Davy I'd be betting they're going to try do more or less the same."
That first goal largely came about from a back who struggles to process what's happening in front of him quickly enough taking too long on the ball and getting turned over. And it wasn't the first or last time it happened to him last year either.
He wasn't helped by the abject lack of movement further up the pitch though.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15466 - 16/04/2025 14:49:41    2602245

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Replying To WEXILE:  "I like Mac, great season last year.

Just on the goal point, I think he's missed some sitters in last few years. Remember the point black miss away to KK in 2022. He basically hit it straight at keeper from a few yards out. It didn't impact.on the result that day.

Also the same year against Dublin in the park, he was in front of goal and for some reason chose to spin around ànd strike instead of just taking the goal.....that went wide and unfortunately did impact on the result.

As previously said it's the potential he showed underage that means we expect so much from him.

But he's definitely in our top 6 forwards no doubt about that. I feel Davy wasted some of his prime years by having him up on his own surrounded by defenders"
Agree with that last paragraph, even at underage some of the best goals he scored, and assisted, weren't all from long high balls in. They were from team moves moving the ball forwards fast and Conor linking up well with other players. But he did move more back then.

https://youtu.be/sgsqX4yja30?si=w0ghpI4oEkperbYC

He did of course score from long high balls in, but he was relatively stronger underage than he is at Senior.

https://youtu.be/TIuGRWpUKoU?si=r-MneEVvKUtoXrW3

https://youtu.be/dH5ALGsCV20?si=dLGsO0JIZEN-M2Ib

Anyway, hope those 3 goals cheer you up of a dull April day. I've some great memories thanks to Mac.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15466 - 16/04/2025 15:18:52    2602253

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Replying To Viking66:  "Agree with that last paragraph, even at underage some of the best goals he scored, and assisted, weren't all from long high balls in. They were from team moves moving the ball forwards fast and Conor linking up well with other players. But he did move more back then.

https://youtu.be/sgsqX4yja30?si=w0ghpI4oEkperbYC

He did of course score from long high balls in, but he was relatively stronger underage than he is at Senior.

https://youtu.be/TIuGRWpUKoU?si=r-MneEVvKUtoXrW3

https://youtu.be/dH5ALGsCV20?si=dLGsO0JIZEN-M2Ib

Anyway, hope those 3 goals cheer you up of a dull April day. I've some great memories thanks to Mac."
He got a long range rocket goal v.Limerick in the u21 AI final too. He looked unplayable back then. It would great if he could finish off his career with a few years like that.

Also he ties up a lot.of the opposition main men too over the years. He's probably going to be like Paul Morris. Gets a few scores every game and miss him when he's gone. Morris never got that amount of stick off supporters tho

WEXILE (Wexford) - Posts: 349 - 16/04/2025 15:47:26    2602257

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I reckon a crowd of about 4000 on Saturday.
Perhaps an early start of 2.00pm and a price tag of €25 will keep some supporters away and keep their money in their pockets for the games to follow.
Surely a 3.00pm start on Sunday would make more sense.
Looks like Jippo will start which is great if it happens. Hopefully he can remain injury free and boost our chances of doing well in the round Robin.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 428 - 16/04/2025 15:56:00    2602264

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Listening to some of the podcasts this week, none of them seem to rate Wexford at all.

They have Kilkenny as winners (rightly so as they are going for 6 in a row Leinsters), then Galway & Dublin and possibly Offaly.

One of them didn't even mention Wexford at all in the Leinster round up.

Are we really rated that poorly?

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 907 - 16/04/2025 16:34:23    2602271

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "He was fantastic against Kilkenny in nowlan park last year and salt hill the year before.

In 46 appearances he's scored 19-119

That'd 3.83 scores per game.

Those stats may be slightly out of date but still a useful reference.

The only players ahead of him in that regard are Chin (taking frees and penalties) and maybe Rory.

It is madness to suggest a fully fit Mac isn't in our best 6 forwards.

I think he gets so much stick because we know how good he can be and set the bar so high at the start of his career.

He hasn't achieved all time greatest like we thought he would, but even the level he's at is one of the best of his generation in Wexford."
Absolutely, if I was picking the six best Wexford forwards of my lifetime, the line-up would be:

Chin-Storey-Gizzy
Mogie-Mac-R.O'Connor

Rest of team while I'm at it sure:

Fitzy

Jippo-Ryan-Rossi
MOH-Dunne-Larry O

Dee- McCarthy (Fenlon's best asset be lost in modern game)

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1479 - 16/04/2025 16:38:54    2602272

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Listening to some of the podcasts this week, none of them seem to rate Wexford at all.

They have Kilkenny as winners (rightly so as they are going for 6 in a row Leinsters), then Galway & Dublin and possibly Offaly.

One of them didn't even mention Wexford at all in the Leinster round up.

Are we really rated that poorly?"
Our recent record wouldn't suggest we will be Leinster finalists, we can't be losing and drawing to the likes of Westmeath and Antrim on a regular basis and then be taken seriously as provincial winners.

I'm not saying we can't win it by the way but why would we be talked up by these podcasts?

I wouldn't worry about them they're frequently wrong. So is Michael Duignan when he was doing the rte website predictions. Anytime he said we'd lose we win so I wouldn't be too worried about not even being mentioned.

Might be no harm if we.not taken seriously. Maybe we will surprise a few.

WEXILE (Wexford) - Posts: 349 - 16/04/2025 16:59:19    2602277

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