How can Wexford ever win anything when an underage player gets to play 4 or 5 games every year? The Development squads are a joke - they basically pick who's going to be on the minor team when the kids are 13. Also, there is the scandalous treatment of all players who went to Good Counsel - over the past 10 or 15 years Good Counsel have routinely beaten Peter's in hurling and football at every age group, yet how many Counsel men are on the hurling team? You see they pick the form players based on club, school and college performances on the football team. Maybe the hurlers should do the same. At present they promote a guy to the Senior set-up from the under-21 side and thats it, the guy is on the squad until he gives up or hits 35.
Does the County Board actually have a proper reason why they won't play club fixtures, get a proper manager (Justin McCarthy, Nicky English, Donal O'Grady are all free again next Summer), won't pick anyone west of Enniscorthy (even Rathnure and Cloughbawn people now), won't promote underage GAA, and generally don't care so long as they get to keep their jobs? Would there be something wrong with a new club competition for club teams over the summer where they have to play without their county men???
It actually suits the Wexford County Board to have the football team do well and Kilkenny as our successful neighbours. Because it gives them excuses. They complain that everything is against them. Well it isn't. Fair play to the footballers. They get even less time from the Board, and have even more teams competing with them and do really well. What's the hurlers' excuse?

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 09/09/2008 22:06:34    96663

I thought Cork was west of Enniscorthy.

PT109 (Limerick) - Posts: 61 - 10/09/2008 10:55:47    96898

Because the great amateur game is no longer

The County Player gets
Travel expenses
Free playing gear
A hot meal after each training session
Free tickets to matches
And rightly so!

But the club (second class) player doesn't even get to play championship games during the summer
Doesn't know when the games are going to be played
Is expected to play every week when it does get started
Is expected to play mid week, when it does get started we all don't work / study locally
Will be playing in poor weather and ground conditions

The county board are investing millions in training facilities outside of Ferns for the county players, why not invest in a decent club championship

WEX98 (Wexford) - Posts: 547 - 10/09/2008 13:30:43    97132

Would agree with some of what you say but I understood that a large number of the players on the Good Counsel teams were from Kilkenny.

lochgarmanabu (Wexford) - Posts: 1022 - 10/09/2008 14:10:59    97198

Well said WEX98. Its scandalous. Kilkenny, who have to be accepted as a good model of how to do things appreciate their clubs - after all it was through club displays that Eoin Larkin got on the county panel to begin with.

Good Counsel teams are usually 65% Wexford, 35% Kilkenny. No more than that. My other point is that even the football team has the sam split, yet our football squad has 13/14 GCC players, yet the hurlers have possibly one or two.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 10/09/2008 18:32:22    97531

icehonesty, i agree with most of what you say, but lets not get too negative here, which all of a sudden has become the way in Wexford since the footballers had a good year. We won the U-16 hurling all-ireland, we had a minor team who should have beaten a galway team who threw away the all-ireland. The club championship IS a TOTAL FARCE which needs sorting out soon. However, i dont like the criticism that John Meyler is getting of late. If the county board could, they would have loved to get a bigger name, but the hurlers are just not there and Justin Mc / Nicky English would see that in a second. We waited 4 months for JM to take the job, be glad he is still there!!!! I dont like the all of a sudden mood swing within wexford, all of a sudden it is everyone following the footballers and saying the hurlers are crap. The same people were slapping backs in '96 as we all well know. If they turn their back on the hurlers like they have i hope they dont bother coming back. And that is not saying the footballers dont deserve support, but the way people have talked about the hurlers of late is unfair. And Ciaran Lyng having a go at JM for simply stating the obvious is unhelpful. Just because he is not good enough to make the hurling team!!!!!!!
So, finishing up, we all need to get behind the hurlers again, because we have always had great support, they now need that support worse than ever.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 10/09/2008 23:15:12    97646

Pinkie, I agree that we should support the hurlers. I wouldn't have put the post up if I didn't care. But I think we should compare Wexford to other hurling counties, not the footballers. I think a big name would certainly take over Wex hurling if the professional can-do attitude was there from the Co Board. Why wouldn't they come in - some club teams have better managers. And I think, to be fair, we should do whatever it takes to get a good man in. I don't see much difference in the team since Meyler came in. Does anyone else see an improvement?
And I know some of the underage did ok this year. But wait and see how badly they are man-managed over the next couple of years.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 11/09/2008 11:55:42    97874

oulart 4-25 oylgate 0-6 scorelines like this in the senior championship is why wexford hurling is a joke. i say this as an interested carlow fan is not a snipe at wexford god knows we have plenty problems of our own. the key to a successful county team is a competitive club scene at all grades and the county board messing the clubs around all the time isn't helping bring on players. it seems once u get a wexford jersey its yours for life short of a serious fall out with management

barrow (Carlow) - Posts: 128 - 11/09/2008 13:11:21    97991

Club structure definitely needs to be looked at. The club matches should take place during the all-ireland series. If somebody get injured then so be it. The benefits would out wiegh the odd injury. The problem Wexford has is that we are in the same province as Kilkenny. KK have shown this year that they have the abilitiy to beat most teams by 20+ points. If Wexford were in Munster they would fare pretty well. I think selectors and managers on underage teams need to have the integrity to pick the best players in the county and not players from their own clubs. A few years ago there was a selector on a side and there were 3/4 players from his club on the panel!!! A manager had his son on the minor again a few years ago and the chap should not be near a club team let alone a county team. Cody picks the best 15 regardless of name of reputation. That's why you have 15 lads on the team that will play at the their best and 15 subs just waiting for a chance because they know that they will be picked if they paly well or dropped if they dont. There are too many Wexford hurlers that are sure of their place as there is a lack of competition for places.

Paul1798 (Wexford) - Posts: 19 - 11/09/2008 13:38:15    98022

Barrow / Paul - excellent points. I think that its a vicious cycle. You get kids picked for development squads because of their Dad, or the Selector is from their club. Then since there are no club games or competitions to find new players, these guys play under-21 and eventually Senior. And then there seems to be no way to get dropped. The only reasons guys leave the panel are because they dont fancy being a sub or losing any more. Not because there is a selection policy.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 11/09/2008 16:00:16    98224

Sorry icehonesty i didnt mean that as a cut at you or anything, i know you care as you say you wouldnt have started this post if not. I agree club structures are a joke, but i'll say it again. Clubs MUST decide which code they are playing. Now just look at it. In the New Ross district, there are two teams who really care about hurling - Cushinstown and Ross themselves (sorry to the rest). The rest all care more about football, simple as that. In the Enniscorthy district, the opposite is the case (maybe Duffry?). So why cant these clubs just play one game, that way the club scene can keep going in conj. with the county team. However, JR and JM must take some responsibility for the farce as well. They seem to be all demand and no give, and the county board just gives them their way. OK, i dont want to see what happened in Longford this year happening, but surely there is no reason why we cant play club games 1 weekend and county games the next.
All in all, i still think the best solution is for hurling clubs to play hurling, football clubs to play football, end of story. And the "look at Cork/Galway" argument doesnt hold any value - the clubs are in totally different parts of those 2 counties so that is not a valid comparison.
Club scene - as somebody said, Oulart hammering Oylegate did either of them no good. Is it time we looked at reducing the number of senior teams to 8? Too many teams in the comfort zone in senior - "win one game and were safe" mentality. Dont say "tournaments in summer without inter-county players", it's called the ACHL and there is more cut in U-12 matches.
What you think?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 11/09/2008 16:37:53    98267

I cant agree with you on the one code only in each club issue. I dont see there being a problem with it at present. Basically every club in Wexford has decided more or less already. There are plenty of clubs where its basically football or hurling already. And the others where they play both, I don't see it as being a huge drawback. The football team is made up of New Ross district teams, plus Kilanerin and Castetown and one or two others. The hurling comes from the Enniscorthy and Wexford districts. Making them choose one or the other would only eliminate the possibility of one or two players emerging from a small club- e.g if they had been forced I reckon 20 yrs ago Duffry would have picked football (I may be wrong), therefore no Fitzy.
If its managed properly, one can help the other. I still think Wexford can be a dual county and I don't think I will ever change my mind.
I think, if you're honest, is there even one club outside of Oulart, the Alley and Rathnure where they train, coach and promote hurling properly? I mean to the standard of a Kilkenny or Cork club? Because until the existing hurling clubs look after their own house they have no cause to ruin the progress the footballers have made.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 11/09/2008 17:19:51    98305

Pinkie.. Meyler is getting attacked because of his unwelcome comments regarding the footballers who could be hurlers, and the Richie Kehoe comments earlier in year.
Lyng was simply answering back to a very untactful comment. He is entitled to do so.
And it was Meyler who suggested Lyng would be good enough - for you to suggest otherwise is pointless; and it invaildates any comments you make.

Meyler nneds to realise that his job is to challenge for trophies..not to publicly whine when he has his side relegated, and when he sees the alternative code still getting games in August.

turtle (Wexford) - Posts: 242 - 11/09/2008 19:20:32    98384

Look, i make a point and stick by it. The only footballers who would be on the hurling panel would be Red Barry and maybe Brian Malone. Turtle, you have done nothing but criticise Meyler on these pages - whats with the grudge? Were you dropped or soemting by him? Sounds like you have a problem with him. I agree with you that he handled the Richie Kehoe situation terribly, and that he may not be the best media man, but what did he say that Ciaran Lyng thinks he should be sacked over? All he did was say that some of the footballers would be good enough to make the hurling panel, i dont think he was trying to "unsettle" the footballers. And i dont think he is bitter that the footballers are playing in August - the hurlers hurl in August most years, and should have been this year which JM must take some blame for throwing the game again waterford away. Meyler is totally entitled to complain when we are relegated on a technicality, what is your problem with that? Also, when did Meyler say Lyng would be good enough? I remember a couple of years ago he was on the senior panel and couldnt even make the U-21 hurling team. I dont see how my comments have been invalidated. Please explain?
icehonesty, the only drawback with the clubs playing both is the fixture congestion it creates as the games cant seem to go ahead if one or other of the codes are still in action. I agree with the 3 clubs you mention, but i reckon most of the senior clubs in either codes would gladly choose one or other if it meant getting competitive games in the summer. Do you agree? Or does our fixtures committee need a kick up the backside? What you think? I'm not disagreeing with you, i just think the fixtures congestion caused by both is unhelpful. Or do we need to start one or other championship earlier in the year?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 11/09/2008 23:26:24    98476

icehonesty, i agree with your pfoint that if the duffry had chosen 20 years ago there would be no fitzy, but who is to say that we havent missed out on others in other clubs because lads just get sick of not being able to plan anthing for the whole summer only to end up trying to hurl in the muck in october. I agree in a way with your point, but i cant help think that in any county you will always miss more than you get, i.e the likes of Fitzy is an exception.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 11/09/2008 23:30:49    98480

oylgate beat st pats by 18 points
oulart beat oylgate by 31 points (without rossiter, stamp & mythen)
oulart play st pats in next round of championship.
How could wex hurling be healthy.Club players (& supporters)have beeen waiting all year for 'championship' & now this is what we all have to suffer. If the county board want to persist with this format of championship dual clubs are finished.
Dual clubs havent a hope of sucess alternating both codes every week,(st annes in 2000 a once off) but the big loser is wexford, in both codes. If you want to attain high standards at your sport you need to be playing it all the time, eg kilkenny. Constantly switching sports just means failure at both.
I know it wont happen but clus of Wexford must decide hurling OR football.

spice21 (USA) - Posts: 84 - 12/09/2008 23:58:40    99290

Well said spice21, i know it wont happen either but it's high time something is done. Even if 10-15 clubs committed to each it would be something. You could also play football/hurling in these clubs if the clubs wanted, but it would have to be in place of the hurling/football league or something. I dont really know how it would work but it has to be done, and soon. Players are turning away, the socer is back now and every player knows every fixture between now and next april. No wonder players are turning their back.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 13/09/2008 13:46:51    99388

Wouldnt you think Meyler would try to hold on to his own players (Richie Kehoe, Keith Kavanagh and Clive Lawlor) instead of trying to take them off the football team (Red and Brian) after Jason Ryan doing all the work and Meyler only causing rows. We have to start again. We need to freshen up the whole set up.

WexMan (Wexford) - Posts: 42 - 18/09/2008 14:02:40    102515

Why can't they just split the 2 seasons so that clubs don't have to choose between hurling and football? 3 months of football and the same for hurling. I just can't understand why the 2 sports compete with each other when playing the same sport week on week would make so much more sense. On a broader scale, the intercounty football season could be played during the hurling club season and vice versa. There is no logical reason against this, as the same amount of games will have to be played, just every week as opposed to every 2nd week. The real reason it won't happen is that the vast majority of the country are only football counties and couldn't give a hoot if hurling is never played in their county. Unless a change like this is made, hurling will die.

PT109 (Limerick) - Posts: 61 - 18/09/2008 14:06:35    102518

"Wouldnt you think Meyler would try to hold on to his own players (Richie Kehoe, Keith Kavanagh and Clive Lawlor) instead of trying to take them off the football team (Red and Brian) after Jason Ryan doing all the work and Meyler only causing rows"

I disagree with you Wexman, i dont think Meyler was trying to cause rows. Who was he trying to start a row with? If lads want to play football, thats their own business. It's entirely their own choice but i think JM was trying to say the door is open, end of story. Time to freshen it up - i dont think it would take too much to get JM to pack it in and if he does, good luck to you trying to get anyone better. We waited long enough to get him to take the job, say what you like - nobody wanted it.

PT109, the problem is that in Wexford some of the hurlers are top club footballers, and vice versa (Same in Limerick i guess?). 3 months of each sounds ideal but we cant play any of either in Wexford in the current climate. How are the club games run in Limerick? Your right - the longer the current system prevails, hurling is dying. Most clubs in Wexford are one or the other, say what you like.

Oh the times they are a changing.......

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 18/09/2008 16:52:46    102671