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Wexford Football 2025

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Replying To tearintom:  "What do ye mean time for all 3 to come together and hit the schools as one?

My understanding with Wexflrd town that one kf the biggest issues is in regards to schools and what club has access to what? Until the town clubs work together I fear it will always be an issue"
My comment was more to the organizations themselves GAA, LGFA and Camogie. Its not just Wexford town although the biggest, there are three others. The population of all four towns is about 50K and the total population of Wexford is 165k. Its not just a Football issue but also one for the other codes. Everyone on the hurling page loves coming up with solutions on how to win an All Ireland in the next couple of years - its all a bit like Nero and Rome burning!
Yes Wexford town has its club issues in Hurling and Football - the Vols tried to start in underage Hurling and if you listen to them, the lost any good players to the other team by unfair means. To change Wexford town you have to change the eligibility rules and stop the easy switching from one club to the other or even out of the town. However you have to get kids interested in playing first and I am not sure any of the clubs should be leading that effort. Look at LGFA - Starlights have a Intermediate team and then the next is Gorey with a Junior B. I don't know if there are any Camogie teams in any of the towns. If you don't get the kids playing now their kids won't play in the future etc. it cannot be ignored with a throw up of the arms in the air saying sure what can we do , the clubs won't cooperate. Take it out of their hands.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2055 - 18/08/2025 19:18:59    2632534

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Interesting to see people's views on this one. Did nt the josephs reform and at a time when clonard were still in existence which eventually was final nail in clonards coffin at football . So there were 5 football teams in town at that stage madness . Can a team just decide to start up without the co biard doing a feasabily study or are they happy just to have more finacial income from said same club . When you now realise how small an area they have to pick from with satellite clubs catchment creeping so far into the town estates and hurling the dominant code and coincidentally cant consistently compete with only 2 teams .
Are volunteers and na fianna the same club at different codes basically much like harriers and sarsfields were over the years .
Although at present lot of harriers wont play football when current hurling management is in place .
Took quick look at town teams in round 3 football programme as oppsed to round 4 hutling think sarsfields seniors would have 5 or 6 on harriers panel . Volunteers none st Marys none st josephs bye this weekend so cant see . Thats a very strange out of possibly 60 first team footballers only 5 or 6 playing hurling or on senior hurling squad
. Are some of football clubs discouraging lads from playing hurling. I know current hurling coach/manager def no time for football that's no secret be same when he move to for his next club .
That can't be a good situation for recruitment for either code if animosity between clubs of different codes .
From what I know volunteers almost went out of existence only for co chairman to step in and give them a gpo and access to the schools . And dithered over allowing gpos to the other 3 clubs until volunteers got their foot in the door and established can't blame volunteers fir that .
They were at any very low ebb with no underage teams and whatever resources/personnel they had were able to put all resources into schools where other clubs had teams at all grades and limited personnel to do the same in the large amount of svhools to cover . . Giving them an unfair advantage over the other teams who had done their own work well in keeping their clubs in order without any help from co board only to be ambushed . With the silent backing of co board and chairman at the time . Thats what I was told when i asked re the situation . Correct me if I got the wrong info . It's a sad time to see any team struggle
Some senior teams amalgamating with others at underage to just have team. Gussrann bannow at minor besat st josephs last week saw on social media some of josephs supporters were nt happy with that amalgamation with strong comments which have since been taken down . Mogueen gaels fethard clongeen at other age groups . St James fethard clongeen at u14 jfc gaels never seen 3 team amalgzmtion before tbh. Seems to be in this area /district more amalgamations than anywhere else . Are dome clubs drawing in players from other areas as perceived to have better chance of winning are we losing our parish pride .
Sometimes its not just towns teams ."
Gusserane and Bannow have been amalgamated at minor for some years now. Likewise Gers and Cloughbawn. JFC aren't the first 3 club amalgamation, though they are at u14 afaik. Kilmore, OLI and St Fintans are amalgamated at minor the last year or 2.
Going back in time amalgamations at underage have been with us a long while. Our club was amalgamated with Bannow at some agegroups nearly 40 years ago for instance.
Honestly don't know what the situation is in town, but Vols, Joseph's, Marys all have their own u14 team, as do Clonard in Hurling. We have played 3 of them in the last year and all were decent enough teams.
We played Marys at Intermediate this year, and the last few years, and Scallan and Lynch aren't playing for them this year but were the last few years. I heard the same rumour you did, not sure if it's true. Tbh from watching him a long time I've always thought Kyle Scallan was a better Footballer than Hurler, it's a shame lads like him don't prefer to be a Football starter rather than a Hurling panel member. But at the end of the day it's his choice.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16932 - 19/08/2025 08:12:25    2632578

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Hard to know what the answer is really. I know being involved myself playing amalgamated teams, it can be very frustrating when you might only have 18 but you make sure to field by yourself so that players from your own club all get to play and then you meat two clubs joined together with 25 plus players and you take a beating, it can be very disheartening and annoying. You are doing the right thing I'm sure but still doesnt make it any easier.

Some clubs have to amalgamate otherwise they wont be playing buts till dosent sit right sometimes. There probably is no answer really, I can see St. Josephs frustration. Suppose you could say the same for Tara Rocks - Kilanerin in senior football - intermediate hurling albeit its mostly Kilanerin players now.

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 515 - 19/08/2025 15:31:11    2632698

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Replying To alwaysasub:  "Hard to know what the answer is really. I know being involved myself playing amalgamated teams, it can be very frustrating when you might only have 18 but you make sure to field by yourself so that players from your own club all get to play and then you meat two clubs joined together with 25 plus players and you take a beating, it can be very disheartening and annoying. You are doing the right thing I'm sure but still doesnt make it any easier.

Some clubs have to amalgamate otherwise they wont be playing buts till dosent sit right sometimes. There probably is no answer really, I can see St. Josephs frustration. Suppose you could say the same for Tara Rocks - Kilanerin in senior football - intermediate hurling albeit its mostly Kilanerin players now."
Maybe a different stand alone completion/div for amalgamated teams only i ve no issue with amalgamated teams that's If amalgamated for the right reasons same as teams playing in the right div not just to get in a div they can win at a Canter or little effort .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 425 - 19/08/2025 16:30:08    2632712

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Maybe a different stand alone completion/div for amalgamated teams only i ve no issue with amalgamated teams that's If amalgamated for the right reasons same as teams playing in the right div not just to get in a div they can win at a Canter or little effort ."
You sometimes hear the suggestion of a separate competition for amalgamated teams all right, but I think it overlooks how amalgamated teams can be of a vastly different standard.

For example, amalgamated teams in this year's Minor Hurling: two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 4.

In this year's Minor Football: the same two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 3.

If you put all those amalgamated teams into their own competition, you'd have to imagine that the two of Premier Division standard would waltz their way to the finals, and it wouldn't be very competitive overall.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3028 - 20/08/2025 00:17:22    2632775

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It's sour grapes from the josephs, they joined teams over the years, they joined Sars ie cathal brughas, they joined the vols ie wexford gaels, wexford town simply don't have the footballers anymore, we had 6 clubs not so long ago and far more competitive, we have less clubs now and very poor standard by all clubs in town

Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 493 - 20/08/2025 09:31:35    2632790

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "You sometimes hear the suggestion of a separate competition for amalgamated teams all right, but I think it overlooks how amalgamated teams can be of a vastly different standard.

For example, amalgamated teams in this year's Minor Hurling: two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 4.

In this year's Minor Football: the same two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 3.

If you put all those amalgamated teams into their own competition, you'd have to imagine that the two of Premier Division standard would waltz their way to the finals, and it wouldn't be very competitive overall."
Absolutely. A 3 club amalgamation at u14 lost their division 5 QF to a 2 club amalgamation by 28 points last night. Both would likely be hammered by any of the div1 teams at u14.
Most amalgamations are born of necessity, small numbers, and aren't super teams like divisional teams where the best players of several clubs are playing together.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16932 - 20/08/2025 09:47:40    2632794

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Replying To Lockerroomboy:  "It's sour grapes from the josephs, they joined teams over the years, they joined Sars ie cathal brughas, they joined the vols ie wexford gaels, wexford town simply don't have the footballers anymore, we had 6 clubs not so long ago and far more competitive, we have less clubs now and very poor standard by all clubs in town"
Two club teams in Wexford town is enough for football. They all seem to be competing in the lowest divisions underage.

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 301 - 20/08/2025 09:51:24    2632797

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "You sometimes hear the suggestion of a separate competition for amalgamated teams all right, but I think it overlooks how amalgamated teams can be of a vastly different standard.

For example, amalgamated teams in this year's Minor Hurling: two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 4.

In this year's Minor Football: the same two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 3.

If you put all those amalgamated teams into their own competition, you'd have to imagine that the two of Premier Division standard would waltz their way to the finals, and it wouldn't be very competitive overall."
Good point but like most small/medium sized clubs they more often than not have to bring up lads from grade underneath especially as they move up through the grades .
Maybe the best scenario of fairness would be that amalgamted teams are excluded from the top division
Create a 13 aside or 11 aside minimum division for teams with low numbers . But if they have more could match other teams numbers ie 12 13 14 a side etc 15 if they had them but minimum 11 or 13 . We have to think outside the box to ensure future participation and club survival .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 425 - 20/08/2025 10:21:41    2632804

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "You sometimes hear the suggestion of a separate competition for amalgamated teams all right, but I think it overlooks how amalgamated teams can be of a vastly different standard.

For example, amalgamated teams in this year's Minor Hurling: two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 4.

In this year's Minor Football: the same two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 3.

If you put all those amalgamated teams into their own competition, you'd have to imagine that the two of Premier Division standard would waltz their way to the finals, and it wouldn't be very competitive overall."
Good point but like most small/medium sized clubs they more often than not have to bring up lads from grade underneath especially as they move up through the grades .
Maybe the best scenario of fairness would be that amalgamted teams are excluded from the top division
Create a 13 aside or 11 aside minimum division for teams with low numbers . But if they have more could match other teams numbers ie 12 13 14 a side etc 15 if they had them but minimum 11 or 13 . We have to think outside the box to ensure future participation and club survival .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 425 - 20/08/2025 10:21:48    2632805

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Replying To Lockerroomboy:  "It's sour grapes from the josephs, they joined teams over the years, they joined Sars ie cathal brughas, they joined the vols ie wexford gaels, wexford town simply don't have the footballers anymore, we had 6 clubs not so long ago and far more competitive, we have less clubs now and very poor standard by all clubs in town"
I think josephs had a point . Think ur missing reasons for lack of footballers main one being playing population in traditional areas aren't there anymore . A lot have moved outside catchment area .
Never heard of catgal bruaghas .what year/years was that

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 425 - 20/08/2025 10:28:07    2632808

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "You sometimes hear the suggestion of a separate competition for amalgamated teams all right, but I think it overlooks how amalgamated teams can be of a vastly different standard.

For example, amalgamated teams in this year's Minor Hurling: two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 4.

In this year's Minor Football: the same two in Premier, one in Roinn 1, three in Roinn 2, and one in Roinn 3.

If you put all those amalgamated teams into their own competition, you'd have to imagine that the two of Premier Division standard would waltz their way to the finals, and it wouldn't be very competitive overall."
Not that it's very pertinent to your problems, but I have been following this thread with interest. We have had a similar experience at up to u20 level in both codes with varying results and opinions ie for and against. Personally, I am more in favour of clubs going it alone where possible. That way, weaker players improve as well, albeit at a lower grade. In West Wicklow there is a continual battle to keep clubs in existence with all sorts of solutions proposed including possibly clubs integrating. This can take time to bed in. Old "hatred's" die slowly. Given that turkeys rarely vote for Christmas, vested interests can sometimes play a part here. Again, apols for the intrusion.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1829 - 20/08/2025 10:43:22    2632809

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Replying To Formertownie:  "I think josephs had a point . Think ur missing reasons for lack of footballers main one being playing population in traditional areas aren't there anymore . A lot have moved outside catchment area .
Never heard of catgal bruaghas .what year/years was that"
Cathal brughas early 2000, minor grade,

Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 493 - 20/08/2025 12:28:01    2632822

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Replying To Lockerroomboy:  "Cathal brughas early 2000, minor grade,"
Thats good memory alright 25 years ago . Were ye successful

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 425 - 20/08/2025 12:56:50    2632828

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Thats good memory alright 25 years ago . Were ye successful"
Don't think so

Lockerroomboy (Wexford) - Posts: 493 - 20/08/2025 14:30:53    2632847

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Think the Cathal Brughas thing was relatively short-lived, i.e. maybe only two or three years.

I remember my own club beating them in what was either a quarter-final or semi-final one year. And I think there was only two grades of Minor Football at the time, or definitely no more than three. I don't recall them ever winning a county title.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3028 - 20/08/2025 15:39:31    2632856

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Didn't there used to be a club in Wexford Town called Dan O'Connells?

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 629 - 20/08/2025 20:10:09    2632877

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Honest question: What are "supposed" to be the catchment areas for each GAA club in Wexford Town?

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 629 - 20/08/2025 20:22:48    2632879

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Replying To Formertownie:  "Good point but like most small/medium sized clubs they more often than not have to bring up lads from grade underneath especially as they move up through the grades .
Maybe the best scenario of fairness would be that amalgamted teams are excluded from the top division
Create a 13 aside or 11 aside minimum division for teams with low numbers . But if they have more could match other teams numbers ie 12 13 14 a side etc 15 if they had them but minimum 11 or 13 . We have to think outside the box to ensure future participation and club survival ."
I was thinking about the idea of smaller sided games to keep the clubs structure alive but its still a tough one to get off the ground. However even prior to that how does the CB approach these applications. Do they demand an assessment by the club as to how they can ensure that they eventually get back to a single club? I am sure with some clubs that may never happen so its back to your point is there then a case for creating a league for smaller sided games. Amalgamations should be the last resort but its also the only option at the momen. Perhaps i have just not seen it but has the subject ever been examined by the CB? I keep saying it but the GAA is terrible at using its own data to examine the reasons for player dropout, however then you need to also cross that with school numbers etc, its only by doing this analysis will we start to turn the corner.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2055 - 20/08/2025 22:32:30    2632892

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Good question . Is there a map somewhere that you could actually see with all clubs catchment/parish area or is there an actual population number for each clubs catchment area .
I know towns clubs eager to extend boundaries as lot of the estates on outskirts are in rural clubs catchment areas .
I ve been told glynn barntown parish comes into wexford general hospital not sure how far accross town that applies to though . From hospital to almost bree with ferrycarrig bridge and slaney as a natural boundary on one side
How far out taghmon road not sure accross forth mountain to new line road possibly . Thars some area and well populated. Suppose it goes out close to adamstown then as well.

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 425 - 20/08/2025 22:49:17    2632893

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