Replying To beano: "Lads, I've said it here before but its worth repeating, in the overall GAA ecosystem, we are an average DUAL county which is commendable in itself. We have no divine right to claim to be among the elite of the hurling fraternity, nor can we turn our noses up at the football either like some within hurling circles are inclined to do (shoe isn't on the other foot in that regard).
In fact, of ALL the counties to have won an All Ireland in both codes, elite company we are among, Wexford is the nearest to having a 50-50 split of success. Six hurling, five football. Offaly are next with four hurling and three football (54% of all our senior AIs are hurling, 57% of theirs are hurling so small margins really).
And both counties are similar in that they got their All-Irelands in profitable decades. 1910s for us in football (and one hurling), 50-60s in hurling. 70s-80-90s for the Biffos.
So in that context we have a nice little niche in the market, especially since nearly all our clubs are dual so theoretically cater for all kids, which is something to be proud of.
But we dwell on our hurling tradition too much. Like, there isn't too much of a difference in the timescale between our last All-Ireland and Offaly's, but do the latter hark back to their 90s team to the same extent as we do? Have a podcast with soundbites from that era hosted by one fella who never hurled at any real level in the county and is death against football? Offaly pulled themselves up by the bootstraps when they hit rock bottom and put structures in place to rebuild a side that could be competitive in a couple of years. Lost an All-Ireland minor title in heartbreaking fashion, won an under-20 in both codes. Swallowed their pride by dropping out of the Liam McCarthy in doing so. We'd whinge and complain should the same fate befall us.
Its all well and good having an optimistic poster on here quoting underage games where we lost to RANDOM COUNTY A by a point in an under-14 game five years ago etc. but at the end of the day we AREN'T getting over the line enough in any age grade across both codes. We'll probably still venerate the Leinster minor winners in 2029 for the tenth anniversary when most other counties would regard not winning an All-Ireland as a disappointment."
In all honesty, yes, that Offaly U20 side was a very good side but there was nothing before them and it doesn't look like there is much coming after them, they are a once in a generation team that pops up out of nowhere rather than the result of very good structures put in place
Replying To WEXILE: "I'd agree with you on the last sentence and I'm usually a pessimist.
Lost by 5 yesterday, Fanning gifts em a gial, they'd 2 wides that were awarded. Thats 4 or 5 points.
Our shooting to the near post under the stand in that wind was absolutely criminal, unforgiveable. And we'd our goal chances possible penalty.
And all these issues before you even contend with the other team.
When chin, Jack O etc. retire as one poster says then there is of course the possibility of dropping down to Joe McDonagh. But on the flipping of that will all the new players making their way in intercounty become proper established players and they'll drive us forward?
One things sure we don't have a conveyer belt of absolute huge prospects coming through and thats worrying. Certainly compared to the team.that emerged around 2014 or so."
I wasn't going to mention the two wides at the pine ridge end....
Replying To WEXILE: "Looking forward over the short to medium term does anyone see any positives at all for Wexford hurling?
Hopefully an experienced manager when Keiths tenure is up? Ya see the difference a good manager makes for Carlow up to last year and Kildare right now. Enough of young potential managers.
Experienced players to come back in? Rory O Connor touch wood should be back. Will he bring Barry with him? At least he'd be physically a threat. Anymore lads returning?
Will the Gorey crowd come back in for a different manager?
Will the extra year or two of S&C bring the likes of Cillian Byrne up to scratch. Impressed by him at times.
Anyone looking like they can step in from u20s in next year or two.
Getting fed up of constant negativity now, we know where we are. That much is clear but is there anything coming down the line to feel positive about?"
The positive is a better coach could improve us immediately and get lads playing.
Second positive is we've solved all these problems before and can do so again.
I'd say if you look at the best teams in Ireland right now, they probably have the best group of players aged between 24 and 28. If they're 23 or younger, they mightn't be developed enough or experienced enough to drive the team on and if they're 29 or older, they might not quite have the same physicality to drive the team forward. Now the best teams will have younger players and they will have older players who will all be making contributions but they won't be backboning the team, the younger players will backbone the team in the future and the older players backboned the team a few years prior but the players backboning it will be those in their prime
Yesterday, we had four players starting who will fall into the 24-28yo group at some stage this year: Richie Lawlor, Damien Reck, Conor Hearne, and Ross Banville (Reck and Hearne at one end of the age group and Richie Lawlor at the other)
Jippo, Chin, Kevin Foley, Mark Fanning, Simon Donohoe, and Darren Codd would fall into the older category
Darragh Carley, Diarmuid O'Leary, Cillian Byrne, Simon Roche, and Conor Foley would fall into the younger category
The age profile of that team is not one that is conducive towards success