luvgaa (Wexford) - Posts: 157 - 24/09/2017 09:31:05    2049813

Delighted for Conor Mac I must say. Gets more undue criticism than anyone by lads who forget just how young he is still and ignore the fact that he is inhibited by Wexford's current system.

Heck, I saw his goal on FB last night and it showcased all he is capable of (if there was a slight question mark over steps). But yet there were a few shameful comments by people who probably never picked up a hurl in their lives.

Actually, can anyone who was at the game confirm whether Marty Kelly was assigned to mark Mac? Heard it through the grape-vine earlier on that day and it thought it an unique approach to curb his impact.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1424 - 24/09/2017 10:13:06    2049823

Northcountyman (Wexford) - Posts: 59 - 24/09/2017 13:52:19    2049871

WEX98 (Wexford) - Posts: 382 - 24/09/2017 14:18:31    2049880

luvgaa (Wexford) - Posts: 157 - 24/09/2017 14:44:43    2049887

Interesting weekend all told.

Travels took me to a sweltering (at times) Bellefield today. Duffry Rovers and Tara Rocks was a great game with a dramatic conclusion. Rocks started like a house on fire, took some neat scores and hurled a mountain of ball. But they sort of faded from the twentieth minute onwards and never replicated that form thereafter. Duffry in contrast were more methodical in their approach, and certainly more disciplined. Their last four points came from frees for example, and they only conceded scoreable free themselves in the second half, which proved decisive in the end. Tara Rocks will be sick by the nature and the timing of the winning goal, but in my mind Duffry deserved it- they played at the required standard for longer passages.

HWH Bunclody and Adamstown was dreary enough in the first half, and only really came to life when Adamstown scored a well-taken goal. That said, they didn't pack a big enough threat from general play, and found Farrell and Kenny two difficult nuts to crack. Incidentally, Aidan Nolan and Billy Kelly between them match Adamstown's tally on the scoreboard, while Peter Atkinson was a threat every time the ball came his way. Having seen three of the four QFs in that grade this weekend, I think the winner will come out of the HWH-Anne's semi-final. Two battle-hardened teams that have been down this road before. Crossabeg will be favourites to overcome Monageer, but that will be tight too.

Only followed the two senior games via updates on twitter, and while I am not surprised by the two victors, I am surprised by Rapps margin of victory. Rathnure must have been flat altogether, but it seems that the talent from Rapparees three-in-a-row minor winning team are starting to come of age at senior level. Oulart may well be a step too far in the semi-final, but they can be pleased with the progress they have made this year and they certainly will have a big say in the big ball next weekend.

St.Martin's v Gorey in the other semi will be a lot closer than we would have thought going on earlier season form. Martin's were by all accounts well below par vs Buffers Alley, and seemed to be the benefactors of some questionable time-keeping in the end. Their young guns certainly got roughed up by their more savvy opponents, and they'll either learn from that experience or let it seep into their confidence. Gorey will provide a different kind of challenge than the Alley, and it has the potential to be a high-scoring affair.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1424 - 24/09/2017 19:52:01    2049999

I missed the first game in Wexford park today but managed to get in just in time for the start of the Rapps v Rathnure. I was very impressed with the Rapps calmness and use of the ball. They seemed to have a definite plan on what to do with the ball when playing it into the forwards and their support play was top class. Rathnure on the other hand wanted to play long direct hurling but were just beaten in too many positions over the field. All of the rapps half back line and Kevin Foley were all top class today, as was Darragh Pepper who I think scored 4/5 points. All over the field they had lads who stood up to the battle and did their jobs well. I think they may push oulart close. I'd expect the Martins to overcome Gorey but maybe judging by yesterday's results that it won't be too easy for them. I reckon Bunclody will win intermediate and the duffry to win intermediate A.

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 24/09/2017 21:03:22    2050033

mrfox (Wexford) - Posts: 338 - 24/09/2017 21:20:48    2050041

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 25/09/2017 09:35:03    2050182

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 403 - 25/09/2017 10:13:23    2050202

Made it down to Wexford park on Sunday

Oulart were the better team over the hour, however Shels have got to be kicking themselves this morning as the game was there for the taking especially the first 15 mins of the 2nd half where they drove 4 simple enough chances wide. Oulart scored a goal to keep them in it and they were under pressure all over the field but rode out the storm. Oulart are doing pretty well - nothing spectacular but are winning all their games and still playing a nice brand of hurling & using the ball intelligently.

Rapps were completely on top in the 2nd game - I had criticized them in an earlier post and had seen their game against Gorey a few months ago which was one of the poorest senior games i had seen in a number of years. They looked decent yesterday and played a nice brand of hurling. Rathnure were very flat and disappointing. Never got going and look unorganised unlike the last few games I seen them playing. Kevin Foley was given the freedom of Wexford Park in the first half and no one seemed to pick him up. Pepper was very good too ... Rapps worked harder and smarter than Rathnure and that was the big difference. Jack Guiney hurled very well for Rathnure .. Wexford need Jack Guiney hurling well.

Didn't make the game on Saturday but all the talk in Wexford Park yesterday evening was about Referee's and their performance. It is good to see Gorey in a semi-final ... ditto Rapps ... again its good for Wexford hurling .. Still think Oulart will win County Final ..

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 136 - 25/09/2017 10:45:20    2050219

Oulart v Shels

Garrett Sinnott more or less decided this game. Playing at full forward, Oulart went long to Sinnott whenever he was isolated with the Shels full back and there was only really ever one winner in that battle as Sinnott netted twice. Shels full back gave it way to easy to Sinnott, playing him from behind the entire game. I felt Shels certainly had plenty of opportunities to win this game, but it just felt like they were afraid to. Oulart missed a penalty, as did the Shels... a goal for the Shels at that point of the game would have been crucial. Late in the second half they had a handy opportunity to go level with a point, but instead dropped a shot in on Birdy O'Leary and 10 seconds later Nicky Kirwan turned it into a 4 point swing as he netted at the other end. As usual, it felt like Oulart were only playing in 3rd gear and still won the game.

Rapps v Rathnure

Rapps very impressive, dominated in pretty all facets of the game, Mossy Mahon and Darragh Pepper very impressive throughout as was their half back line. I was disappointed with Rathnure, they only hurled in patches, but when they did you could see the potential. A very young team who look inexperienced, started poorly and never really got into the game thereafter. If they perform like they did yesterday, they could give Oulart a real run for their money.

jpb (Wexford) - Posts: 132 - 25/09/2017 10:53:45    2050226

wexcore (Wexford) - Posts: 740 - 25/09/2017 11:17:56    2050243

I think Cloughbawn will struggle to bounce straight back into senior. Huge blow for them going down. Must have been a cracking game with that scoreline?

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2553 - 25/09/2017 14:03:11    2050318

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 28/09/2017 14:31:55    2051361

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1424 - 28/09/2017 15:40:47    2051387

Weekend preview time..

Castletown v Starlights: two of the most illustrious clubs currently playing senior. Starlights have won eight senior titles, Castletown 10. The maroon and white are in their fourth semi-final on the spin, but have yet to progress beyond this stage since 2012. Hit a blip in form for a month there but their 3-15 vs Taghmon was the biggest tally compiled in the quarter-finals, with 3-13 coming from play. Starlights were the most impressive winners of the four quarter-finals, and of course there was only a point between these two when they met in the group despite Starlights missing Foley and Ryan. Those two are their two most influential players, and will be central to their chances. The last three semi-finals saw Castletown undone by clubs possessing powerful forward units. Starlights' wouldn't be as potent as Gusserane and Martin's up front, but they are a dangerous opponent nonetheless, and will certainly not fear Castletown (they have been their bogey team recently). Of course, the forecast is for unsettled weather, and Wexford Park is a nightmare to play in when the elements blow in from the Clonard End. It could well be a dogfight, but I tip Castletown's know-how to see them through.

St.Martin's v Shelmaliers: if Castletown and Starlights are steeped in tradition, then Shels and Martin's are at the other end of the spectrum, with Martin's winning their sole senior title in 2013, and Shels yet to even make a final. Shelmaliers have been rather consistent at making it to the last-four since making the step up in 2008, but it's fair to say they have never produced anything near what they are capable of in a semi-final yet. It could well be argued too that St.Martin's have under-achieved somewhat in the championship considering the amount of hammerings that have dished out in the group stages year on year. In fact, their 2013 win came against a young Fethard team that didn't perform on the day, while they were caught on the hop by James' in the replayed final in 2015, and by Glynn last year. It's hard to balance the high pressure of contending in both codes. Buffers Alley shows what can happen when you "rough up" their young starlets, and to be fair Shels running game is well equipped to pose problems against a Martin's defence that looked quite susceptible to direct running in the first half vs Glynn. Martin's are 2/5 to advance to the final, but it will be closer than that. Hesitant vote to Shelmaliers to end their semi-final hoodoo.

The Intermediate A football final has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. Both sides have generally blown away all comers this campaign and it's unquestionably the "dream" final pairing. While hurling is the top dog in both clubs, they have still been among the contenders in this grade for a few years so it will close. I tip Crossabeg to take it though as I think the weight of history in the senior hurling may well be on the mind of the Gorey lads.

Cushinstown have been among the top-three in the junior championship for the last few years, and have been unlucky not to win it outright, so I predict them to do the business on Saturday evening.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1424 - 28/09/2017 22:27:52    2051511

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 29/09/2017 09:31:31    2051585

Groundball (Wexford) - Posts: 122 - 29/09/2017 10:35:59    2051608

Who do people fancy between Kilanerin and Rosslare?

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1139 - 29/09/2017 17:02:33    2051760