|
Replying To StoreysTash: "Game has moved on from ruck ball? If you can't win the ball in a crowded part of the pitch you are at nothing.
The best teams win the dirty ball and get the ball in quickly to the forwards before opponents get set defensively.
Maybe it's just how it looks on TV but that is how I see it." Yes rucks are important and have to be won but skill and speed will win games
game plan cant be 100% around rucks and forgetting to put scores on the board
Pick a team that can win dirty ruck ball but allso with skill and speed and just let them play hurling
bigladforage (Wexford) - Posts: 14 - 07/04/2026 09:39:08
2665046
Link
0
|
|
Just 11 days to go until Newbridge lads. How are preparations going. How are the injuries to Jacko, Cian Molloy , Simon Donohoe, Shane Reck and Jippo coming along?
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 948 - 07/04/2026 10:02:01
2665048
Link
0
|
|
So the way forward for Wexford hurling is to largely ignore players and their ability based on what club they play for based on what division they're in!
Thats worked well for us, only took Liam Dunne years to undo that approach and set us up for some form of success so let's go back there!
There's plenty of lads hurling down the divisions every bit as good as those in divisions above, their teams just happen to suffer from having a tail on the team due to a lack of numbers etc compared to teams with bigger playing populations to call on.
I note for example at minor this year in the development league teams like Martins and Rathnure sit in division 3. Annes, Duffry and others in division 4 and 5. Division 3 has 3 out of 8 clubs combined teams. Should all thse be forgotten about and just look at division 1 and at a stretch division 2.
Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. We need all clubs producing and not just say unless you come from a certain club then dont bother. We've had enough of that for a long time in this county.
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1637 - 07/04/2026 10:30:54
2665051
Link
0
|
|
Replying To tearintom: "So the way forward for Wexford hurling is to largely ignore players and their ability based on what club they play for based on what division they're in!
Thats worked well for us, only took Liam Dunne years to undo that approach and set us up for some form of success so let's go back there!
There's plenty of lads hurling down the divisions every bit as good as those in divisions above, their teams just happen to suffer from having a tail on the team due to a lack of numbers etc compared to teams with bigger playing populations to call on.
I note for example at minor this year in the development league teams like Martins and Rathnure sit in division 3. Annes, Duffry and others in division 4 and 5. Division 3 has 3 out of 8 clubs combined teams. Should all thse be forgotten about and just look at division 1 and at a stretch division 2.
Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. We need all clubs producing and not just say unless you come from a certain club then dont bother. We've had enough of that for a long time in this county." I don't know if you ever met Joe Kearns but his mantra is quite simple. It should be the ambition of every club to produce one county minor every year. If we all achieve that we'll be there or thereabouts.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4391 - 07/04/2026 10:41:07
2665054
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Bryson: "Oisin Moore has to start" One of the best players on the minor team 2 years ago as far as I was concerned. For some reason plenty on this forum disagreed with me at the time. Was a toss up in midfield between him and Young but Young has been really impressive this year when Ive seen him.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19074 - 07/04/2026 12:06:16
2665066
Link
0
|
|
Replying To StoreysTash: "Game has moved on from ruck ball? If you can't win the ball in a crowded part of the pitch you are at nothing.
The best teams win the dirty ball and get the ball in quickly to the forwards before opponents get set defensively.
Maybe it's just how it looks on TV but that is how I see it." Absolutely. U20 is the last development grade before the best lads hopefully make the step up to Senior. No point being a great stick man if you can't get the ball into your hand on account of lack of physicality.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19074 - 07/04/2026 12:08:20
2665067
Link
0
|
|
Replying To tearintom: "So the way forward for Wexford hurling is to largely ignore players and their ability based on what club they play for based on what division they're in!
Thats worked well for us, only took Liam Dunne years to undo that approach and set us up for some form of success so let's go back there!
There's plenty of lads hurling down the divisions every bit as good as those in divisions above, their teams just happen to suffer from having a tail on the team due to a lack of numbers etc compared to teams with bigger playing populations to call on.
I note for example at minor this year in the development league teams like Martins and Rathnure sit in division 3. Annes, Duffry and others in division 4 and 5. Division 3 has 3 out of 8 clubs combined teams. Should all thse be forgotten about and just look at division 1 and at a stretch division 2.
Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. We need all clubs producing and not just say unless you come from a certain club then dont bother. We've had enough of that for a long time in this county." Been banging that drum for years.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19074 - 07/04/2026 12:09:44
2665068
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Doylerwex: "I don't know if you ever met Joe Kearns but his mantra is quite simple. It should be the ambition of every club to produce one county minor every year. If we all achieve that we'll be there or thereabouts." Not sure clubs with smaller numbers are going to produce county minors every year. In Taghmons case some years you might have 2 or 3 at an underage grade good enough for county, then some years without any.
Agree though that would be an ideal situation ok Doyler.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19074 - 07/04/2026 12:11:59
2665069
Link
0
|
|
Replying To tearintom: "So the way forward for Wexford hurling is to largely ignore players and their ability based on what club they play for based on what division they're in!
Thats worked well for us, only took Liam Dunne years to undo that approach and set us up for some form of success so let's go back there!
There's plenty of lads hurling down the divisions every bit as good as those in divisions above, their teams just happen to suffer from having a tail on the team due to a lack of numbers etc compared to teams with bigger playing populations to call on.
I note for example at minor this year in the development league teams like Martins and Rathnure sit in division 3. Annes, Duffry and others in division 4 and 5. Division 3 has 3 out of 8 clubs combined teams. Should all thse be forgotten about and just look at division 1 and at a stretch division 2.
Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. We need all clubs producing and not just say unless you come from a certain club then dont bother. We've had enough of that for a long time in this county." The opposite can be looked at also - Oulart / Rathnure have had a couple of very good minor teams over the last 3/4 seasons .. They both played in a very high standard Premier U21 final at the end of last year .. But neither club had one on the starting 15 last weekend.
MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 293 - 07/04/2026 12:23:40
2665073
Link
0
|
|
Replying To MyOhMi: "The opposite can be looked at also - Oulart / Rathnure have had a couple of very good minor teams over the last 3/4 seasons .. They both played in a very high standard Premier U21 final at the end of last year .. But neither club had one on the starting 15 last weekend." You need a good group to have a good club minor or u21 team. You dont need any exceptional players.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19074 - 07/04/2026 12:40:31
2665078
Link
0
|
|
Replying To MyOhMi: "The opposite can be looked at also - Oulart / Rathnure have had a couple of very good minor teams over the last 3/4 seasons .. They both played in a very high standard Premier U21 final at the end of last year .. But neither club had one on the starting 15 last weekend." How many are still under 20?
Have has their training gone? Etc etc.
People say its easy to look good on a team playing down fhe divisions. Its also easy to look good on a team where everyone else on that team is playing at a high enough level and providing a platform for you.
I've seen players come from dominant clubs in to county set ups where they've been thr finishers and star men on the end of scores and get a wake up call when suddenly being outworked by another player from a clubs struggling more because that other players used to that graft of being the man who is carrying that team on his own. And ive seen plenty not like it or adjust to it also.
Its a crucial age group, fhe fall of between 16 and adult is huge. Life takes over, the carrot of playing county isnt the lure it once was, we need everyone, not just this club or that club. We've had enough of that, expand fhe reach of our playing pool, not contract it. Ability over eircode.
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1637 - 07/04/2026 12:43:40
2665080
Link
0
|
|
Replying To tearintom: "How many are still under 20?
Have has their training gone? Etc etc.
People say its easy to look good on a team playing down fhe divisions. Its also easy to look good on a team where everyone else on that team is playing at a high enough level and providing a platform for you.
I've seen players come from dominant clubs in to county set ups where they've been thr finishers and star men on the end of scores and get a wake up call when suddenly being outworked by another player from a clubs struggling more because that other players used to that graft of being the man who is carrying that team on his own. And ive seen plenty not like it or adjust to it also.
Its a crucial age group, fhe fall of between 16 and adult is huge. Life takes over, the carrot of playing county isnt the lure it once was, we need everyone, not just this club or that club. We've had enough of that, expand fhe reach of our playing pool, not contract it. Ability over eircode." I dont think there's any genetic reason why a lad from a parish is automatically going to be better than a lad from a neighbouring parish. I get that nurture is very important, a lad whose parents were good players is more likely to have a hurl in his hand from when he can walk, but at this stage every parish in Wexford has a few lads who played at a high level, and their kids have hurls stuck to their hand from a young age. Some parishes will have more than others, but being an exceptionally good hurler doesn't necessarily mean your children will be either.
And as you say about drop off, we have had plenty of lads who were/are exceptionally good who dont want to play for the county any more, even lads who played a year or 2 at adult Senior, and many more really good minors who never looked as good at u20, never mind played adult intercounty.
Then there are lads like Shane Reck who didnt hurl county minor at all yet still turned out exceptionally good at their position at adult.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19074 - 07/04/2026 13:24:28
2665086
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Viking66: "Absolutely. U20 is the last development grade before the best lads hopefully make the step up to Senior. No point being a great stick man if you can't get the ball into your hand on account of lack of physicality." You need the mixture of players, just look at gillane oneill english hegerty and even hayes of limerick last sunday, they are so strong fast and skillfull they do niot allow a ruck to develop, they run the ball and try to set up a scoring chance
Limerick cork and tipp last year have brought the game of hurling to a new level, if you dont keep up you will be left behind
So any one who thinks you build a game plan around rucks is old school now
You have to have all 3, skill speed and be strong but skill will allways be top
bigladforage (Wexford) - Posts: 14 - 07/04/2026 13:30:14
2665088
Link
0
|
|
Replying To tearintom: "So the way forward for Wexford hurling is to largely ignore players and their ability based on what club they play for based on what division they're in!
Thats worked well for us, only took Liam Dunne years to undo that approach and set us up for some form of success so let's go back there!
There's plenty of lads hurling down the divisions every bit as good as those in divisions above, their teams just happen to suffer from having a tail on the team due to a lack of numbers etc compared to teams with bigger playing populations to call on.
I note for example at minor this year in the development league teams like Martins and Rathnure sit in division 3. Annes, Duffry and others in division 4 and 5. Division 3 has 3 out of 8 clubs combined teams. Should all thse be forgotten about and just look at division 1 and at a stretch division 2.
Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. We need all clubs producing and not just say unless you come from a certain club then dont bother. We've had enough of that for a long time in this county." Good post, agree completely.
YellowShadeOfPurple (Wexford) - Posts: 65 - 07/04/2026 13:53:20
2665091
Link
0
|
|
Replying To MyOhMi: "The opposite can be looked at also - Oulart / Rathnure have had a couple of very good minor teams over the last 3/4 seasons .. They both played in a very high standard Premier U21 final at the end of last year .. But neither club had one on the starting 15 last weekend." But last years u21 wpuld included lads born 2004 2005
Both years ineligible for u20 2026
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 566 - 07/04/2026 13:55:32
2665092
Link
0
|
|
Two things….
1. I think in terms of development, intercounty needs to go back to U18 and U21. A 21yo player might have potential but might be in need of development and Senior squads aren't really for development, they're for winning. A 21yo would be a lot better in an U21 side and developing that way rather than being left to their own devices and being a year too old for U20 but not developed enough for Senior intercounty
2. A Senior squad should play the best players regardless of their club or school. An U14 squad on the other hand should be inclusive and look to cast a wide a net as possible (It's why we probably should have bigger squads, very few players go on to make it at Senior level so may as well try to develop the skills of as many players as possible). Minor and U20 are a bit in-between
I do appreciate that players at stronger clubs play with stronger players which makes them look good but at the same time, they play against better players which makes them look worse. We should not rule out players just because they are from clubs that aren't as strong but at the same time, if you have strong clubs, they should be back-boning your side; just because a few clubs are much stronger than others doesn't mean that that the inter-county side at that age level should necessarily try to keep it balanced from a club perspective
We need to develop players from ALL clubs and make sure they don't go unnoticed but at the same time, we need to make sure we are playing our best players and not hurting ourselves
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1033 - 07/04/2026 14:02:29
2665094
Link
0
|
|
Surely good players playing in lower divisions with their clubs should make 2nd level college teams and get tested at a higher level.. even if in a or b championship they get better exposure to higher level . Is this the place where intercounty underage individuals should be judged more tgan local club chsmpionship . Rather than div 4 or 5 .
Are nt there trials for all clubs where they send their most promising and capable/committed and best attitude players needing a combination of all three to be successful .
And this shold be done every year for every player so that no player is guaranteed a place on an underage squad . So complacency and nepotism can be weeded out .
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 566 - 07/04/2026 14:04:27
2665095
Link
0
|