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Replying To Tadhg2020: "Duignan and his board are instrumental in offaly revival in hurling and their u20 success in football.
They brought in the sponsors/donors that fund everything they do. Facility wise they have the faithful fields, Birr and O Connor Park but most , if not all, the counties they compete with have similar. Ive been in Wexfords version of FF and its a fine facility as is Wexford Park. Its the investment in HR for their teams and players that has really made the difference. Kids are committing to the academy because they are really well looked after and to the Seniors, hurling in particular, because they are treated even better. Duignan had a huge part to play in all of that. He picked the people who spearhead it and the people that support them)( coaching tickets aside). They should be a benchmark for wexford from their schools to academy to adult teams, their support systems etc. Playing for Offaly is the hottest thing to do again and every young lad good enough wants to commit." We already had the structures etc that they have put in place before they did. Sponsors likewise. We had our grounds and CoE too. We had over 200 lads go for u14 trials, lack of interest isnt a big issue. Our schools record while not great is way ahead of theirs the last few years.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 14:16:28
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Replying To Doylerwex: "We'd beaten that cork team already that year. Granted it was a challenge game.
I also felt we didn't leverage our strength against Offaly at all." We also lost to that Cork team narrowly in PuC that year also. I was at it. Was a good close game that could've gone either way.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 14:17:33
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Replying To Afinestick96: "Looking ahead to next year I am airing on the side of positivity. With a new management team in place and hopefully more players committing I believe we can push for promotion in the league and then aim for top 3. If you look at the players we have been missing we need to aim to get at least half of the followng involved - Aaron Duggan, James Lawlor, Aj Redmond, Joe Barrett, Eoin Ryan , Charlie McGuckin, Paudie & Oisin Foley ( Unlikely but worth a try ) , Cathal Dunbar, Rory O Connor ( Not sure what his plans are if he is staying in Oz) , Barry O Connor ( His size alone would be a huge asset) , Conor Mac, Mikie Dwyer. Along with some of the u20s this year I think Sean O Brien and Colin Carley are good enough to compete to start. Cork and Galway are not afraid to through u20s in and neither should we be. Both could be brilliant senior players for us I think in the coming years. Lads like Paddy Quigley, Niall Furlong , Charlie Roark, Charlie Mooney, Ronan Shannon , Doran Daly O Toole & Jack Nolan all have great potential too and should be given chances in the Walsh cup/ league. Hopefully one or two more lads impress during the club championship . It can be done as Eamon Wickham showed he was outstanding for Rathnure and was called in on the back of that. If you look at all these players listed along with the current squad there is still good hurlers in the county. We need to get a good management in place and get lads wanting to hurl for Wexford again. I fully believe we are not as bad as we have shown this year" Eamon Wickham was very good for our u20s too.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 14:19:33
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Outside of one exceptional underage team, Offaly's underage results in hurling aren't great though
Might change going forward alright" Yes I know but their schools, for example, have been going well too. The real point im making is that the ancillary support structures that Duignan put in place makes the young man feel special and on a pedestal within the county. That assists him to commit fully to the county.
Their seniors got out of group at second time of asking. Thats probably ahead of schedule. Nothing wrong with that progress.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 494 - 27/05/2026 14:20:47
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Was reading Shane McGrath's latest piece and it made me thinks about what we don't do out on the hurling pitch compared to other counties
If you want to play good ball into the full-forward line, you're going to have to be launching the ball in from just beyond your own 45? Did we have a plan to work the ball there and then launch? Wouldn't say we did and if we did, it either wasn't very clear or wasn't executed well
When we play ball in, is it good ball? Drill a ball in high and it can be a bit stingy to catch, play it in low and they have to be able to get out in front, control, and then withstand contact when trying to control, that's not easy, could do what Seán O'Brien does and that's go low with the hand which is very hard to do but means the defender can't knock the ball away from you if it's in your hand (And if you miss the ball, the back misses it too)
McGrath was making the point (Correctly) that the best ball in is one the bounces once into the forward's hand, not as stingy as a drilled high ball, harder for a back to defend than one hit in low on the ground
Also, do we the ball down the lines or do we play it
In diagonally? Play it in down the line and the forward receives the ball with his back to goal. Play it in diagonally and the forward can receive the ball on the half-turn, would also be running towards goal the whole time rather than running away from it like he would be with a ball down the line, much harder to defend diagonal ball for a back
Do we work on movement? Straight runs? Go left on a dummy run and then break right? Go right, go left, and then go right again? Arced runs? Have to vary your runs so the defender doesn't cop onto it
I think we probably failed on all those counts this year tbh" Have to work the ball further out than just past the 45. Need to get it up to at least the 65. The keeper has to be able to hit a ball straight into a lads hand when hes running for the ball around the 45 with the 1st pass of the move.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 14:22:29
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Was reading Shane McGrath's latest piece and it made me thinks about what we don't do out on the hurling pitch compared to other counties
If you want to play good ball into the full-forward line, you're going to have to be launching the ball in from just beyond your own 45? Did we have a plan to work the ball there and then launch? Wouldn't say we did and if we did, it either wasn't very clear or wasn't executed well
When we play ball in, is it good ball? Drill a ball in high and it can be a bit stingy to catch, play it in low and they have to be able to get out in front, control, and then withstand contact when trying to control, that's not easy, could do what Seán O'Brien does and that's go low with the hand which is very hard to do but means the defender can't knock the ball away from you if it's in your hand (And if you miss the ball, the back misses it too)
McGrath was making the point (Correctly) that the best ball in is one the bounces once into the forward's hand, not as stingy as a drilled high ball, harder for a back to defend than one hit in low on the ground
Also, do we the ball down the lines or do we play it
In diagonally? Play it in down the line and the forward receives the ball with his back to goal. Play it in diagonally and the forward can receive the ball on the half-turn, would also be running towards goal the whole time rather than running away from it like he would be with a ball down the line, much harder to defend diagonal ball for a back
Do we work on movement? Straight runs? Go left on a dummy run and then break right? Go right, go left, and then go right again? Arced runs? Have to vary your runs so the defender doesn't cop onto it
I think we probably failed on all those counts this year tbh" The data is available for everyone to see for themselves. The further down the field you work the ball in possession the higher the retention percentage is when played into the inside forwards. Its under 20% retention from inside your own 45 and over 80%, afaik from inside their 65. That the data. We would all love a ball bouncing in front of us. There is a reason limerick play the way they do and its not style.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 494 - 27/05/2026 14:24:32
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Replying To Viking66: "We already had the structures etc that they have put in place before they did. Sponsors likewise. We had our grounds and CoE too. We had over 200 lads go for u14 trials, lack of interest isnt a big issue. Our schools record while not great is way ahead of theirs the last few years." It definitely is at senior level. The best players in your county didnt all make themselves available. Thats my point. If a hurler has something better to do than play for his county team then something is wrong. If multiple hurlers have something better to do then there is something wrong within the set up.
If you are really telling me that your set up is as good if not better than offaly and that the best players available are all fully committing to the cause then Wexford hurling really is in trouble. After all what else can you do if everything is already in place. Or are you in denial??
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 494 - 27/05/2026 14:43:35
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Replying To Viking66: "We already had the structures etc that they have put in place before they did. Sponsors likewise. We had our grounds and CoE too. We had over 200 lads go for u14 trials, lack of interest isnt a big issue. Our schools record while not great is way ahead of theirs the last few years." Didn't they win the B 2 of the last 4 or 5 years and come out of the combined schools section a few times winning A outright once? I didnt realise Wexford did better.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 494 - 27/05/2026 14:45:52
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Replying To Yellow: "Solutions:
We still have very good hurlers who played well this year. Eg Conor Hearne
First thing I would do is get a new manager. No offence to KR but it will be diffficult for lads to buy in after 3 years and 4 championship defeats this summer.
I would go for Declan Ruth
I would pursue and demand a two year commitment from those on the brink of retirement and try bring the prodigal sons into the fold and fully make a two year commitment:
Liam Ryan
Chin
2 Recks
Simon Donohue
Paudie Foley
Oisin Foley
Barry O Connor
Rory O Connor
Eoin Ryan
Joe Barrett
AJ Redmond
Cian Molloy
Jack Cullen
I would promote the 5 best of the U20s such as O Brien and Charlie Roark to freshen things up.
Then I would work like dogs to restore pride in the jersey and get back on top in Leinster which is very achievable" I would guess Jippo is gone, thought one of the reasons he was brought on so late against Galway rather than either starting him or else not bringing him on at all was because that was his last game
Don't know with Chin
Would guess that two Recks, Jacko, Donohoe, and Foley will hang around, don't know about Fanning
Would say Jack Cullen, the two Foleys, and Joe Barrett won't join the squad, AJ Redmond maybe if Skippy were to be manager, wouldn't bank on him though, you've included Cian Molloy there although he was with the squad this year, am guessing you meant Mac, Dunbar, and McGuckin, think there's more chance of the coming back under a new manager alright
Would guess Eoin Ryan comes back and probably Rory, Barry maybe just for one year a bit like Tadhg Kennelly in 2009, could maybe include the likes of Seamus Casey and Conrad Flood although the latter would be the one I'd be keener on, James Lawlor and Aaron Duggan another two, would guess Ian Carty will still be in Australia
Out of the U20s, I'd have the following in the extended panel for the Walsh Cup:
Ciarán Doyle
Charlie Roark
Charlie Mooney
Niall Furlong
Paddy Quigley
Doran Daly O'Toole
Ronan Shannon
Jack Nolan
Colin Carley
Seán O'Brien
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1343 - 27/05/2026 14:55:02
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "Yes I know but their schools, for example, have been going well too. The real point im making is that the ancillary support structures that Duignan put in place makes the young man feel special and on a pedestal within the county. That assists him to commit fully to the county.
Their seniors got out of group at second time of asking. Thats probably ahead of schedule. Nothing wrong with that progress." Their schools haven't been going well, Combined Offaly schools won the Corn Uí Dhúill in 2023 and that's it, don't think they had any school in either the Corn Uí Dhúill or Junior A this year, think they had Coláiste Choilm from Tullamore in 2nd Year A, not a school from their traditional hurling heartlands although things are changing there with urbanisation
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1343 - 27/05/2026 15:00:04
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Their schools haven't been going well, Combined Offaly schools won the Corn Uí Dhúill in 2023 and that's it, don't think they had any school in either the Corn Uí Dhúill or Junior A this year, think they had Coláiste Choilm from Tullamore in 2nd Year A, not a school from their traditional hurling heartlands although things are changing there with urbanisation" Haven't Banagher and KK won the B? And the seasons that they haven't had a team in A they have won the combined schools section most afaik.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 494 - 27/05/2026 15:05:02
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "Didn't they win the B 2 of the last 4 or 5 years and come out of the combined schools section a few times winning A outright once? I didnt realise Wexford did better." Because they had hardly any teams in Senior A, if they had a combined schools team good enough to win Senior A one year and then lose by 4 to Kieran's the next, they should then have a school good enough to win Senior B
I'm not sure coming out of the Combined Schools section counts for much, might only have to play two games to get out of it and you're up against Meath Schools, Westmeath Schools (Without Coláiste Mhuire), Dublin North (Without St Fintan's), and Dublin South (Without Coláiste Eoin), they lost this year to a decent Coláiste Mhuire side which is fairly bad going when you think about it, one Westmeath school beating the whole of Offaly
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1343 - 27/05/2026 15:27:58
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Replying To Timbertony: "Demand a 2 year commitment? Can't get them to sign contracts! Some of those mentioned have never committed as far as I'm aware. The fear is a couple more from the top group step away." Barry O'Connor and Joe Barrett didnt afaik. AJ Redmond and Jack Cullen did but left again. Neither even played a League game.
From our club Ian Carty was a Championship starter when he left. Stephen O'Gorman started 2 years at u21 and never got called until Keith took over. He had already bought his ticket for Oz. Depending how he goes at club Cathal Doyle would be worth a look in a trial also.
From other clubs Eoin Ryan from the Annes. The 2 Foleys from Crossabeg. From Clongeen Id have a good look at Michael Dundon. Mikie Dwyer, and Eoin Whelan from Fethard would be worth a look in a proper Senior game also. Gary and Eoin Molloy from Gorey if they would come in for a look. Mac too if his head was in the right place would be brilliant addition. Conor Mahoney from Barntown. Darren Byrne and Mossy Murphy from Blackwater. Flood from Cloughbawn. Jason Byrne from Craanford. Conn Mernagh from the Martins if he makes their Senior team this year.
Apart from Murphy and Doyle and maybe Flood all the above are over 6 foot I think. No doubt there are others Ive not remembered.
Anybody any other ideas of lads to try out who didnt finish out the season on the panel?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 15:32:42
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "Yes I know but their schools, for example, have been going well too. The real point im making is that the ancillary support structures that Duignan put in place makes the young man feel special and on a pedestal within the county. That assists him to commit fully to the county.
Their seniors got out of group at second time of asking. Thats probably ahead of schedule. Nothing wrong with that progress." Their schools are way behind ours. One of ours beat Birr in the 1st year B final by over 20 points. Don't think they had any schools hurling in Leinster A at any level, 1st year, second year, Junior or Senior.
At all the underage intercounty grades from minor down our teams have beaten theirs well for the last few years when theyve played them.
Their Seniors are certainly ahead of ours right now. They are in a QF, ours arent.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 15:37:42
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "The data is available for everyone to see for themselves. The further down the field you work the ball in possession the higher the retention percentage is when played into the inside forwards. Its under 20% retention from inside your own 45 and over 80%, afaik from inside their 65. That the data. We would all love a ball bouncing in front of us. There is a reason limerick play the way they do and its not style." Yes those figures are around for the last good few years now.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 15:38:37
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "It definitely is at senior level. The best players in your county didnt all make themselves available. Thats my point. If a hurler has something better to do than play for his county team then something is wrong. If multiple hurlers have something better to do then there is something wrong within the set up.
If you are really telling me that your set up is as good if not better than offaly and that the best players available are all fully committing to the cause then Wexford hurling really is in trouble. After all what else can you do if everything is already in place. Or are you in denial??" You were talking about underage structures and now it appears you have shifted the goalposts.
All the Senior players who arent committing have various different reasons not to. But you are right, if there was more positivity around where we could be at, then likely more would commit.
Its a kind of self fulfilling prophecy though, when enough lads dont commit because they expect a bad outcome then that bad outcome becomes inevitable.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 15:41:56
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Because they had hardly any teams in Senior A, if they had a combined schools team good enough to win Senior A one year and then lose by 4 to Kieran's the next, they should then have a school good enough to win Senior B
I'm not sure coming out of the Combined Schools section counts for much, might only have to play two games to get out of it and you're up against Meath Schools, Westmeath Schools (Without Coláiste Mhuire), Dublin North (Without St Fintan's), and Dublin South (Without Coláiste Eoin), they lost this year to a decent Coláiste Mhuire side which is fairly bad going when you think about it, one Westmeath school beating the whole of Offaly" A bit of hurling snobbery there. Colaiste Mhuire were a very good side this year and this year is the only year that they were in A. Every other year WM had a full compliment.
To sum up so, based on what you and viking have said in response, your facilities are as good as or better than offalys( which i said originally), your schools are doing better, you have all the ancillary services in place and sponsors/money required too, the best young talent is making itself available and fully committing, am I summing it up accurately ?
So what has gone wrong so if everything that's needed to succeed elsewhere is in place in Wexford? Why are you so poor?
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 494 - 27/05/2026 15:57:29
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "I would guess Jippo is gone, thought one of the reasons he was brought on so late against Galway rather than either starting him or else not bringing him on at all was because that was his last game
Don't know with Chin
Would guess that two Recks, Jacko, Donohoe, and Foley will hang around, don't know about Fanning
Would say Jack Cullen, the two Foleys, and Joe Barrett won't join the squad, AJ Redmond maybe if Skippy were to be manager, wouldn't bank on him though, you've included Cian Molloy there although he was with the squad this year, am guessing you meant Mac, Dunbar, and McGuckin, think there's more chance of the coming back under a new manager alright
Would guess Eoin Ryan comes back and probably Rory, Barry maybe just for one year a bit like Tadhg Kennelly in 2009, could maybe include the likes of Seamus Casey and Conrad Flood although the latter would be the one I'd be keener on, James Lawlor and Aaron Duggan another two, would guess Ian Carty will still be in Australia
Out of the U20s, I'd have the following in the extended panel for the Walsh Cup:
Ciarán Doyle
Charlie Roark
Charlie Mooney
Niall Furlong
Paddy Quigley
Doran Daly O'Toole
Ronan Shannon
Jack Nolan
Colin Carley
Seán O'Brien" Think of the under 20s Carley and O Brien are good enough to start come league and championship. Cork and Galway are not afraid to throw under 20s in and if Carley and O Brien they should play. O Brien in particular looks physically ready to compete at that level while Carley is a brilliant ball winner something we really lack with the seniors. They would need to be managed though and still be allowed to play with the 20s like Barry Walsh and Jason Rabbitte and a few others have been
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1097 - 27/05/2026 15:58:07
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "Didn't they win the B 2 of the last 4 or 5 years and come out of the combined schools section a few times winning A outright once? I didnt realise Wexford did better." The one good team they had won Senior Leinster A outright in 2023 as a combined schools team. In 2022 a Wexford school won it by itself.
I think 5 different Wexford schools have won B titles at various levels in the last 3 or 4 years. At least 8 titles. Offaly schools have maybe won 1 or 2 B titles, if that.
This school year 3 Wexford Schools competed in Senior A, no Offaly schools did. Same at Junior A and 2nd year A. 2 of our schools were in 1st year A. Again no Offaly schools. 1 of our schools competing in 1st year Leinster B beat Birr by over 20 points in the final.
My sons school team competed in an end of year 1st year A tournament in SETU Waterford and reached the Cup final, beating Colmans and Middleton from Cork along the way.
Yes, our schools have some catching up to do with some of the top Munster, Galway and Kilkenny schools but they are ahead of the Dublin schools, and way ahead of the Offaly ones.
So yes, they did better than Offalys overall in the last 5 years Tadhg2020.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 16:18:24
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Their schools haven't been going well, Combined Offaly schools won the Corn Uí Dhúill in 2023 and that's it, don't think they had any school in either the Corn Uí Dhúill or Junior A this year, think they had Coláiste Choilm from Tullamore in 2nd Year A, not a school from their traditional hurling heartlands although things are changing there with urbanisation" Forgot about Tullamore being in 2nd year A this year. Fair play to them, with stronger Football clubs around them generally.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19872 - 27/05/2026 16:20:51
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