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Wicklow GAA thread

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Replying To liam500:  "Minor team playing New York in Aughrim on Friday! I wouldn't assume this will be a walk. They won't have travelled 5000 miles just for a day out. And they did win Connaught tier 2 (vs London and Leitrim)...."
Talk is New York are expecting to win this competition. Could be another tough night

greyhound (Wicklow) - Posts: 73 - 15/05/2026 09:04:12    2673092

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Replying To greyhound:  "Talk is New York are expecting to win this competition. Could be another tough night"
If that's true, it should be a good test for our lads. I don't think NY are in Meath or Kildares class so we have to be in with a chance. The way Meath disposed of some other counties, we might not be so far behind some of the other top 4 or 5. Meath seem to have hit the jackpot with their current panel.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2260 - 15/05/2026 10:32:24    2673113

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Replying To Freethinker:  "If that's true, it should be a good test for our lads. I don't think NY are in Meath or Kildares class so we have to be in with a chance. The way Meath disposed of some other counties, we might not be so far behind some of the other top 4 or 5. Meath seem to have hit the jackpot with their current panel."
I think this depends on what the county board are aiming to achieve at minor, u-20 and senior level? If our ultimate goal is to win a Leinster title at minor level then it doesn't matter how Meath disposed of other counties this year. If our aim is to just be the best of the rest and the county board don't see us competing with Kildare, Meath or Dublin then Meath disposing of other counties indicates we are in the right place. Meath, Kildare and Dublin aren't winning due to luck or the fact better players are born to those counties; they are winning because they have the right structures and coaching setups - Wicklow doesn't. For me, it is extremely unlikely a county team will achieve at senior level if that county is struggling at minor or u-20 level. The one caveat being this - a county can compete at senior level without underage success if there is a strong club scene in that county. In the past the club scene in Wicklow was one of the best in Leinster, this is no longer the case. So, what is it to be? Where are the future players who can represent the county and compete with the best? Or is it a case the ambition is to be part of a small group at the rear of the field!!

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2221 - 15/05/2026 13:29:51    2673160

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Good luck to the minor lads tonight, a very tough night against Meath a few weeks ago but to be fair they came back and won v Fermanagh so well done to then for that. Also very best of luck to the hurlers tomorrow in their winner takes all v Roscommon....they have had a great year so far and it would be great for them to stay in the Christy Ring

stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 168 - 15/05/2026 15:13:56    2673183

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Replying To greyhound:  "Talk is New York are expecting to win this competition. Could be another tough night"
Not sure where that talk is coming from.They beat Leitrim well but Wicklow beat Leitrim by a cricket score last year at u16 level.However Wicklow were very poor against Fermanagh last week,only edged ahead coming near the end,were second best for the majority of the game.It won't really make any difference in the long run if Wicklow were to win this tier three competition. I think a lot more could be done at under age regarding picking panels at academy level.Wicklow have two teams picked at u 14 this year.They played kildare a few weeks ago in Ballinakill. Kildare have four squads comprising of 100 players at this level.Their other two squads were playing in Wexford the same day.I would imagine they should have a good idea of their strongest 25 players in a year or two.
Wicklow had close to 100 players at the u14 trials,picked around 40 but left alot of players off who in one case anyway is an extremely strong player.I would hope this is an isolated case but who knows. I believe their should be more involvement with the clubs when picking panels at this level.

Rockofsense (Wicklow) - Posts: 7 - 15/05/2026 15:15:16    2673184

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Replying To greyhound:  "Talk is New York are expecting to win this competition. Could be another tough night"
Well, that sorts the NY issue. I wonder who is next. I hope it's a team from a higher tier. Possibly a Munster team, or Connacht, not many soft touches in either of those. Our lads need tough games even more so than silverware.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2260 - 15/05/2026 21:47:28    2673238

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Well done to Wicklow minors who recorded a comprehensive win over New York last night. Does anybody know if Wicklow minors will be promoted to Tier 2 if they can win Tier 3?

Best of luck to Wicklow hurlers today. It will be a tough match against Roscommon who are strong at this level. I assume that a win is required in order for the hurlers to prolong their season. This team and management have made progress this year and it will be labelled a successful year regardless of what happens in the rest of their Christy Ring campaign. However, it is in this competition and in next year's league where the team needs to push on. Best of luck to all involved.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2221 - 16/05/2026 10:00:49    2673261

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Well done to Wicklow minors who recorded a comprehensive win over New York last night. Does anybody know if Wicklow minors will be promoted to Tier 2 if they can win Tier 3?

Best of luck to Wicklow hurlers today. It will be a tough match against Roscommon who are strong at this level. I assume that a win is required in order for the hurlers to prolong their season. This team and management have made progress this year and it will be labelled a successful year regardless of what happens in the rest of their Christy Ring campaign. However, it is in this competition and in next year's league where the team needs to push on. Best of luck to all involved."
Agreed about last nights win for the minors, and it is a bit unclear to me as to what or who they play next. They arr in a semi anyway, so we will take that. I think Carlow play Antrim today in what I take it is also a qf in the same competition. I have no. Idea who else are at this stage.
I think this is make or break for Boscos boys today with regards to keeping their Christy Ring status. The same for Roscommon, so, the lads will need to regain their league form to win this. Roscommon beat us in the league and will run this close. Can Bosco lift the lads for one last hurrah for '26??
I hope so. Very best of luck to them.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2260 - 16/05/2026 10:54:27    2673266

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So we beat Roscommon today and will stay in the Christy Ring next year.

Add a league title to the mix and I think Bosco has done a great job.

I am not sure however how Kerry ended up in the Christy Ring ? That is no use to them and certainly no use to the other teams in the competition.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2996 - 16/05/2026 16:24:44    2673317

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The minors will play Waterford in the tier 3 semi next Saturday.

I dont think there is any tier promotion in the minor inter county. Tier 3 is for teams that get Knocked out in the first round of their main competition. Tier 2 is for teams that don't make the provincial final. E.g. Dublin and Louth in Leinster.

liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 244 - 16/05/2026 17:41:53    2673332

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Congrats to Bosco and his Boys. Finished out a great year for themselves. Big challenges next year, but we will take what '26 has given

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2260 - 16/05/2026 17:44:21    2673333

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Well done to the hurlers today, a big win especially considering last week's result

stringfellohawk (Wicklow) - Posts: 168 - 16/05/2026 21:15:15    2673395

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Replying To stringfellohawk:  "Well done to the hurlers today, a big win especially considering last week's result"
Yes indeed. A great win in more ways than 1. Let's hope that the experience gained in Div 2 next year will stand us in good stead for a good lash at winning Christy. Div 2 will be tough. Listening tom Boscos post match comments, they are under no illusion about the strength of some of the teams. Carlow being one team that seems to have refound their mojo. It will be tough, but it is the Div that we have historically belonged in. Some good strides being made by developing hurling sides within the county also and perhaps some of their players could be looked at.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2260 - 17/05/2026 08:42:23    2673451

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I was at the match yesterday v Roscommon in Aughrim. For context I was also at the Meath game and the league final. against Donegal. The standard of hurling in the Meath game was high. Meath were the better team for sure but Wicklow performed well In contrast, the standard of hurling on show yesterday was really really poor. The score after 40 minutes was 0-9 all. We got the breaks with the goals. The winning margin definitely faltered us. Overall a good year. League Promotion and Christy Ring status maintained.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1158 - 17/05/2026 14:20:44    2673537

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So a team that we beat in 2024 Leinster Championship and had many of the lads that played yesterday including Luke Loughlin and John Heslin , go out and win the 2026 Leinster Championship, beating Dublin, Kildare & Meath along the way.

For all we bemoan about county boards, structures, coaching, clubs , management teams etc (and lot's of it completely justified) it just goes to show most of if is down to the 6 inches between your ears and how much you want it.

Fair play to Westmeath.

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 192 - 18/05/2026 14:25:03    2673889

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Replying To Hawkeye2:  "So a team that we beat in 2024 Leinster Championship and had many of the lads that played yesterday including Luke Loughlin and John Heslin , go out and win the 2026 Leinster Championship, beating Dublin, Kildare & Meath along the way.

For all we bemoan about county boards, structures, coaching, clubs , management teams etc (and lot's of it completely justified) it just goes to show most of if is down to the 6 inches between your ears and how much you want it.

Fair play to Westmeath."
Well said Hawkeye2

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2260 - 18/05/2026 16:26:30    2673933

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Fair play to Westmeath. I don't want to take anything away from their achievement but the reality is a team who failed to get out of division three has won the Leinster senior championship. The standard in Leinster has dropped to a level where a division three team wins the provincial title. There has never been a better chance for all the teams outside the traditionally strong counties to win a provincial title. Wicklow could've and should've beaten Dublin in Aughrim. The reason they didn't was due to a lack of belief and not being clinical enough when chances came their way. This scenario was just in the Dublin game; it happened against Limerick in the Tailteann cup and it happened against Longford in the league this year.

I've said it before and I think it is as important as ever - our teams need to believe they can beat any team in Leinster. Wicklow knocked Westmeath out the Tailteann cup last summer but they must win 2-3 pressurised games in a row like Westmeath did against Meath, Kildare and Dublin.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2221 - 18/05/2026 19:57:56    2674002

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