Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16686 - 21/05/2018 09:04:40    2102520

A win is a win. We looked rusty and not game fit, which is to be expected, so I am not too worried about lack of performance or a few bad wides etc. We played well in spells and showed there is certainly more in the tank than what we played yesterday. We really should have had it wrapped up, numerous times, but particularly mid way through the second half when we opened up a gap and then just fell apart.

However, the flip side to that is Dublin had all the momentum but we still won out. Rory O Connor is a pure star, not that we didnt know already. Great that we finally have a reliable free taker, an absolute must these days. Chin and McDonald were very poor IMO too. They get judged more harshly because of their quality. They are both top players and part of our best on the team, but sometimes I wonder does that pressure tell on them? Chin tries to do too much, those big long solo runs to no where, trying to burst through players and speculative shots. Sometimes the simple thing can be just as good as attempting the sublime. I also question his off field activities and the affects they may have on him too, but there is no one who can answer that only himself. Both will come good, but its utterly essential that they do.

I felt Mac was unlucky in that the ball delivered into him was awful, and then when he went out of full forward we hit in ball that would have suited him. Things just never went his way. The half back play from O Keefe and Foley was immense too, and I hope this game finally ends the talk of switching O Keefe and O Connor. O Keefe is far more effective coming from deep at half back, and O Connor is much stronger under our puck outs.

james2011 (Wexford) - Posts: 615 - 21/05/2018 09:26:33    2102528

Whats this nonsense about resting lads and putting out weakened teams? Do people think we will just steamroll offaly? Offaly put it up to kilkenny yesterday far better than we did in the league semi-final. We have to win at least 1 more game, so why not go all out to beat offaly with our best team and try get two wins from two games

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 21/05/2018 09:41:30    2102538

It seems like Conor Mc doesn't get played nearly enough ball, not just yesterday. Often times we get him 1-on-1 in front of goal and the ball is never hit in. He is one of the best 1-on-1 ball winners in the country. I don't get it. Okay, if the others have a sweeper or whatever, but when he's 1-on-1 play it in. It feels like the team only wants to hit 100% passes. And worse, the team views Conor Mc as a kind of "break glass in case of emergency" - when we are losing by 5 or 6 or need a goal then that's the only time they'll give him ball in onto the square. Our team is making our best player (in my opinion) look bad lads, when if they played him into the game he'd dominate.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2581 - 21/05/2018 09:46:50    2102540

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 21/05/2018 09:56:23    2102543

Great spirit and never say die attitude - that was the difference in the end. It's great that we now have players that can step up to the plate when Mac and Chin etc. are not firing on all cylinders. Compared to last years championship panel we have Paudie Foley, Kevin Foley, Rory O Connor and Damien Reck this year, and of course others with a few more more to come back. Onto Tullamore now for what will be a real dogfight I feel. Would take a one point win.

Sliotharyslope (Wexford) - Posts: 138 - 21/05/2018 10:10:08    2102549

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 21/05/2018 10:17:36    2102554

The most important game is the next game. Beat Offaly and then you can rotate some players if you want or needs be.

That was a very satisfying win for a few reasons.
1. A reliable free taker - When is the last time the hurlers had a 80%+ return from a free taker? Paul Codd?
2. The development of more leaders/big game players ... K Foley, P Foley, Reck and Rory O ... all eyes used to be on L Ryan, O'Hanlon, Chin and McDonald. Great to see these lads step up and have the bottle to grab the game.
3. That tight finish will stand to us ... If and it's a big if, we got a goal during our period of dominance in the second half, we would have won that game by 5-10 points. There's a lesson there to finish teams off when we are ahead.
4. Shaun Murphy display. I am delighted for him. I felt last year was a massive year of learning for him as you have to get used to playing that roving position, playing in front of huge crowds and keeping your head clear while the game is at championship intensity in order to read the game, win/control the ball and then distribute correctly. This is a really good sign for Wexford.

Having said all that, it's all irrelevant to the next game, as Wexford need to perform again next weekend.

Well done to the hurlers and all involved.

Punter72007 (Wexford) - Posts: 319 - 21/05/2018 11:35:22    2102594

Great finish when the game could easily slip away. A 12-15 point win over Offaly is crucial now, anything could see us lose out on a Leinster Final spot on score difference if Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny all beat each other.
Kilkenny missed at least three open goals yesterday and had several wides in never getting out of first gear against a very poor Offaly side.
Send out the strongest team of fully fit players and hurl Offaly out the gate has to be the mentality.

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 21/05/2018 11:38:32    2102597

Anyone who believes we should experiment and/or not start Chin or McDonald are either winding people up or are not up to speed with what this round robin lark is about. Offaly play Dublin in Parnell Park and see their home match with Wexford as their best chance of a win and are targetting this match as such. The Dublin match was always the most important one for Wexford but with that out of the way the Offaly match now becomes the most important and not solely because it's the next match. If Offaly beat Wexford its possible that we could even be relegated. We have given ourselves a great chance now of making the quarter finals and we must not let it slip from our grasp. Besides Offaly are facing relegationif the lose and will be no push-over in the circumstances. We must win and win well as a few posters have stated.

lochgarmanabu (Wexford) - Posts: 1022 - 21/05/2018 12:58:17    2102631

I dont think starting the likes of Maddock, Devereux, Firman, Dunne or Dunbar will weaken a team. I feel it will improve them as the new lads will give everything to make an impression on management. Thats how Kilkenny were so good for so long because there was always someone breathing down their neck to take their place if they werent performing. Also playing 4 matches in 3 weeks is not gonna be possible with the same starting 15.

With regard to Conor Mac Id bring him into the half forward line if he is very frustrated in the full forward line being double marked. Maybe move Jacko in there as he is so good under a puck out. I felt sorry for Mac as the high ball only started raining down when he was taken off and without him Dublin cleared up everything

Yellow (Wexford) - Posts: 589 - 21/05/2018 14:39:47    2102667

We shouldn't mess with the spine of the team anyway leave that how it is make changes around that if we need to... any injury's from yesterday did anyone hear??also who is U21s this year from the senior panel?? That wil be more games I know we only have to play a semi final and maybe a final but still more games???

gannett83 (Wexford) - Posts: 322 - 21/05/2018 19:28:28    2102779

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 21/05/2018 21:29:16    2102825

only seen the final 10 min of the match,and the highglights,but from what i seen we were very very lucky to get the win there.
we had men,real men,who had bottle to win a game we were on the cusp of losing.
i dont think i have ever heard a louder roar from the stand in wexford park than that winner.
i heard michael duignan on second captains yesterday,offaly will be viewing sunday as "an all-ireland final" and we will need to match that attitude.
far from resting players,we need to put out our best xv and make sure we win it.then we can focus on galway and kilkenny.
i too would take a 1-point victory,if wexford lose this match and also lose to kilkenny and galway (possible),and dublin beat offaly (likely),we will be hurling joe mcdonagh cup next year.the difference between all ireland quarter final and 2nd tier hurling are small.
far from getting ahead of ourselves and talking about resting players,we need to absolutely guarantee we win this one.
offaly have shane dooley,dan currams,joe bergin,ben conneely,etc.there is hurling in these lads and kilkenny only bet them by a few points.
get the result and worry about galway later.i think we can beat galway and i would be more concerned we take offaly for granted
start the same xv.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 22/05/2018 08:57:58    2102881

Totally agree perfect 10 - we need to start our best team and tear into Offaly from the start. Forget about Galway and KK we'll worry about them after Sunday. Its vital to get any kind of win on Saturday evening. Loch Garman Abu!!

logger (Wexford) - Posts: 308 - 22/05/2018 09:51:40    2102914

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 22/05/2018 10:27:03    2102938

Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 22/05/2018 11:23:38    2102958

On holidays so only seen the highlights, and was tuned in to Liam O'Muireacheartaigh-Spratt and co.
What a point by Rory O'Connor. What a talent he is. Sounded like a gutsy free to level it.
Need a win in Offaly, a good win is a bonus, but a win is the first priority.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 22/05/2018 12:03:57    2102974

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16686 - 22/05/2018 14:49:36    2103031

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 22/05/2018 15:20:07    2103039