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Wexford Football 2025

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Replying To Magpie2:  "I agree with everything you say, Zinny.
We were quite simply destroyed in the 2nd half at midfield. They were able to launch attack after attack. Changes needed there if we are to have any hope next week against Antrim.
Love is an excellent forward but for him to score 8 points from play is not acceptable. Our backs just couldn't cope. To lose by 5 points sounds not bad but Fermanagh opened us up all too easy and were convincing winners in the end.
Our season has gone somewhat pear-shaped in recent games. Against Limerick our net was rattled far too many times. Against Carlow we allowed them back into the game having been well ahead with time running out. Even when playing Longford we fell asleep for periods in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. In the first round championship game against Laois we were annihilated making them look world beaters.
So next week we have a lot of ironing out to do.
Kick out strategy needs to be addressed.
Backs will have to be much much tighter.
Tom Byrne might be a better partner for Hughes.
Martin O'connor to stay in defence.
I know he's getting on a bit but I would bring Ben in for the final 30 minutes. He knows where the goal is and his vast experience might be needed.
It would be a pity to go out at this stage but unless the above are addressed I would be worried."
We won most of the primary possession or breaking ball around the kickouts in the 1st half. After half time we seemed to be still at the same level, or tiring a little, while Fermanagh came flying out of the blocks. Was the same against Antrim last year. Maybe we should make some of our changes a little earlier, get fresh legs on? Absolutely I'd play Tom and Niall in midfield, and Liam wing forward. He seems short on confidence since he came back, he could do with getting a 2 pointer, or some other lift, early against Antrim. As regardsBen he put in a great shift against Tipp, we would've lost without him, but didn't reach those levels in other games.
Final thought, it's very hard to peak twice in a season, even for professional athletes like premier league soccer players. We probably peaked during the League, which unlike our hurlers is probably more important for our footballers right now in terms of longterm development.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 02/06/2025 12:06:58    2614267

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Replying To Magpie2:  "I agree with everything you say, Zinny.
We were quite simply destroyed in the 2nd half at midfield. They were able to launch attack after attack. Changes needed there if we are to have any hope next week against Antrim.
Love is an excellent forward but for him to score 8 points from play is not acceptable. Our backs just couldn't cope. To lose by 5 points sounds not bad but Fermanagh opened us up all too easy and were convincing winners in the end.
Our season has gone somewhat pear-shaped in recent games. Against Limerick our net was rattled far too many times. Against Carlow we allowed them back into the game having been well ahead with time running out. Even when playing Longford we fell asleep for periods in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. In the first round championship game against Laois we were annihilated making them look world beaters.
So next week we have a lot of ironing out to do.
Kick out strategy needs to be addressed.
Backs will have to be much much tighter.
Tom Byrne might be a better partner for Hughes.
Martin O'connor to stay in defence.
I know he's getting on a bit but I would bring Ben in for the final 30 minutes. He knows where the goal is and his vast experience might be needed.
It would be a pity to go out at this stage but unless the above are addressed I would be worried."
As regards being worried I wouldn't go that far. We have no God given right to be beating Antrim, alot will have to go right on the day. For example this year they had 9 lads playing Sigerson Cup Football to our one. If we play our best, and can somehow raise our game during the 3rd quarter we have every chance though.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 02/06/2025 12:14:59    2614269

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Worth bearing in mind Fermanagh were in div2 last year, and only finished behind the top 2 by a point in div3 this year. They beat Offaly who went up. They also only lost to Down by 2 points in Ulster.
And also worth considering that Antrim were a little unlucky to get relegated, they won 2 games, including beating Clare, and only lost to Fermanagh by a point. They also only lost by 2 to Laois and 3 to Sligo. They were very competitive.
If we do win next weekend it would be a tremendous result for Wexford Football.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 02/06/2025 12:38:23    2614275

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Replying To Magpie2:  "I agree with everything you say, Zinny.
We were quite simply destroyed in the 2nd half at midfield. They were able to launch attack after attack. Changes needed there if we are to have any hope next week against Antrim.
Love is an excellent forward but for him to score 8 points from play is not acceptable. Our backs just couldn't cope. To lose by 5 points sounds not bad but Fermanagh opened us up all too easy and were convincing winners in the end.
Our season has gone somewhat pear-shaped in recent games. Against Limerick our net was rattled far too many times. Against Carlow we allowed them back into the game having been well ahead with time running out. Even when playing Longford we fell asleep for periods in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. In the first round championship game against Laois we were annihilated making them look world beaters.
So next week we have a lot of ironing out to do.
Kick out strategy needs to be addressed.
Backs will have to be much much tighter.
Tom Byrne might be a better partner for Hughes.
Martin O'connor to stay in defence.
I know he's getting on a bit but I would bring Ben in for the final 30 minutes. He knows where the goal is and his vast experience might be needed.
It would be a pity to go out at this stage but unless the above are addressed I would be worried."
It all seems to have gone downhill since the league final. Obviously the main objective was to get promotion, but it's worrying how things have deteriorated since then.
Defence is a major issue. We seem to be very open when teams run at us. Limerick did it to good effect, Carlow should have out of sight by half time, and fermanagh did it again yesterday.
The only positive is that we are capable of putting up decent scores, even with limited possession.
Hopefully management can sort the defensive issues before next weekend, and work on a kick-out strategy. We were wiped out in that area yesterday.

Yellaman (Wexford) - Posts: 171 - 02/06/2025 12:42:06    2614277

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Things have gone downhill rapidly since the Limerick game., hard to think this is the same team that was so impressive in the League. Structure of the team was better in the League. Coleman coming back in at midfield hasnt worked, Hughes and Byrne were very effective in the league. Paraic Hughes was also very effective at 6 with Nolan in the half forward line. Why all the change?? Kick out strategy was non existent. Need to make changes quickly or we wont be beating Antrim.

FearBeag (Mayo) - Posts: 88 - 03/06/2025 11:23:05    2614516

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Replying To FearBeag:  "Things have gone downhill rapidly since the Limerick game., hard to think this is the same team that was so impressive in the League. Structure of the team was better in the League. Coleman coming back in at midfield hasnt worked, Hughes and Byrne were very effective in the league. Paraic Hughes was also very effective at 6 with Nolan in the half forward line. Why all the change?? Kick out strategy was non existent. Need to make changes quickly or we wont be beating Antrim."
Paraic Hughes played all league at wing forward, and Eoghan Nolan played all the league at 6, both had super leagues, i agree on midfield, Tom Byrne was super at midfield in league

lefty (Wexford) - Posts: 245 - 03/06/2025 12:41:04    2614537

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Replying To lefty:  "Paraic Hughes played all league at wing forward, and Eoghan Nolan played all the league at 6, both had super leagues, i agree on midfield, Tom Byrne was super at midfield in league"
Hughes played at 6 in 5 of the 7 league games Wicklow, Waterford, Carlow, Limerick and London.

FearBeag (Mayo) - Posts: 88 - 03/06/2025 17:39:26    2614650

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Replying To FearBeag:  "Things have gone downhill rapidly since the Limerick game., hard to think this is the same team that was so impressive in the League. Structure of the team was better in the League. Coleman coming back in at midfield hasnt worked, Hughes and Byrne were very effective in the league. Paraic Hughes was also very effective at 6 with Nolan in the half forward line. Why all the change?? Kick out strategy was non existent. Need to make changes quickly or we wont be beating Antrim."
It definitely looks like we targeted and peaked for the league this year which is understandable in the circumstances but I thought we looked very leggy in both the 2nd half against Fermanagh and Carlow.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1515 - 04/06/2025 07:55:22    2614726

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Replying To FearBeag:  "Hughes played at 6 in 5 of the 7 league games Wicklow, Waterford, Carlow, Limerick and London."
This is wrong, Hughes wore 6 jersey but played at No10 all the league and was excellent

lefty (Wexford) - Posts: 245 - 04/06/2025 08:25:32    2614727

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Replying To lefty:  "This is wrong, Hughes wore 6 jersey but played at No10 all the league and was excellent"
He's our best player, and I don't mean any of the rest of our players any disrespect by saying that.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 04/06/2025 09:13:24    2614733

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Replying To tearintom:  "It definitely looks like we targeted and peaked for the league this year which is understandable in the circumstances but I thought we looked very leggy in both the 2nd half against Fermanagh and Carlow."
The 3rd quarter wasn't great in the League game against Carlow either. Or Wicklow. Waterfords purple patch against us came in the 3rd quarter also. In fairness We started the 3rd quarter better against Limerick in the final until we got hit by a sucker punch goal. But we were behind at halftime.
It seems 3rd quarter lethargy is usually only an issue if we are in front at halftime. Obviously opponents who are behind at halftime will give it a good rattle coming out after the break, but we need to be better prepared for that if we are up at halftime against Antrim.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 04/06/2025 09:25:16    2614736

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Replying To lefty:  "This is wrong, Hughes wore 6 jersey but played at No10 all the league and was excellent"
I was thinking myself this was the case along with Nolan centre back for all of the league but then I doubted myself when I seen people mentioning bring nolan back to forwards and hughes back into backs.
I have asked a few people who would be in the know and Nolan has been centre back all year and Hughes wing forward all year, it's funny how some people don't go to matches and still make comments on players DEFINITELY playing certain positions based purely on a program.

hurlin101 (Wexford) - Posts: 115 - 04/06/2025 09:36:14    2614742

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Replying To hurlin101:  "I was thinking myself this was the case along with Nolan centre back for all of the league but then I doubted myself when I seen people mentioning bring nolan back to forwards and hughes back into backs.
I have asked a few people who would be in the know and Nolan has been centre back all year and Hughes wing forward all year, it's funny how some people don't go to matches and still make comments on players DEFINITELY playing certain positions based purely on a program."
As I have said before you will get away with that against the weakest teams in the country, but as soon as we have played any decent team at all we've been bet well.

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 283 - 04/06/2025 09:59:34    2614747

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Replying To hurlin101:  "I was thinking myself this was the case along with Nolan centre back for all of the league but then I doubted myself when I seen people mentioning bring nolan back to forwards and hughes back into backs.
I have asked a few people who would be in the know and Nolan has been centre back all year and Hughes wing forward all year, it's funny how some people don't go to matches and still make comments on players DEFINITELY playing certain positions based purely on a program."
Hughes and O'connor oth started in the forwards but Malone and Sheehan both started. Nolan stared at 6 and it was not going well in my view, its hard to know when players switch positions during the game in the middle third of the field but he got injured up in the forwards. Nolan plays a Kilkenny type role but he should not be starting in the backs.
Anyway the biggest issue I see is lack of pace around the field, we are getting caught with runners coming at pace and the lads cannot stay with them. Even before the new rules we were trying to play positive attacking football but with the new rules the pace at which you attack and find the space has become critical. I just don't see that in defence or attack at the moment.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1991 - 04/06/2025 10:55:10    2614759

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Replying To hurlin101:  "I was thinking myself this was the case along with Nolan centre back for all of the league but then I doubted myself when I seen people mentioning bring nolan back to forwards and hughes back into backs.
I have asked a few people who would be in the know and Nolan has been centre back all year and Hughes wing forward all year, it's funny how some people don't go to matches and still make comments on players DEFINITELY playing certain positions based purely on a program."
Was at almost all the games I mentioned and to my eye Hughes played much deeper than he currently is, positioning all over the place these days. Hughes is, as someone pointed out our best player and he is best going forward from deep, one of the few we have with pace. The difference in pace in the two games last Sunday was staggering.

FearBeag (Mayo) - Posts: 88 - 04/06/2025 11:25:13    2614768

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Replying To FearBeag:  "Was at almost all the games I mentioned and to my eye Hughes played much deeper than he currently is, positioning all over the place these days. Hughes is, as someone pointed out our best player and he is best going forward from deep, one of the few we have with pace. The difference in pace in the two games last Sunday was staggering."
The middle 8 spend all game transitioning backwards and forwards and have done for years in Football. Eoghan Nolan is very skilful, but I'm not sure he has the steel for centreback. If we had another Tom Byrne I'd play the 2 of them 6 and 8. As it is we haven't, so I'd go, assuming everyone except Shane and Darragh Brooks are fit-
D Brooks
M O'Connor, G Sheehan, M Furlong,
G Malone, E Nolan, E Porter,
T Byrne, N Hughes,
L Coleman, P Hughes, M Rossiter,
K O'Grady, S Nolan, B Brosnan/Ryan.
And ask Ben to empty the tank for the 1st 35 minutes and then bring Mini on, tell Ben play like he did against Tipp. Or the other way around.
Subs on would be 4 of D Furlong, Higgins, Brooks, Carty, C Hughes, Kinsella, L O'Connor, depending who looked tired or injured and what line they played in. And definitely start rotating in lads around the 45 minute mark. Have 3 lads on by around the 50 minute mark. Then 1 more around the mid 50s. Keep 1 back for injuries.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 04/06/2025 13:27:10    2614825

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Replying To FearBeag:  "Was at almost all the games I mentioned and to my eye Hughes played much deeper than he currently is, positioning all over the place these days. Hughes is, as someone pointed out our best player and he is best going forward from deep, one of the few we have with pace. The difference in pace in the two games last Sunday was staggering."
The middle 8 spend all game transitioning backwards and forwards and have done for years in Football. Eoghan Nolan is very skilful, but I'm not sure he has the steel for centreback. If we had another Tom Byrne I'd play the 2 of them 6 and 8. As it is we haven't, so I'd go, assuming everyone except Shane and Darragh Brooks are fit-
D Brooks
M O'Connor, G Sheehan, M Furlong,
G Malone, E Nolan, E Porter,
T Byrne, N Hughes,
L Coleman, P Hughes, M Rossiter,
K O'Grady, S Nolan, B Brosnan/Ryan.
And ask Ben to empty the tank for the 1st 35 minutes and then bring Mini on, tell Ben play like he did against Tipp. Or the other way around.
Subs on would be 4 of D Furlong, Higgins, Brooks, Carty, C Hughes, Kinsella, L O'Connor, depending who looked tired or injured and what line they played in. And definitely start rotating in lads around the 45 minute mark. Have 3 lads on by around the 50 minute mark. Then 1 more around the mid 50s. Keep 1 back for injuries.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 04/06/2025 13:28:00    2614826

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is it 1 or 1.30 on sunday? different times on different sites

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2988 - 06/06/2025 15:37:29    2615361

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Replying To Stmunnsriver:  "is it 1 or 1.30 on sunday? different times on different sites"
1

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16142 - 06/06/2025 15:50:06    2615368

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Replying To Stmunnsriver:  "is it 1 or 1.30 on sunday? different times on different sites"
Says 1 p.m. on both Wexford GAA & Antrim GAA websites anyway. Also 1 p.m. on all Wexford GAA social media stuff, the main GAA website itself, and the GAA section of the RTE website.

Only place I've seen mention 1.30 p.m. is in the fixtures listed on this website. Hope the mods let this message through, seeing as how it points to a mistake on their behalf!

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2918 - 06/06/2025 16:01:27    2615372

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