A Westmeath team that was hurling flower baskets off the walls on the Main Street in Mullingar last week were left in the game far too long. We going is as underdogs now which is far better for us. The big worry for me is our lack of a good freetaker. I wonder is Paul Codd free for a few hours next weekend?

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 08/07/2018 09:48:32    2119510

Poor performance no doubt but I'd expect a massive improvement next weekend which in my opinion is a 50-50 game

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 08/07/2018 09:58:10    2119513

We were very poor. Looked very flat and not playing well at all. We actually haven't hurl well apart from 40 min against kk in this year championship. I like most people am very worried about next weekend.

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 952 - 08/07/2018 10:09:28    2119519

tonydoranfan (Wexford) - Posts: 550 - 08/07/2018 10:13:27    2119523

A sleepy affair in Mullingar yesterday evening. We were probably value for the 11-point margin but, from the stand, the game had all the tempo of a National League dead rubber. Nevertheless, it's minutes under the belt after a month without a game and we've confirmed our place in the last six.

A few observations from Cusack Park + thoughts ahead of Clare:

* Rory O'Connor appears to be the only relatively reliable free-taker on the panel - Chin, Mac & Kehoe each erratic again from placed balls last night. The lack of an elite-level taker (e.g. Horgan, Reid, Canning) is probably costing us 4/5 points per game.

* Very positive impact from the bench, particularly in the forward areas. Liam Óg added some real zip, heavily involved for Mac's goal and drew fouls for a couple of converted frees. Kehoe & Tomkins also notched 0-03 between them. Morris limped off so, depending on the extent of his injury, a door could well open for one of these lads vs Clare.

* Clare and ourselves have displayed a similar trait in recent games: an inability to put two good halves together. We were imperious for 40 mins in Nowlan Pk, before a combination of discipline, tiredness and poor option-taking derailed us. Likewise, Clare built an eight-point lead only to fold in the second half vs Cork. The Banner men will go in as favourites, but both sides need to answer the same questions.

* I'd like to see us line out with the following next Sunday, provided all are fit and firing: Fanning, Reck, Ryan, Firman, P Foley, O'Hanlon, O'Keeffe, K Foley, Murphy, Chin, Nolan, McGovern, Morris, R O'Connor, McDonald.

jacobshook (Wexford) - Posts: 6 - 08/07/2018 10:45:17    2119529

Biggest worry for me is our sweeper, the distribution and decision making was poor, especially when under no pressure. Mistakes there lead to a few counter scores.

goreyll (Wexford) - Posts: 110 - 08/07/2018 10:46:38    2119530

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 08/07/2018 11:33:16    2119549

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 08/07/2018 13:26:00    2119588

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 08/07/2018 13:49:48    2119595

Wexford looked poor last night against a poor side one has to say. Over complicated game plan where it constantly breaks down, some of our distribution was terrible Murphy ,O Keeffe. Positives were Nolan and I thought DDunne went well that's if he was getting decent ball. Subs were a help in fairness ,think Tompkins would be a great addition to our half forward line. Real worry again is Chin? Why does Davy would leave him on when he is virtually a passenger? He has been so so poor this year. Don't think picked up a paper this week without him on it. His Hurling needs to do the talking now.

Tox73 (Wexford) - Posts: 169 - 08/07/2018 14:49:51    2119608

tonydoranfan (Wexford) - Posts: 550 - 08/07/2018 15:02:34    2119614

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12053 - 08/07/2018 17:31:51    2119699

Still no venue date or time for quarter final. What is the delay on this??!! Surely it doesn't matter who is in it with regard venue. Very annoying.

Terrible attendance at Leinster final today 25 thousand. 65 thousand last year with Wexford. Kilkenny almost won me over today with their fighting spirit and intensity - something Galway seem to lack.

Yellow (Wexford) - Posts: 551 - 08/07/2018 21:25:18    2119800

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1351 - 09/07/2018 09:15:00    2119871

Real worry again is Chin? Why does Davy would leave him on when he is virtually a passenger? He has been so so poor this year. Don't think picked up a paper this week without him on it. His Hurling needs to do the talking now.

Tox73 (Wexford) - Posts: 83 - 08/07/2018 14:49:51 2119608

i waso't at the game,but based on the year so far,i wouldnt even start chin at the weekend.his hurling has been very very poor all this year.
interesting to hear jack o connor say on sports hour he is working with msd in sandyford and they accommodate his hurling,that is the way to do it.get yourself set up in life and hurl away.
hearing ian madigan on off the ball recently he said his work interests takes his mind off rugby,and it is crucial when rugby isnt going well.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 09/07/2018 09:43:42    2119877

I find it strange that the wider hurling public proclaim Kilkenny's fighting spirit, and that the mantra "they are never beaten until the final whistle" is still trotted out ad infinitum, when in reality they are having arguably their worst ever championship campaign under Cody.

They are blessed that the new format has given them more games because in reality, they were played off the park twice by Galway (only three rather scruffy goals kept them interested yesterday), and needed to be at their best to only force a draw against an under-performing Galway in the drawn Leinster final. Our fatigue and high wide count got them over the line in Nowlan Park, while Keaney's injuring departure had a huge bearing in their narrow win over Dublin. Only could Kilkenny suffer two 7 point + defeats in one championship year, and be regarded as having great character- if it was ourselves we'd be criticised out the gate.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1422 - 09/07/2018 10:17:32    2119895

Those who are saying a win is a win against Westmeath I don't think realise how bad the performance actually was on Saturday. I see Davy has come out to say that we won't have a chance against Clare if we play like that. I don't believe it was all tactics or the players weren't bothered. It was like they hadn't played with each other all year. We should have absolutely hammered them like Limerick did Carlow. Agree that Aidan Nolan played well, but that was about it

goreyll (Wexford) - Posts: 110 - 09/07/2018 10:57:52    2119914

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12053 - 09/07/2018 11:03:41    2119919

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12053 - 09/07/2018 11:05:55    2119921

Clare are 2/5 in the bookies for this which is absolutely scandalous. i would have thought it would be 50/50 are possibly even favouring wexford!!

I was very concerned about this game until i read the comments on here. To be honest i havent seen wexford much this year so wasnt particularly sure where ye were at!

I presume rory o'connor will be fit - to be honest from a clare perspective he is probably the wexford player that we fear most! of the few times ive seem him he looks like a serious player..

we'll have to have a plan as well to stop diarmuid o'keeffes driving runs.

Will conor firman come back into the team as well for one of the corner backs?

hurlingexpert (Clare) - Posts: 1941 - 09/07/2018 11:59:16    2119945