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Wexford Hurling Thread

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "That's quite a remarkable stat. Be interesting to see how that compares to other teams in the province."
I've actually made a few mistakes on it, didn't realise that Dee started against Westmeath in 2012 and that Willie Devereux had started against Offaly in 2012, updated numbers below....

2014: 20 (6 games) - 3.33 per game
2015: 9 (3 games) - 3 per game
2016: 16 (4 games) - 4 per game
2017: 5 (4 games) - 1.25 per game
2018: 8 (6 games) - 1.33 per game
2019: 4 (6 games) - 0.67 per game
2020: 2 (2 games) - 1 per game
2021: 5 (3 games) - 1.67 per game
2022: 17 (7 games) - 2.43 per game
2023: 10 (5 games) - 2 per game
2024: 14 (7 games) - 2 per game
2025: 7 (5 games) - 1.4 per game
2026: 22 (5 games) - 4.4 per game

Wouldn't say any of it's surprising tbh as we know we had a lot of churn this year (And to some extent in the last few years), also no surprise just how little churn there was under Davy

Not going to do it for other teams in the province as it's too much work!

But was looking back at past games and found it notable how Limerick might've only had 4 starters versus in the 2014 AIQF who also started in the 2018 AIF, was still about 4 of the 2018 starters starting in 2015, was up to around 8 or so in 2016, and then 12/13 were starting at some time in the Championship in 2017

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1402 - 15/06/2026 15:00:18    2679931

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Galway be a similar number?"
I think they had 26 across 6 games

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1402 - 15/06/2026 15:56:37    2679956

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Don't want to go apportioning blame here but I do know the three Gorey lads who didn't play this year were never going to come back as long as Rossi was in charge

Now whether that's their fault or his fault, I don't know but there were issues there

I also think that James Lawlor might come back for a different manager (Might be in Australia anyway), think he left because he thought he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip more so than anything else

Going back a while now but Podge Doran didn't re-join the panel in 2019 because of Rossi back when he was in Davy's back room team"
Out of the three I'm surprised McGuckian didn't commit. But he got plenty of chances under Rossi and Egan and rarely brought his club form to the county jersey from memory. Dunbar the same to be honest, very talented player ball in hand but brought very little without it. The other fella had injuries to be fair in recent seasons but did he ever bring his underage potential to the senior setup consistently? Easy blame successive managers, far too easy.

In comparison look at all Liam Ryan went through to tog for the team last few seasons. Maybe 70% fit? Still our best defender by a mile v Dublin this year. Donohue takes a lot of flack but put his shoulder to the wheel. Scored 1-3 was it v Offaly?

Didn't Lawlor play a season under Egan and was very average?

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 593 - 15/06/2026 19:23:10    2680027

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Out of the three I'm surprised McGuckian didn't commit. But he got plenty of chances under Rossi and Egan and rarely brought his club form to the county jersey from memory. Dunbar the same to be honest, very talented player ball in hand but brought very little without it. The other fella had injuries to be fair in recent seasons but did he ever bring his underage potential to the senior setup consistently? Easy blame successive managers, far too easy.

In comparison look at all Liam Ryan went through to tog for the team last few seasons. Maybe 70% fit? Still our best defender by a mile v Dublin this year. Donohue takes a lot of flack but put his shoulder to the wheel. Scored 1-3 was it v Offaly?

Didn't Lawlor play a season under Egan and was very average?"
While we need a new keeper Im not sure Lawlor is the answer either. Agree also about the 3 Gorey lads.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20048 - 16/06/2026 07:08:44    2680066

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Replying To Timbertony:  "Out of the three I'm surprised McGuckian didn't commit. But he got plenty of chances under Rossi and Egan and rarely brought his club form to the county jersey from memory. Dunbar the same to be honest, very talented player ball in hand but brought very little without it. The other fella had injuries to be fair in recent seasons but did he ever bring his underage potential to the senior setup consistently? Easy blame successive managers, far too easy.

In comparison look at all Liam Ryan went through to tog for the team last few seasons. Maybe 70% fit? Still our best defender by a mile v Dublin this year. Donohue takes a lot of flack but put his shoulder to the wheel. Scored 1-3 was it v Offaly?

Didn't Lawlor play a season under Egan and was very average?"
The one great advantage of Lawlor is we can keep the ball inside the white lines.

He was number 1 under Egan for a season. He did nothing wrong.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4581 - 16/06/2026 07:39:32    2680069

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "The one great advantage of Lawlor is we can keep the ball inside the white lines.

He was number 1 under Egan for a season. He did nothing wrong."
Yeah, let in a lot of goals but we've let in a lot of goals since anyway so I'm not sure it's a GK thing, probably more of a weak spine thing

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1402 - 16/06/2026 10:31:37    2680101

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "The one great advantage of Lawlor is we can keep the ball inside the white lines.

He was number 1 under Egan for a season. He did nothing wrong."
I thought his shot stopping was very poor to be honest but I agree on the puck outs

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1107 - 16/06/2026 11:08:15    2680116

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "The one great advantage of Lawlor is we can keep the ball inside the white lines.

He was number 1 under Egan for a season. He did nothing wrong."
Only let in 9 goals in 2 games.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 1027 - 16/06/2026 11:38:49    2680127

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Only let in 9 goals in 2 games."
I suppose that's entirely the responsibility of the goalkeeper?

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4581 - 16/06/2026 11:58:43    2680135

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Only let in 9 goals in 2 games."
But equally, conceded only two goals in the other three championship games that year...

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3778 - 16/06/2026 12:20:51    2680146

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I suppose that's entirely the responsibility of the goalkeeper?"
Major part of goalkeepers role is that of organizing what is in front of him. Look at the top guys and how vocal they are. He lacks that. As proven over those 2 games.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 1027 - 16/06/2026 12:37:13    2680152

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Major part of goalkeepers role is that of organizing what is in front of him. Look at the top guys and how vocal they are. He lacks that. As proven over those 2 games."
Do you think it's a position where we badly need a change?

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4581 - 16/06/2026 13:20:04    2680161

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "But equally, conceded only two goals in the other three championship games that year..."
Yes two- one being failure in dealing with a high ball in from a free against Dublin ultimately cost us the game.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 1027 - 16/06/2026 13:53:06    2680171

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Major part of goalkeepers role is that of organizing what is in front of him. Look at the top guys and how vocal they are. He lacks that. As proven over those 2 games."
You must never have been at a Ferns match :)

In fairness, if there's any criticism that can be levelled at Lawlor, it's not that he's not vocal enough!

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3778 - 16/06/2026 14:15:14    2680180

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Do you think it's a position where we badly need a change?"
I do. But Im still not sure Lawlor is the answer. What I am sure of is that if he rejoins the panel he should get the opportunity along with any other keepers on it to get meaningful gametime in the League.
I also think Paddy Quigley should be brought into the panel even though hes still u20 next year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20048 - 16/06/2026 16:04:19    2680201

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Major part of goalkeepers role is that of organizing what is in front of him. Look at the top guys and how vocal they are. He lacks that. As proven over those 2 games."
I know you're hard to please, but it was his first season. A lad needs a bit of time. He didn't get it.

Are you happy with our current number 1?

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4581 - 16/06/2026 20:56:38    2680244

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I know you're hard to please, but it was his first season. A lad needs a bit of time. He didn't get it.

Are you happy with our current number 1?"
I don't think there is better within the county, unfortunately. He did seem to regress this year - some very poor puckouts and errors against Kk and Dublin with scores resulting from these in both games. So am I happy - no. But there is no other option. I thought Derry Mahon might be the answer but from what was seen within the set up this year that may not be the case. Cian Byrne not it either. Someone will need make a case for the position soon.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 1027 - 17/06/2026 10:19:54    2680267

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One of my pet hates is blaming goalkeepers for most of puck out mistakes . Stand behind the goal and see what the options are . Tbh its scary to think so many players dont actually want the ball and deliberately turn their back or just dint make that run
I m certainly not saying Mark was nt to blame for several bad ones during the year but he has limited options to be fair . We cant realistically go long that much as no stand out ball winners with consistency. Some of the short options would nt fill u with confidence either and if u make one mistake it festers and u are more prone to making more .
Most teams pack the middle now so very hard to pick out players in a pack with that accuracy with 50 to 60 mtr puck outs .
We are ptob easy picking for most teams on puck outs with our lack of options . So regardless of who's in goal that needs to be kept in your mind .
If you were opposing manager you would most certainly target our puck outs by pushing up.
And double marking chin for long ones .
Where would u go with your puck outs then .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 619 - 17/06/2026 11:46:21    2680285

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Replying To Formertownie:  "One of my pet hates is blaming goalkeepers for most of puck out mistakes . Stand behind the goal and see what the options are . Tbh its scary to think so many players dont actually want the ball and deliberately turn their back or just dint make that run
I m certainly not saying Mark was nt to blame for several bad ones during the year but he has limited options to be fair . We cant realistically go long that much as no stand out ball winners with consistency. Some of the short options would nt fill u with confidence either and if u make one mistake it festers and u are more prone to making more .
Most teams pack the middle now so very hard to pick out players in a pack with that accuracy with 50 to 60 mtr puck outs .
We are ptob easy picking for most teams on puck outs with our lack of options . So regardless of who's in goal that needs to be kept in your mind .
If you were opposing manager you would most certainly target our puck outs by pushing up.
And double marking chin for long ones .
Where would u go with your puck outs then ."
Puckouts in general take alot of work to get right, and I dont think we did that work this year.
Short puckouts, and by that I dont mean pucking it to a free man standing on our own 21 which is a complete waste of a possession 9 times out of 10, need more work than long ones.
Long ones still need to be practiced so depending on a signal or pre arranged plan, lads know who is jumping, and who are supposed to be on the quarters to win any breaking ball.
Short ones need a keeper who is accurate enough with a flat hard 40-60 yard pass to be able to hit it into a teammates hand when he is running with a marker just behind him. Its not something I have ever seen Mark Fanning do for club or county. In fact Ive often seen him fail to hit a wingback that has moved into space and is stationary, either by overhitting it so it goes out for a sideline or worse ends up with an opponent who is further up the pitch, or underhitting it so it ends up with an opponent closer to goal.
Being as we dont have many long puckout options to catch a ball, we need a keeper who can reliably hit those types of short puckouts, and we need to do way more work on getting our players onto the quarters for long puckouts, so our smaller half forwards dont neccessarily have to catch the ball, they only have to break it to the ground.
Both Davy and especially Darragh put that work into our long puckouts in fairness.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20048 - 17/06/2026 12:27:10    2680298

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I agree mark not the most accurate but u need to add in the change in personnel and imo lads not wanting the ball its quite obvious at times. Or other teams having their work done and we cant adjust when they ffure us out . . Yes that comes down to practice . To me some of our players need to look harder at themselves i just dont think they gave their all . Why after doing the hard work over winter /spring baffles me .
I m not defending Mark I m just making the point he is only 1 part of the equation. If we know he is nt that accurate and the players know it we need to come up with an alternative. He could well be doing it at training and practice matches every day but the white heat of battle in championship is a totally different scenarionl with extra added pressure. Theres more going on than just a misplaced puck out . I'll just passes the buck and screams of another excuse and appportioning blame . Ie its was nt my fault .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 619 - 17/06/2026 13:51:34    2680319

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