For me when a side lose a game after (using the Wexford example today, 3 games in 3 weeks) being out a few weeks on the trot, It is a simple clichéd cop-out more times than not in my view. Now don't get me wrong, If it was a close game today up until the last 15 mins and Limerick pulled away, Fine, I'd probably agree but to use it when you have been out-fought and out-battled for 70 minutes, Then you have to question why that happened, And tiredness alone is not enough in my opinion.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 27/07/2014 16:02:25    1626556

i agree..overused cliche..when provincial champions lose in quarters in football for instance its because too long a rest or not sharp while other team has been playing games regularly..when the opposite happens..its that the qualifier team is tired...completely lazy over-used cliches and poor analysis..but expected from rte

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 27/07/2014 16:13:05    1626561

It is a cop out. Playing 1 game a week should not affect performance. It was used half hearthly as an excuse for Wexford today but they just weren't good enough.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 27/07/2014 16:16:58    1626567

While the qualifiers are good for a second chance it also the scenic route! Best way to avoid so many games is to win your province. End of.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7840 - 27/07/2014 16:22:38    1626569

i agree..overused cliche..when provincial champions lose in quarters in football for instance its because too long a rest or not sharp while other team has been playing games regularly..when the opposite happens..its that the qualifier team is tired...completely lazy over-used cliches and poor analysis..but expected from rte

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Agree Fabio

If a team who has played a few weeks on the trot win, Its a case of "Ah the momentum of games week in week out in a massive advantage, And the opponent hadn't had a competitive game in ages so you can expect the rustiness"

Similarly, If a team lose after being out a few weeks on the trot its a case of "Ah the x amount of games in x amount of weeks made the legs heavy, And their opponents had a nice x amount of weeks off to prepare themselves"

Its all just lazy..

It only comes into play in the last quarter if a team who have been out a few weeks in a row, Are involved in a close game and they end up losing by a fairly big margain.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 27/07/2014 16:24:08    1626572

It is a cop out. Playing 1 game a week should not affect performance. It was used half hearthly as an excuse for Wexford today but they just weren't good enough.

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Spot on!!

Wexford played 2 games that went to Extra time against Clare, Went out and where outstanding against Waterford and battled to the end.

Today from minute one they where out-fought and out-battled by a far superior team in most positions on the pitch, And thats exactly it in my view.

Tiredness may have come into it in the last 20 minutes today, But by then the game was already over. It was over as a contest in truth after 20 mins.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 27/07/2014 16:27:35    1626577

Absolutly agree 100% the games in a row had no effect as the weeks in between would have been spent as recovery rather than a tough trainin session..as a wexford man I really hope we dont start using excuses for that loss the fact is wexford are still not good enough to compete at the highest level fair enough we beat clare lets be honest it wasnt the clare of last year and we beat a very poor waterford team..also no team will get close to kilkenny this year.!

oneills09 (Wexford) - Posts: 130 - 27/07/2014 16:44:01    1626591

Funny how before the match, people were talking about the momentum that Wexford had built up by playing on consecutive weekends, and how that would be an advantage. How that they've lost, that "momentum" has now become "tiredness"!!

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 27/07/2014 16:54:27    1626604

Funny how before the match, people were talking about the momentum that Wexford had built up by playing on consecutive weekends, and how that would be an advantage. How that they've lost, that "momentum" has now become "tiredness"!!

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This is the point i'm making..

An advantage if you win, But too easy to use it as an excuse when you lose in my view.

Let me make myself clear though, I'm not solely talking about Wexford today.

This is a regular occurance year in year out.

Complete cop-out though.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 27/07/2014 17:02:33    1626611

It is absolutely valid. Chin and McGovern couldn't even run

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 2657 - 27/07/2014 18:34:02    1626699

I don't think its entirely a cop out. There's no doubt playing lots of games on the trot helps a team gain momentum but the nature of the games in question is important. Playing four championship matches on the trot is tough in my opinion where as playing four league games would be quite easy. The hits in championship and pace of play are disproportionately higher and the recovery time is naturally longer. I certainly don't think that was the reason why Wexford went in at half time with an insurmountable mountain to climb but it would be a factor nonetheless.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1658 - 27/07/2014 19:00:13    1626719

In Wexfords case, I don't think its a cop out. Its four games in 4 weeks, with two of those games needing extra time. That's energy sapping stuff, and all incredibly intense as well. And trow the U21 Leinster final into the mix, and its 5 huge games in 4 weeks. In fairness, that has to take a toll.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 27/07/2014 19:02:34    1626723

There are rights and wrongs to this argument and I can see the points from both sides, personally I do think in Wexford's case that two spells of extra time and U21 games has to take some toll, I wasn't in agreement with the "momentum" camp as I felt today Wexford were going to be playing a side far better than anything they had played all year, including Clare, and they were going to need a top notch 110% performance to win, and with recent mileage under the belt in the qualifiers and U21 I didn't think that possible. Wexford were able to perform very well against an indifferent Clare side and Waterford but Limerick are a cut above and arguably in the top three in the country and were very capable of exploiting weakness and tiredness that others might not

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 27/07/2014 19:20:39    1626742

I don't think its entirely a cop out. There's no doubt playing lots of games on the trot helps a team gain momentum but the nature of the games in question is important. Playing four championship matches on the trot is tough in my opinion where as playing four league games would be quite easy. The hits in championship and pace of play are disproportionately higher and the recovery time is naturally longer. I certainly don't think that was the reason why Wexford went in at half time with an insurmountable mountain to climb but it would be a factor nonetheless.

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A factor, yes.

But the sole reason for a teams capitulation on a given day, No.

I'm not saying playing 4 games in 4 weeks has no effect. Of course it can and does

But pundits/fans etc just throwing the excuse out there in the aftermath of a victory is a very easy thing to do, Its lazy analysis and papers over other aspects of a teams/managements display on the day.

In that sense, It's a cop out.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 27/07/2014 19:23:34    1626744

Totally valid in terms of exhaustion. I have made this point for years and years. But if you draw a number of games or go in the back door, that is the price you pay. There is no good in rejigging the championship any more or there will be no club football or hurling played. Wexford were unlucky to have the run of matches that they did, but if it is any consolation, there isnt a team in the country who would win an all ireland or get thru a tough quarter or semi final having gone thru what wexford went thru the last month. Hard luck lads, but well done too.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 27/07/2014 19:32:12    1626758

Of course it's a factor, to dismiss it as not is ignorance.

But I don't think you will hear from anyone in Wexford blaming the fatigue factor for the result today. In reality we were well beaten all over the pitch and on the sideline. The fatigue factor no doubt contributed to the scale of the defeat but none the less had we had 2 or 3 weeks rest before the match today I don't think it would have made any difference to the actual result, maybe the end scoreline but not the result.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1336 - 27/07/2014 19:53:26    1626775

waynoI, it match you better to worry about your own county performance today, if you are in fact from Dublin, rather then starting a thread on wexford. As for oneill or what ever that poster is called, you have comment 2 or 3 times on different threads slating your own county( class supporter) you are actually one of the small football gang in wexford that is absolutely delighted that the hurlers got beat today. I know because all you have to do is follow your post on the wexford forum over the last while. As for me my heart is still in my boot after today showing but would like to wish limerick the best going forward.

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 931 - 27/07/2014 19:59:40    1626781

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3466
While the qualifiers are good for a second chance it also the scenic route! Best way to avoid so many games is to win your province. End of.

...yes but of course that's easier for the likes of those in Kerry * who have grown used to commencing the provincial campaign in a seeded semi final. Not all counties are beneficiaries of such a privileged headstart.

(* or should that be the "Kerry Region" ?)

Knoxboyo (Monaghan) - Posts: 170 - 27/07/2014 20:41:15    1626821

Not a cop out - bruised and knocked bodies. Tired mentaly maybe. it all counts at the top level. Collectively they all struggled.

Limerick much better no doubht but don't think anyone can say Wexford played to their true form.

gumproof (Wexford) - Posts: 3 - 27/07/2014 20:42:00    1626822

Disagree.

Any competition where one team gets x amount of weeks break while another competes for x amount of weeks in a row is nonsense.

Same with the football. Kerry for example won two games for a quarter final place. They could have potentially been playing a side that was in qualifier round 1. Meaning four wins to get to a quarter final.

I'll use my own county Galway as a perfect example. We has two tough games v Kilkenny. Vs Tipp we were in control 6 points up 20 to go. We lost Tannian and Smyth to continuous cramp which took the feet from under us in the middle of the park and Tipp were home and hosed from then.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 27/07/2014 21:16:36    1626866