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Wexford Club Hurling 2025

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The promotion and coverage of our club championship thus far has been very poor. Clubber doing a brilliant job showing the games but apart from that. No previews/reviews from Wexford GAA. Nothing in the paper. Nothing on the radio. Even these forums have been very quiet. In Kilkenny and Carlow for instance, they have KCLR covering nearly every senior game live. They have the KCLR podcast where they talk about all games from junior to senior. Interviews with players and managers from winning and losing sides. They also have a Kilkenny cats podcast where they pick out players and matches that impressed during that week. It's no wonder our county team are lagging behind when our senior championship is being treated like a u12 championship. A no jeopardy format also doesn't help.

WexfordWarrior (Wexford) - Posts: 7 - 03/09/2025 10:36:56    2634718

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Replying To Lockerroomboy:  "Some very strange venues for a few games this week, have a look at fixtures you be amazed really"
Its like they don't want people to go and watt h the games. They are caught in this all the final games in the group need to be at the same time - what is the point really. Glynn Harriers and Shels v Martins. Yes if the Harriers win Shels would need to win to come second but will the really want to go out and get a thumping from the Martins if the know they are guaranteed 2nd place. If that was the concern play their game first as everyone is expecting the Martins to win.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2073 - 03/09/2025 11:15:09    2634719

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Replying To WexfordWarrior:  "The promotion and coverage of our club championship thus far has been very poor. Clubber doing a brilliant job showing the games but apart from that. No previews/reviews from Wexford GAA. Nothing in the paper. Nothing on the radio. Even these forums have been very quiet. In Kilkenny and Carlow for instance, they have KCLR covering nearly every senior game live. They have the KCLR podcast where they talk about all games from junior to senior. Interviews with players and managers from winning and losing sides. They also have a Kilkenny cats podcast where they pick out players and matches that impressed during that week. It's no wonder our county team are lagging behind when our senior championship is being treated like a u12 championship. A no jeopardy format also doesn't help."
Was thinking it would've got better at the conclusion of the group stages but it hasn't.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17055 - 03/09/2025 11:59:48    2634730

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Replying To Lockerroomboy:  "Some very strange venues for a few games this week, have a look at fixtures you be amazed really"
I didnt look at 2 many but we are playing our neighbours across the Dirr this weekend. And the game is fixed for Enniscorthy on Friday night!!!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17055 - 03/09/2025 12:01:24    2634731

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Replying To WexfordWarrior:  "The promotion and coverage of our club championship thus far has been very poor. Clubber doing a brilliant job showing the games but apart from that. No previews/reviews from Wexford GAA. Nothing in the paper. Nothing on the radio. Even these forums have been very quiet. In Kilkenny and Carlow for instance, they have KCLR covering nearly every senior game live. They have the KCLR podcast where they talk about all games from junior to senior. Interviews with players and managers from winning and losing sides. They also have a Kilkenny cats podcast where they pick out players and matches that impressed during that week. It's no wonder our county team are lagging behind when our senior championship is being treated like a u12 championship. A no jeopardy format also doesn't help."
Yep, the KCLR podcast on championship is twice a week now, all interviews with mgmt of teams on a Sunday evening and then a review of all the championhsip games from senior to inter with some junior on a Monday and its excellent. Absolutely nothing in Wexford. Even had an extra one last week with players to launch their knockout stage.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 890 - 03/09/2025 12:41:57    2634742

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Replying To Viking66:  "I didnt look at 2 many but we are playing our neighbours across the Dirr this weekend. And the game is fixed for Enniscorthy on Friday night!!!"
Few odd locations but mostly for the Junior / Junior A championship. All Junior games were home / away but some silly rule was introduced this year so the last round had to be neutral venue. Home games are a good income for clubs and where possible should be encouraged.

That said New Ross hasn't been used much for Senior Hurling in last few years. Gorey was always a popular place too for games when Bellefield was been redeveloped but no longer.

In other news I see Oulart and Rathnure are due to meet in Enniscorthy Junior B District final - both are nearly a Masters team themselves!

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 225 - 03/09/2025 13:33:46    2634750

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Senior Hurling

Oulart v Rapparees
Oulart have been poor enough so far while the Rapps seemed to have improved of late, Id say a Rapps win

Harriers v Glynn
Glynn seemed to have gone back this year, every year you'd think they would drive on with the large pick they have but never seems to happen, Harriers missing a few key men but I still think they will see this one out. Expect Glyn to be in the bottom 2. Harriers to finish 2nd.

Martins v Shels
As mentioned above Martins in crusie control so far, Shels have been patchy at best, Martins should see this one out.

Ballymurn v Ferns
Ballymurn were my favourites to go down since the start of the campaign and they wont change now. Have been really poor, I expect them to be playing Glynn in the play-off which could be close.

Rathnure v Oylegate
Rathnure team of the championship, with their form, they are probably aiming for a semi final. Expect them to win out here.

Annes v Naomh Eanna
Annes are a solid team, always going about there business, always able to bring in a few players every year. Naomh Eanna were good against a poor Ballymurn side but would expect the Annes to win here,


Intermediate

Tara Rocks v Fethard
Very tight group all can still get into the top 4 from 6th to 2nd. This could be close, Tara Rocks have been close in most of their games while Fethard impressive last two days, expect Fethard to win but only just.

Blackwater v Craanford.
Another tight game, hard to call, Craanford a good win against Jimmies but were poor in other games, Blackwater have lost 2 in a row, but thnik they mighty have more hurling than the North Wexford men,

St. James v Alley
AlleyI would expect to be favourites after Cloughbawn, James form has really tailed off this year, Alley to top the group with a win, they can finish any lower than 2nd either way.

Gusserane v Liam Mellows
Another very tight group, I think this will be close, a win for Coolgreany would seen them finish 2nd which would be a great achievement, first year up Inter.

Horeswood v Askamore
Askamore have a few key injuries at the minute but I still think they will have too much for Horeswood who are the only side without a point and will finish bottom no matter what. They are currently my favourites to go back to Intermediate A.

Cloughbawn v Bunclody
Cloughbawn are in great form while Bunclody are looking at a 5th place finish and a relegation play off if Gusserane win. You cant really look past a Cloughbawn win here though and I dont see Gusserane winning.

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 527 - 03/09/2025 14:07:32    2634755

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "Few odd locations but mostly for the Junior / Junior A championship. All Junior games were home / away but some silly rule was introduced this year so the last round had to be neutral venue. Home games are a good income for clubs and where possible should be encouraged.

That said New Ross hasn't been used much for Senior Hurling in last few years. Gorey was always a popular place too for games when Bellefield was been redeveloped but no longer.

In other news I see Oulart and Rathnure are due to meet in Enniscorthy Junior B District final - both are nearly a Masters team themselves!"
A few unusual locations all right, and yes, mainly for Junior & Junior 'A' matches. But am I right in thinking it's only a few weeks since it was said here that it's a pity matches aren't spread around more club grounds, the way they do in places like Kilkenny and Tipperary?

Anyway, wouldn't agree it's a silly rule to have Round 5 matches at neutral venues in Junior & Junior 'A'. The way it used to be, half of those teams would have three home matches in the group and the other half would only have two at home. At least this way is fairer, and don't forget that as with any such change, there'd have been a majority vote on it at a full County Board meeting with all clubs represented (or at least invited, if some didn't turn up!).

Also - and genuine question - did many clubs actually did charge a fee for these matches anyway? My own club never did, and I've been to a fair few of our Junior & Junior 'A' matches at other grounds over the past few years too, and don't recall ever being asked for money to go into any of them either.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 03/09/2025 19:39:13    2634811

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Yep, the KCLR podcast on championship is twice a week now, all interviews with mgmt of teams on a Sunday evening and then a review of all the championhsip games from senior to inter with some junior on a Monday and its excellent. Absolutely nothing in Wexford. Even had an extra one last week with players to launch their knockout stage."
They are missing a beat here, I cant understand how they wouldnt even do lets say a podcast, just a couple of guys around the table having a chat. Bring in someone from one of the senior clubs every week, or even one of the lower grade clubs. Think they are really missing a trick.

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 527 - 04/09/2025 12:40:13    2634872

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "Few odd locations but mostly for the Junior / Junior A championship. All Junior games were home / away but some silly rule was introduced this year so the last round had to be neutral venue. Home games are a good income for clubs and where possible should be encouraged.

That said New Ross hasn't been used much for Senior Hurling in last few years. Gorey was always a popular place too for games when Bellefield was been redeveloped but no longer.

In other news I see Oulart and Rathnure are due to meet in Enniscorthy Junior B District final - both are nearly a Masters team themselves!"
Yeah but look at the location on the Senior Hurling Clubs and Gorey and New Ross are at either end of the County. I don't understand how promoting hurling is helped by the location of some of the games. Glynn and the Harriers and Shels and Martins forget this nonsense of having to play the games all that the same time - those should be a double header in the Park on a Sunday.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2073 - 04/09/2025 13:51:53    2634886

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Replying To zinny:  "Yeah but look at the location on the Senior Hurling Clubs and Gorey and New Ross are at either end of the County. I don't understand how promoting hurling is helped by the location of some of the games. Glynn and the Harriers and Shels and Martins forget this nonsense of having to play the games all that the same time - those should be a double header in the Park on a Sunday."
Different sport and a long time ago now, but are you aware of the infamous West Germany v Austria match at the 1982 World Cup? Has been almost universally acknowledged since then that final round group matches should be played together, when the outcome of one could affect the outcome of another. Think you're the first I've ever heard argue against it.

We've even had an example in Wexford this year, albeit not one that would have got a lot of attention. Happened in one of the underage competitions, where there are groups of eight, with the top four staying in that Division for the knock-outs and teams 5 to 8 dropping down a grade.

There was one group with one match outstanding after all other games had been played. The only way the two teams involved could both finish in the top four was if that match ended in a draw. Lo and behold, it did indeed finish level, so another team ended up dropping from fourth to fifth and having to go down a division.

I know nothing about the match in question other than the result, and I'm not saying the result was definitely "engineered" when things were close with a few minutes to go. Maybe it really was an absolutely genuine draw. But you can surely see the point that things are open to manipulation if final round games are not played at the same time.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 04/09/2025 15:22:46    2634902

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Replying To alwaysasub:  "They are missing a beat here, I cant understand how they wouldnt even do lets say a podcast, just a couple of guys around the table having a chat. Bring in someone from one of the senior clubs every week, or even one of the lower grade clubs. Think they are really missing a trick."
A podcast sounds like a good idea all right. Maybe the issue would be in finding a couple of presenters willing to volunteer to do it every week? Because unlike Kilkenny, it would surely have to be done for football here as well as hurling.

Anyway, since the comparisons here are with podcasts done by KCLR - is that not really a criticism of South East Radio for not doing the same thing, rather than a criticism of Wexford GAA?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 04/09/2025 15:26:58    2634903

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "A few unusual locations all right, and yes, mainly for Junior & Junior 'A' matches. But am I right in thinking it's only a few weeks since it was said here that it's a pity matches aren't spread around more club grounds, the way they do in places like Kilkenny and Tipperary?

Anyway, wouldn't agree it's a silly rule to have Round 5 matches at neutral venues in Junior & Junior 'A'. The way it used to be, half of those teams would have three home matches in the group and the other half would only have two at home. At least this way is fairer, and don't forget that as with any such change, there'd have been a majority vote on it at a full County Board meeting with all clubs represented (or at least invited, if some didn't turn up!).

Also - and genuine question - did many clubs actually did charge a fee for these matches anyway? My own club never did, and I've been to a fair few of our Junior & Junior 'A' matches at other grounds over the past few years too, and don't recall ever being asked for money to go into any of them either."
You opened a can of worms with this post?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17055 - 04/09/2025 15:52:38    2634906

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Replying To Viking66:  "You opened a can of worms with this post?"
I've been at all my clubs Junior games this year and was charged €5 - We hosted two games and charged and the two away games there was also a charge. No one minds paying €5 into a game

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 225 - 05/09/2025 09:08:39    2634954

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Replying To Viking66:  "You opened a can of worms with this post?"
How so? By asking if any clubs actually do charge for a Junior or Junior 'A' match?

It's a genuine question. I honestly don't think I've ever seen it happen.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 05/09/2025 09:42:34    2634959

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My father used to be on the fixtures committee. He said its the worst job he ever had in GAA.
You sit down to fix matches and people just don't understand the logistical nightmare it is to plan so many matches, and then you think about stewarding, parking cars, etc when the host club could be playing elsewhere.
It is the ultimate thankless job. You spend hours setting fixtures and somebody complains about a 15 minute extra drive to a match.
I would say to those complaining a bit like refereeing if you aren't happy go try it and you will find out what a tough job it is.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1932 - 05/09/2025 10:23:52    2634965

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "My father used to be on the fixtures committee. He said its the worst job he ever had in GAA.
You sit down to fix matches and people just don't understand the logistical nightmare it is to plan so many matches, and then you think about stewarding, parking cars, etc when the host club could be playing elsewhere.
It is the ultimate thankless job. You spend hours setting fixtures and somebody complains about a 15 minute extra drive to a match.
I would say to those complaining a bit like refereeing if you aren't happy go try it and you will find out what a tough job it is."
I know exactly what you mean. I've sat on lots of committees myself over the years, but never the fixtures one, and I'd have to think long and hard about it if I was ever asked to.

Another thing is that especially for midweek or Friday evening matches, it's not just that the host club might be playing somewhere else at the same time - it's that they might have other stuff on at the time you're considering using their pitch.

For example, Viking remarked on how Taghmon & St. Martin's have to go to St. Patrick's Park this evening. But let's say that was fixed for one of the other regular and closer venues like Killurin or Oylegate instead:

- Both Glynn-Barntown & Oylegate-Glenbrien are playing Senior on Sunday. Strong chance they'd be planning a training session this evening.
- U10 Go Games take place Friday evenings. One or both of those clubs could be playing at home this evening.
- Could be all sorts of other stuff on too. I know that in my own club this evening, there's training for U16 boys, adult camogie, and an U12 camogie match.

If you fixed a match for either ground, you'd basically be telling the club they can't have any of their own stuff, because it's simply not feasible to take in a championship match that'll draw any sort of crowd at all on top of those sort of levels of club activity.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 05/09/2025 11:57:20    2634976

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "I've been at all my clubs Junior games this year and was charged €5 - We hosted two games and charged and the two away games there was also a charge. No one minds paying €5 into a game"
Well, there's at least three clubs charging then, so thanks for answering the question.

Still the case that we don't charge ourselves, and I don't recall ever being asked for it at any away match.

FWIW, we don't think it'd be appropriate to charge our own supporters to come to our own field to see one of our own teams, particularly when the people coming to watch the second team are generally the sort of "genuine" supporters who already contribute to Lotto and other fundraisers during the year. And would be unfair then to have somebody at the gate just looking for fivers from the "strangers" coming from the other place.

But not suggesting any other club is wrong to charge a fee. Each to their own. Was just wondering how widespread it is.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 05/09/2025 12:09:50    2634980

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Different sport and a long time ago now, but are you aware of the infamous West Germany v Austria match at the 1982 World Cup? Has been almost universally acknowledged since then that final round group matches should be played together, when the outcome of one could affect the outcome of another. Think you're the first I've ever heard argue against it.

We've even had an example in Wexford this year, albeit not one that would have got a lot of attention. Happened in one of the underage competitions, where there are groups of eight, with the top four staying in that Division for the knock-outs and teams 5 to 8 dropping down a grade.

There was one group with one match outstanding after all other games had been played. The only way the two teams involved could both finish in the top four was if that match ended in a draw. Lo and behold, it did indeed finish level, so another team ended up dropping from fourth to fifth and having to go down a division.

I know nothing about the match in question other than the result, and I'm not saying the result was definitely "engineered" when things were close with a few minutes to go. Maybe it really was an absolutely genuine draw. But you can surely see the point that things are open to manipulation if final round games are not played at the same time."
However you have a competition where all the teams go through. Slave to the concept is the problem. When you look at the group its a fight for placing in the group. Ultimately the Harriers and Glynn are fighting it out, the Harriers have the bonus that if they win and Shels lose they finish second but their priority is fist winning and also GB. Play Martins and Shells first then Harriers and GB. Lads going on about promotion of the game but if you cannot be flexible and logical then the game loses out.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2073 - 05/09/2025 13:16:23    2634991

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Replying To zinny:  "However you have a competition where all the teams go through. Slave to the concept is the problem. When you look at the group its a fight for placing in the group. Ultimately the Harriers and Glynn are fighting it out, the Harriers have the bonus that if they win and Shels lose they finish second but their priority is fist winning and also GB. Play Martins and Shells first then Harriers and GB. Lads going on about promotion of the game but if you cannot be flexible and logical then the game loses out."
Thing is, the fight for placings here is all about the fight for second place and being able to skip the preliminary quarter-finals. To save people having to look up the table separately, the current standings are this:
St. Martin's - 8 pts
Shelmaliers - 6 pts
Faythe Harriers - 4 pts
Rapparees - 3 pts
Glynn-Barntown - 3 pts
Oulart-The Ballagh - 3 pts

Now, if they took your suggestion and played Martin's v Shels first, and Shels got a result, then the Harriers know before their match even starts that their chance of second place is gone, and their match becomes less competitive as a result.

Similarly, if Harriers v GB went first, and Harriers didn't win, then Shels know before their match even starts that they've already got a top two position anyway, and that match becomes less competitive.

But by playing them at the same time at different venues, then so far as both Shels and Harriers are concerned, they're still playing for second place throughout their own match no matter what's happening in the other one, unless they get word near the end that somebody is way ahead at the other venue.

By the way, are you overlooking how there's a double-header in Wexford Park on Sunday anyway? St. Anne's & Naomh Éanna battling it out for second place and a quarter-final spot, and Rapps looking for fourth place to avoid the threat of relegation. I honestly don't see how putting those matches on together is bad for the promotion of hurling.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3098 - 05/09/2025 15:51:52    2635020

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