National Forum

Wexford Hurling Thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Doylerwex:  "100% agree. Viking made this point too. What Limerick did was very simple. They mastered quick short passing to hand.

It might look cool, and is difficult to master killing a ball on your hurl but ultimately gives your opponent time to reset and defend. Not as bad when you're a defender but increase the advantage to a back when the forward has to take a second touch before turning.

We always had a reputation as leaders in fielding which is wiped out in the last two decades. I actually watched the 2003 aiqf against Antrim yesterday and the analysis was all about Wexford players ability to attack the ball and win clean possession. I know the game has changed but that's an incredibly important skill.

A secondary part of that is actually making the space to complete the pass well. Everyone remembers fitzy for his saves but he could hit a Euro coin from 70 yards I'd say.

Rory Jacob was obviously a small lad but his great strength was how quickly he could get the ball in his hand, turn and go.

What we have done well in recent years is the off the shoulder running. I noticed Damien reck in the first half Saturday made two one twos and continued his run from corner back to inside the Carlow 21 but never got the ball back. Is that a coaching problem or just inexperience around him?"
On your last point Id say a bit of both. But most importantly Id say its to do with the fact that many of the newer lads havent played with Reck that often, rather than general inexperience, so don't know what he's about. Hopefully their understanding of the way he breaks forwards, makes runs etc will improve as they get more time on the pitch with him.
Its the same in every team sport, the more time lads spend on the pitch together the better they know eachothers style, habits, patterns of play. It becomes an almost telepathic understanding.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18327 - 09/02/2026 13:35:36    2655661

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "If you are happy to stay in 1B, I hope we aren't.
With all due respect, 1B is intermediate hurling. Yes it can serve a purpose where like Rossiter he is building a team from scratch and giving players their bow.
But you need to play the top teams in the league, they aren't even at full speed and Offaly are putting it up to them. No disrespect but you learn so much more from playing the Munster counties than you ever will playing Down, Kildare and Antrim. The hurling in Pairc Ui Caoimh was a different level to the Wexford match.
By the way, if the floodlights in Wexford are "state of the art" then why are there shadows being cast on the pitch?"
IB is a good place for "transitioning" teams. Actually think its given Wexford a chance to bring in new lads without serial hidings in the top tier unless Chin et al were out early.

But 2/3 years definitely not good. Huge difference between most games in 1B and 1A. Only decent run outs - i hope! - Dublin get will be Clare and Wexford.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4002 - 09/02/2026 13:58:05    2655663

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "We need to get that back into Wexford hurling. Its drifted badly since the late 90s, which was the last time I saw loads of young lads pucking ball everywhere you went in the county."
Exactly and having a relativity successful county team is really the only way to get those hurls back in the young lads hands.

Was at a wedding in Fermoy down in Cork 2 summers ago and the reception was in a place called Garryvoe. I remember driving from Fermoy and passing through Castlelyons, Dungourney, Castlemartyr and the village where Fr O Neills are from (can't remember its name) and it was very noticeable the numbers of lads with hurls in the hand, pucking around to each other in each place. It was as actually lovely to see.

Goreylad1985 (Wexford) - Posts: 13 - 09/02/2026 14:23:51    2655666

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "In what way failed? As a 6 he is effectively a spare man, as 11s don't stay at centreforward anymore. And there's no better man on the Wexford team to play that spare man at the back role. He is good at snuffing out goal threats at source, even if that means giving away a scoreable free. He covers behind all our other defenders, or covers for them when they go forward, when needed. He delivers good fast ball forwards. He reads the game very well. He is capable of chipping in with the odd point also.
What kind of 6 are you wanting?"
I'd like the 6 to be a good organiser of the other defenders around them, strong in the air and in the tackle and also a good distributor. Reck only ticks the last box for me. I wouldn't mind seeing him with Hearne at midfield. Talented player don't get me wrong but not a 6 for me.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 504 - 09/02/2026 14:38:36    2655671

Link

Replying To Doylerwex:  "Was talkies to one of our young lads who was involved with county underage and I asked him about his ambitions of playing senior for Wexford. He said he wasn't sure which totally shocked me. His reason was simple "we're not very good". I'd say the young lad will never look me in the eye again. He was treated to a pretty intense lecture about how he's in a position to do something about that."
Thats what dissapoints me. I wont name names here because its not fair but we have lads playing under 14 the whole way to under 20 and then deciding they dont want to play senior hurling for Wexford. I would think if your playing underage for Wexford surely your ambition should be to one day hurl on the Wexford Senior Hurling team.

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 864 - 09/02/2026 14:39:29    2655672

Link

Replying To Formertownie:  "By just making those runs you create space defenders have to make those decisions . I m forever telling players to make the runs. You wont always get the pass but you are contributing to the play . 2nd part of that is just because you have the ball and someone else helping to create space does nt mean u never pass and just shoot yourself every time . Eventually u will stop supporting if no matter what space you are in you dont get the pass . Teamwork is key
Great example yesterday
If you watch Gillanes goal yesterday . Limerick support runner goes inside . klikenny defender makes decision to back off split them Gilliane sees this sets himself up bang goal .
Defender prob done right thing. Backed his goalie or expected Gillane to take point . All created by a simple support runner
Time space all created by support runner who should take as much credit as Gillane IMO
ALL CREATED BY WORKRATE COLLECTIVELY especially forwards and midfield can't be stressed enough ."
I think he did the wrong thing. He had momentum and stopped up when he should have kept going. If it was a sub he might have thrown it across, it was Aaron Gillane. He had 1 thing on his mind. Goal.
If Gillane had tried to pass it across the goalkeeper might have intercepted it.
Its easy to be wise now and hindsight and all that but make them have 3 actions to get the goal - the pass, the catch, the shot - instead of 1 - hit the target.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1554 - 09/02/2026 14:41:57    2655673

Link

Replying To theboys:  "One sure thing is lawlor is no centre back and carley is no corner back!!! Both terrible yesterday!! Why dont they play lawlor wing back,done his best hurling there last year!! Maybe carley wing back to?? Wickham is a good young chap probably better in midfield for me!! Hes better than banville whos tried and tested but just not up to it!!! No doubt we are struggling big time!! Impressed with tucker and simon so far!! Long way away,but good to be winning,i hope they enjoy it this week because it might be there last win for a while bar may be kildare"
It's funny to pick out those two as watching them underage you would have said they were certs to have had long careers at senior level. Lawlor has had chances in multiple positions but never really nailed one down. Big opportunity for both of them to show what they are made of in Croke Park the next day.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 504 - 09/02/2026 14:43:45    2655675

Link

Replying To Goreylad1985:  "Exactly and having a relativity successful county team is really the only way to get those hurls back in the young lads hands.

Was at a wedding in Fermoy down in Cork 2 summers ago and the reception was in a place called Garryvoe. I remember driving from Fermoy and passing through Castlelyons, Dungourney, Castlemartyr and the village where Fr O Neills are from (can't remember its name) and it was very noticeable the numbers of lads with hurls in the hand, pucking around to each other in each place. It was as actually lovely to see."
Fully agree the only way we get something like this in Wexford is a succesful senior hurling team. Getting back to 1A would do that no harm at all.

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 864 - 09/02/2026 14:47:34    2655677

Link

Replying To Doylerwex:  "Was talkies to one of our young lads who was involved with county underage and I asked him about his ambitions of playing senior for Wexford. He said he wasn't sure which totally shocked me. His reason was simple "we're not very good". I'd say the young lad will never look me in the eye again. He was treated to a pretty intense lecture about how he's in a position to do something about that."
Its definitely part of the problem. If every good player who has opted out because we weren't very good was still playing then we would be pretty decent.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18327 - 09/02/2026 14:47:37    2655678

Link

Replying To Goreylad1985:  "Exactly and having a relativity successful county team is really the only way to get those hurls back in the young lads hands.

Was at a wedding in Fermoy down in Cork 2 summers ago and the reception was in a place called Garryvoe. I remember driving from Fermoy and passing through Castlelyons, Dungourney, Castlemartyr and the village where Fr O Neills are from (can't remember its name) and it was very noticeable the numbers of lads with hurls in the hand, pucking around to each other in each place. It was as actually lovely to see."
Ive friends in Castlelyons that Ive been visiting the last 30 odd years, socially and with work. I usually go up through Lismore, and you'd see young lads in Conna waiting to be collected after training and it nearly dark in November and February and all the months between. Castlelyons also, then you have Bride Rovers a few miles away if you are heading into the city down the motorway. Hurling is pretty much all year round in those places. County Board made a push 2 or 3 years ago to try get our clubs to be more like that, extend the season at both ends, and go training twice a week instead of once a week. Sadly some clubs are still only going March/April til September. Some are also only training once a week. Which in a dual county like ours means that many u8s, u10s, u12s are only getting 2 hours of hurling training a month, and the some for Football. If you only do this for 5 or 6 months it means that our young players are only getting 10 or 12 hours of hurling per year. I get that there should be an onus on chaps to be practicing at home, but often they dont, unless their parents put their time in with them also. Which many cant or dont.
Other things clubs can do is organise underage tournaments, which promotes their club and gives young lads something to look forward to, especially at u10, u11, u12 and u13. Some are doing this, but many more aren't.
County Board could probably do with holding a series of 4 follow up meetings with the clubs in each District, in the same 4 venues. Both to see how the recommendations have been implemented since the last round of meetings, and also to ask the clubs for any other good ideas some lads might have that will improve our development of young players.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18327 - 09/02/2026 15:12:00    2655683

Link

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "IB is a good place for "transitioning" teams. Actually think its given Wexford a chance to bring in new lads without serial hidings in the top tier unless Chin et al were out early.

But 2/3 years definitely not good. Huge difference between most games in 1B and 1A. Only decent run outs - i hope! - Dublin get will be Clare and Wexford."
Yeah, suppose Wexford being in 1B isn't the end of the world but it'd be worse for Dublin given they were in 1B last year

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 872 - 09/02/2026 15:17:44    2655684

Link

Liam Ryan is meeting Rossiter this week,so sorry I made a mistake he hasn't said yes or no as of yet but S Reck is not coming back this year unfortunately. Our minors played tipp over the weekend lost by 6 or 7 points, in a good game apparently

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1172 - 09/02/2026 15:51:49    2655687

Link

Replying To hunting:  "Liam Ryan is meeting Rossiter this week,so sorry I made a mistake he hasn't said yes or no as of yet but S Reck is not coming back this year unfortunately. Our minors played tipp over the weekend lost by 6 or 7 points, in a good game apparently"
It would be some boon if Jippo stayed on another year. He's a postman around town, I'd see him sometimes, and always think he's a criminally underrated 3 in the county game.

Fulgrim (Wexford) - Posts: 274 - 09/02/2026 17:05:20    2655697

Link

Replying To Afinestick96:  "Thats what dissapoints me. I wont name names here because its not fair but we have lads playing under 14 the whole way to under 20 and then deciding they dont want to play senior hurling for Wexford. I would think if your playing underage for Wexford surely your ambition should be to one day hurl on the Wexford Senior Hurling team."
If you're playing hurling at all your ambition should be to win a senior intercounty title with Wexford. Why else would somebody be doing it? It's a self imposed ceiling where you're actively deciding you don't want to achieve the best you can. Just makeshift absolutely no sense to me in terms of mindset.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4225 - 09/02/2026 17:50:22    2655701

Link

Replying To Timbertony:  "It's funny to pick out those two as watching them underage you would have said they were certs to have had long careers at senior level. Lawlor has had chances in multiple positions but never really nailed one down. Big opportunity for both of them to show what they are made of in Croke Park the next day."
I don't think that's fair on Richie at all. He's been extremely unlucky with injuries which have prevented him from getting any momentum. He's a top class hurler and I wouldn't say he's underperformed at all.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4225 - 09/02/2026 17:52:40    2655702

Link

Replying To Fulgrim:  "It would be some boon if Jippo stayed on another year. He's a postman around town, I'd see him sometimes, and always think he's a criminally underrated 3 in the county game."
Genuinely think he's one of the best ever on his day.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4225 - 09/02/2026 17:54:59    2655703

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I think he did the wrong thing. He had momentum and stopped up when he should have kept going. If it was a sub he might have thrown it across, it was Aaron Gillane. He had 1 thing on his mind. Goal.
If Gillane had tried to pass it across the goalkeeper might have intercepted it.
Its easy to be wise now and hindsight and all that but make them have 3 actions to get the goal - the pass, the catch, the shot - instead of 1 - hit the target."
Right or wrong thing he had to make the choice because of the runner . Thr turnover from workrate by lynch . They were the points I was making . It took a turnover and teamwork selfless efforts off the ball wins games . Not any individual going as a lone ranger hoping to get headlines.

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 534 - 09/02/2026 17:56:24    2655704

Link

Would like to see Philip Dempsey at full-back the next day, think he's worth a go there and Foley at wing-back

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 872 - 09/02/2026 19:02:44    2655713

Link

Replying To Timbertony:  "I'd like the 6 to be a good organiser of the other defenders around them, strong in the air and in the tackle and also a good distributor. Reck only ticks the last box for me. I wouldn't mind seeing him with Hearne at midfield. Talented player don't get me wrong but not a 6 for me."
Why strong in the air? How many puckouts go long up the middle of the pitch these days? Or passes out from the back? Reck has a good hand on him anyway.
Think Reck is decent enough at organising too. He covers for all the other 5 backs also.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18327 - 09/02/2026 19:03:25    2655714

Link

Replying To Timbertony:  "It's funny to pick out those two as watching them underage you would have said they were certs to have had long careers at senior level. Lawlor has had chances in multiple positions but never really nailed one down. Big opportunity for both of them to show what they are made of in Croke Park the next day."
Not sure about certs, you can't usually tell, and its got harder to tell since the grade went back to u20.
Think I'd of been more sure of Roche, Rowley and Byrne off last years crop tbh. Kehoe, Wickham and Whelan the year before. 5 of those 6 actually started in Nowlan Park when we beat Kilkenny in the 2023 Leinster u20 semifinal.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18327 - 09/02/2026 19:28:57    2655717

Link