National Forum

Wexford Football 2025

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


We were very very poor last night.
Maybe it's true that they had nothing left in the tank after a great league campaign.
The injuries sustained was a massive blow and the lads were led a merry dance by the midlanders.
Allowing for all that I still expected better.
Our defence was as leaky as a sive Laois were coming at us in waves and causing us endless problems every time they attacked.
Our midfield were completely out thought and out fought throughout the entire game.
With the exception of Kevin o'Grady Our attack had no penetration and never worried their defence. The late goals put a little bit of polish on
The scoreboard.
Perhaps we can iron out the problem areas and there are many. Certainly the five week break will reenergise us and go out fresh with renewed hope when the TC starts.
IT was hard to fathom why Rian Fitzpatrick and Cian Hughes were left on the bench. Young lads yes but surely,they should have been given a chance as our forwards were all at sea.
Early days and maybe the return of the injured players will help get us back on track.
Staying in the 3rd division might be problematic but that will be the challenge we will face.
It would be a disaster if we were relegated back to the bargain basement division again but time will tell.

Magpie2 (Wexford) - Posts: 413 - 06/04/2025 08:57:34    2600720

Link

we were poor very poor , was just thinking its a shame the G P A are not as vocal about the games being played nearly, every week, 1 week between a league final and championship as they are about players expenses

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2961 - 06/04/2025 09:10:18    2600723

Link

I thought we looked tired last week in croke park and feared something like yesterday might happen.

The GAA has to fix this, I mean we have teams in Div 1 trying to avoid being in a league final and teams across all other divisions striving to make league finals and being punished in the process.

A fit Martin O Connor makes such a difference to us it's uncanny, defensively he shores us up. It's a pity to exit the leinster championship but realistically these lads need a break mkre than they need games. 6 weeks on the trot playing is seriously hard going for any team but a break and a regrouping for the tailteann cup is what's needed, they've achieved their primary goal for the year and realistically speaking the tailteann cup was next in line.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1471 - 06/04/2025 10:09:00    2600725

Link

Replying To Yellaman:  "Nice to see a reasoned, sensible, assessment of the game.
The lads looked flat. I posted earlier that I hoped there wouldn't be hangover from last week but unfortunately there was. Injuries and a crowded schedule certainly didn't help, hopefully they can regroup and come back fresh for Tailteann cup in 5 weeks."
A hangover wasn't the reason we were absolutely destroyed down the left wing in the first half and there was no adjustment made to address it. Any of the backs could have had no qualms about being hooked at HT, but apart from you'd assume an injury-enforced sub of Nolan, they did the under-12 thing of taking off a corner forward.

A hangover wasn't the reason why we were badly exposed for goals again, although I do agree that the consecutive run of games can't have been easy granted.

A hangover wasn't the reason why, in the absence of two key forwards in Pettit and especially Nolan, they decided to play Rossiter further from goal. It was robbing Peter without even paying Paul. And if two forwards were deemed good enough to start and come on at HT last week, and were surely chomping at the bit to make an impression, why weren't they even called upon when we needed shaking up last night? If they were carrying a niggle, don't have them on the bench.

Fair play to young Kinsella. Grasped the opportunity and to me looks like he holds his own at this level. Just shows that there is hope for the players down at the lower grades, and his presence will only rise Marshalstown's standard.

Laois have been our bogey team for ages now, more or less, but they schooled us last night. Very disappointing as the lads have earned the right to a decent crowd in the Park on a lovely day. Its a bold strategy to put all the eggs in the Tailteann basket now- a long gap to that starting when its less likely to get quality practise matches and when the nature of the draw means your likely to draw at least one team with more recent competitive games under their belts.

Then again, achieving promotion in the manner they did means there's plenty of credit in the bank still.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1474 - 06/04/2025 10:35:26    2600727

Link

Replying To Magpie2:  "We were very very poor last night.
Maybe it's true that they had nothing left in the tank after a great league campaign.
The injuries sustained was a massive blow and the lads were led a merry dance by the midlanders.
Allowing for all that I still expected better.
Our defence was as leaky as a sive Laois were coming at us in waves and causing us endless problems every time they attacked.
Our midfield were completely out thought and out fought throughout the entire game.
With the exception of Kevin o'Grady Our attack had no penetration and never worried their defence. The late goals put a little bit of polish on
The scoreboard.
Perhaps we can iron out the problem areas and there are many. Certainly the five week break will reenergise us and go out fresh with renewed hope when the TC starts.
IT was hard to fathom why Rian Fitzpatrick and Cian Hughes were left on the bench. Young lads yes but surely,they should have been given a chance as our forwards were all at sea.
Early days and maybe the return of the injured players will help get us back on track.
Staying in the 3rd division might be problematic but that will be the challenge we will face.
It would be a disaster if we were relegated back to the bargain basement division again but time will tell."
We were in the best position of any team in the country regarding recovery. We had two dead rubbers before the league final. Agree with some of the players you mentioned.

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 267 - 06/04/2025 11:02:55    2600730

Link

Replying To beano:  "A hangover wasn't the reason we were absolutely destroyed down the left wing in the first half and there was no adjustment made to address it. Any of the backs could have had no qualms about being hooked at HT, but apart from you'd assume an injury-enforced sub of Nolan, they did the under-12 thing of taking off a corner forward.

A hangover wasn't the reason why we were badly exposed for goals again, although I do agree that the consecutive run of games can't have been easy granted.

A hangover wasn't the reason why, in the absence of two key forwards in Pettit and especially Nolan, they decided to play Rossiter further from goal. It was robbing Peter without even paying Paul. And if two forwards were deemed good enough to start and come on at HT last week, and were surely chomping at the bit to make an impression, why weren't they even called upon when we needed shaking up last night? If they were carrying a niggle, don't have them on the bench.

Fair play to young Kinsella. Grasped the opportunity and to me looks like he holds his own at this level. Just shows that there is hope for the players down at the lower grades, and his presence will only rise Marshalstown's standard.

Laois have been our bogey team for ages now, more or less, but they schooled us last night. Very disappointing as the lads have earned the right to a decent crowd in the Park on a lovely day. Its a bold strategy to put all the eggs in the Tailteann basket now- a long gap to that starting when its less likely to get quality practise matches and when the nature of the draw means your likely to draw at least one team with more recent competitive games under their belts.

Then again, achieving promotion in the manner they did means there's plenty of credit in the bank still."
I don't think there was a conscious decision to put all the eggs in one TC basket. But we were without our starting 14 and 11, our 6 was carrying an injury from last week and had to go off early, and our best attacking wingback and attacking cornerback were missing also. Darragh Lyons is a big loss also, especially as regards physicality and experience.
That being said I thought Michael Furlong and Liam O Connor were ok, Michael Kinsella also. Tom Byrne was good too. Cian Hughes is also one for the future, and has a bit of X factor, but lacks the physicality needed for Senior yet.
I disagree about Rossiters positioning, as he's our main 2 point man without Pettit and Sean Nolan. Paudie and Niall Hughes looked tired tbh, and tiredness isn't just a physical issue, it's a mental one also.
Laois are a very good team, and have a good manager also. They were very well drilled defensively, and more patient on the ball when they had to be. They also pressed the ball carrier far more effectively, but that's an issue in Wexford in Football down through all the grades. At the end of the day though if Laois had of been missing 5 of their best 7 or 8 players and had played 6 weeks on the trot I'd be absolutely certain they wouldn't have been as good either.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15321 - 06/04/2025 11:29:12    2600735

Link

Replying To WexMurph:  "We were in the best position of any team in the country regarding recovery. We had two dead rubbers before the league final. Agree with some of the players you mentioned."
None of the missing players got injured in those dead rubbers, although Niall Hughes got a nasty looking head injury up in Longford. And while they were dead rubbers it was still good to win them. The Tipp game was the most exciting game of Football I was at all year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15321 - 06/04/2025 11:31:51    2600736

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "None of the missing players got injured in those dead rubbers, although Niall Hughes got a nasty looking head injury up in Longford. And while they were dead rubbers it was still good to win them. The Tipp game was the most exciting game of Football I was at all year."
Winning them or not wouldn't have made one bit of a difference. I've seen counties put out second strings in these types of games. Players shoud have been rested to allow them build for the Limerick and Laois games. We won neither.

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 267 - 06/04/2025 12:03:07    2600741

Link

Replying To WexMurph:  "Winning them or not wouldn't have made one bit of a difference. I've seen counties put out second strings in these types of games. Players shoud have been rested to allow them build for the Limerick and Laois games. We won neither."
We did rest alot of players against Tipp and Longford. Especially Tipp. Weren't you there? But you cant rest your entire team, if you get hammered you lose momentum and more importantly confidence.
Nolan, Pettit and Lyons were already injured before the Longford game though, and Malone, Pettit and O'Connor before or during the game in Croke Park. Dylan Furlong missed the Longford game injured also. Coleman was only back also, and looked rusty. He had to play. If you rested too many more on top of those you run the risk of getting a hammering.
The fact is the lads put a huge effort in in Croke Park, and a week is too quick a turnaround to pick lads back up after a game like that. Mentally Especially.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15321 - 06/04/2025 19:16:18    2600815

Link

It was very unfair to expect Wexford to play a week after losing the league final. Every team deserves a two week break. The so calked split season is too condensed.
The season should be extended for an extra month, with the All-Ireland finals played in August.
It won't affect the club championships as the still start in most counties in August just as the did prior to the shortened season. Anyway good luck to Wexford in the Tailteann Cup. It's quite possible that we could meet up with ye along the way.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3020 - 06/04/2025 20:18:01    2600825

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "We did rest alot of players against Tipp and Longford. Especially Tipp. Weren't you there? But you cant rest your entire team, if you get hammered you lose momentum and more importantly confidence.
Nolan, Pettit and Lyons were already injured before the Longford game though, and Malone, Pettit and O'Connor before or during the game in Croke Park. Dylan Furlong missed the Longford game injured also. Coleman was only back also, and looked rusty. He had to play. If you rested too many more on top of those you run the risk of getting a hammering.
The fact is the lads put a huge effort in in Croke Park, and a week is too quick a turnaround to pick lads back up after a game like that. Mentally Especially."
We could have rested our full 15 and gave all fringe players a run. Getting a hammering wouldn't have made a difference, because none of the first 15 would have been playing. No I wasn't at a dead rubber game in division 4. Hopefully the lads get a week off now and recharge the bodies for the TC.

WexMurph (Wexford) - Posts: 267 - 06/04/2025 20:51:02    2600834

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "I don't think there was a conscious decision to put all the eggs in one TC basket. But we were without our starting 14 and 11, our 6 was carrying an injury from last week and had to go off early, and our best attacking wingback and attacking cornerback were missing also. Darragh Lyons is a big loss also, especially as regards physicality and experience.
That being said I thought Michael Furlong and Liam O Connor were ok, Michael Kinsella also. Tom Byrne was good too. Cian Hughes is also one for the future, and has a bit of X factor, but lacks the physicality needed for Senior yet.
I disagree about Rossiters positioning, as he's our main 2 point man without Pettit and Sean Nolan. Paudie and Niall Hughes looked tired tbh, and tiredness isn't just a physical issue, it's a mental one also.
Laois are a very good team, and have a good manager also. They were very well drilled defensively, and more patient on the ball when they had to be. They also pressed the ball carrier far more effectively, but that's an issue in Wexford in Football down through all the grades. At the end of the day though if Laois had of been missing 5 of their best 7 or 8 players and had played 6 weeks on the trot I'd be absolutely certain they wouldn't have been as good either."
Hard to disagree with what you say there Viking. I don't know much about why Laois didn't do better in the league but it could simply have been after the first few rounds they were not in the running. We really had to get out of D4 this year, which means for the very first game we had to be at a high pitch. Had we put out weaker teams near the end who is to say we would have won and then the world would have been we lost momentum. The reality is we had a number of key players out injured - that happens even in professional sport, and its the timing of these events that can have such a critical impact on results. My view, there shouldn't be a league final, its a format that was for the bygone era. All we can hope for now is we get the injured players back and have a good run in the TC however we are still in a far better position than we were this time last year.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1938 - 07/04/2025 11:20:32    2600934

Link

Congratulations to our u20s for making a Leinster U20 QF. Bigger tests await for sure, but the next game will be exactly the sort of game our lads need to bring them on.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15321 - 09/04/2025 21:16:56    2601299

Link

Kildare are a very good side with some lively forwards in particular.

I felt personally that the scoreline was harsh on us, we created a number of goal chances which we didn't take which would have made the game very interesting, also michael Kavanagh missing was a blow for Wexford.

But got through and a quarter final to look forward to against Meath which won't be easy but we have absolutely nothing to lose and will hopefully give them a rattle.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1471 - 10/04/2025 09:49:04    2601337

Link

Replying To tearintom:  "Kildare are a very good side with some lively forwards in particular.

I felt personally that the scoreline was harsh on us, we created a number of goal chances which we didn't take which would have made the game very interesting, also michael Kavanagh missing was a blow for Wexford.

But got through and a quarter final to look forward to against Meath which won't be easy but we have absolutely nothing to lose and will hopefully give them a rattle."
Was impressed with our lads even given the scoreline which I agree was harsh. We done well on the kick outs and have serious pace in the team. Kildare had some class forwards that was the difference Jay O Brien was as good a player ive seen at that level in a long time. Looking forward to our game against Meath is it in the Park again?

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 498 - 10/04/2025 10:03:47    2601339

Link

Replying To Afinestick96:  "Was impressed with our lads even given the scoreline which I agree was harsh. We done well on the kick outs and have serious pace in the team. Kildare had some class forwards that was the difference Jay O Brien was as good a player ive seen at that level in a long time. Looking forward to our game against Meath is it in the Park again?"
Only issue I'd have is our u20s are noticeably poorer in the 4th quarter of all 3 games so far. Not sure if it's a mental or a physical issue, but it's definitely an issue.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15321 - 10/04/2025 15:29:56    2601403

Link

Replying To tearintom:  "Kildare are a very good side with some lively forwards in particular.

I felt personally that the scoreline was harsh on us, we created a number of goal chances which we didn't take which would have made the game very interesting, also michael Kavanagh missing was a blow for Wexford.

But got through and a quarter final to look forward to against Meath which won't be easy but we have absolutely nothing to lose and will hopefully give them a rattle."
Agreed. These are the kind of games where you can really gauge your progress - or lack of it. Meath are unbeaten, and fancy their chances of winning Leinster - at least, so it will be tough, however, in my opinion, Kildare will have a say in that. If you feel that you had a chance against Kildare, then you should be able to rattle Meath. We have Dublin, for our sins. That will be tough also, but, in my opinion, doable.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1586 - 10/04/2025 18:43:13    2601437

Link