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Wexford Football Championship

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Replying To zinny:  "Looked back on the goals and the first is one of those that could happen when there is quick ball, it just so happened it was unexpected and on our 45, the way was open in front of him as all the other Offaly players were spread out, it was one of those situations for the backs where either you go to the man and leave your man free, everyone did the former. The other two were disappointing as we had the players back behind the ball and its just that awareness seem to be missing, in fairness McManee's goal was brilliantly taken but the defense should have been far more aware to it. The second two were similar in that it wasn't quick breaking ball worked up the field but rather ball from the side, almost end line that they worked across while we had the bodies back.

In fairness I the team did far better than I expected given Offaly had some of their players back. It was a good game of football without much negativity in it. You could not fault the application showed by the lads however like yourself was shocked to see ND come onto the field. I know they try to mix it up a bit by switching Nolan and Hughes so the lads would be used to the high ball concept and we got a goal from it, but those are two mobile lads who contribute far more to the game.
Overall, I would have to say that the players are there to push on next year (although not sure Brosnan will be back) but looking how we were setup and defended at times their needs to be a change in the management team, not saying manager as it could also be the coaching staff we lack."
Maybe a backs/defence coach? Shane was predominantly a forward as a player though he did keep too.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11831 - 23/05/2022 14:31:39    2419742

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Replying To Viking66:  "Maybe a backs/defence coach? Shane was predominantly a forward as a player though he did keep too."
I know they brought in John Hegarty as a forwards coach late in the season, which was a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Graeme Molloy is part of the management team, surely he'd be able to focus on the defensive aspect as he was so good. What a full back he was.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1416 - 23/05/2022 15:17:39    2419763

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Replying To beano:  "I know they brought in John Hegarty as a forwards coach late in the season, which was a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Graeme Molloy is part of the management team, surely he'd be able to focus on the defensive aspect as he was so good. What a full back he was."
was asking lads why hegarty was on line yesterday all right, did not know that, it was said on here a while that lads thought we needed a forwards coach, iv felt we have a problem in half forward line, word is ben is in the mind to stay on, great sign to that 4 of the panal were missing yesterday as they are doing leaving , think its very important that shane stays on,i think he will, iv had a change of heart there lately, he has created a team and a set up that [for first time in ages] young lads really want to play for the team, getting to div 3 is top of agenda , and that is well in their grasp next year, laois sligo and wicklow will be our main challange, of course with our history lately so will london and waterford [before someone reminds me] look at it in a bright light [its more fun] the future is promising, the 2 o conners were a big loss , we had a bad year with injuries

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2841 - 23/05/2022 16:23:14    2419804

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Replying To beano:  "I know they brought in John Hegarty as a forwards coach late in the season, which was a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Graeme Molloy is part of the management team, surely he'd be able to focus on the defensive aspect as he was so good. What a full back he was."
He was. That team had some spine up through the middle of it. The most important thing in any GAA team after attitude. Its a problem we had the last few years. We don't have a settled spine. I know Shanley was studying to be a doctor and we've had a few injuries but we need to sort out the important positions.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11831 - 23/05/2022 16:36:21    2419816

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Replying To Stmunnsriver:  "was asking lads why hegarty was on line yesterday all right, did not know that, it was said on here a while that lads thought we needed a forwards coach, iv felt we have a problem in half forward line, word is ben is in the mind to stay on, great sign to that 4 of the panal were missing yesterday as they are doing leaving , think its very important that shane stays on,i think he will, iv had a change of heart there lately, he has created a team and a set up that [for first time in ages
young lads really want to play for the team, getting to div 3 is top of agenda , and that is well in their grasp next year, laois sligo and wicklow will be our main challange, of course with our history lately so will london and waterford [before someone reminds me] look at it in a bright light [its more fun] the future is promising, the 2 o conners were a big loss , we had a bad year with injuries"]Great positivity Stmunnsriver. Very unlike you. Good man! I think the future is as bright as it has been in a decade . The lads have really played hard in the last 2 championships. I think Shane has prioritised the championship over the League which I guess is the traditional Wexford way but maybe next year get the lads in a little earlier and give the League a good lash. We are unlikely to make a long run at Leinster yet, but only yet as I think this team has great potential looking 5 years down the line. And with the longish gap til the Tailteann Cup, which I think a good run in is a realistic goal over the next couple of years, we could surely afford to give the League a better go and then get the few weeks R and R and preparation between Leinster and the Tailteann.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11831 - 23/05/2022 16:43:20    2419818

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Replying To Viking66:  "He was. That team had some spine up through the middle of it. The most important thing in any GAA team after attitude. Its a problem we had the last few years. We don't have a settled spine. I know Shanley was studying to be a doctor and we've had a few injuries but we need to sort out the important positions."
I wouldn't be as worried about the spine as others are however if one of the lads gets injured at midfield I am not sure we have too many options. From what I have seen in the backs its more naivety than ability and with good coaching that can be resolved. The forwards are lacking another couple of players who can pop the ball over with ease. We have great runners but we need more danger men.
I would hope in 3yrs we are challenging for div 2 and i think that's what Shane and the team need to come out and say. We have the playing population and we need to be doing better.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1804 - 24/05/2022 16:37:15    2420021

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Replying To zinny:  "I wouldn't be as worried about the spine as others are however if one of the lads gets injured at midfield I am not sure we have too many options. From what I have seen in the backs its more naivety than ability and with good coaching that can be resolved. The forwards are lacking another couple of players who can pop the ball over with ease. We have great runners but we need more danger men.
I would hope in 3yrs we are challenging for div 2 and i think that's what Shane and the team need to come out and say. We have the playing population and we need to be doing better."
Yes we have the playing population but it still doesn't change the fact that alot of our best club footballers choose to play intercounty hurling.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11831 - 25/05/2022 10:06:53    2420098

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Replying To Viking66:  "Yes we have the playing population but it still doesn't change the fact that alot of our best club footballers choose to play intercounty hurling."
Doesn't help when they're discouraged from playing football at development squad and minor levels either. Biggest issue the county board need to address but they're quite happy to sit on their holes and do nothing about it.

FootballRising (Wexford) - Posts: 26 - 25/05/2022 11:24:58    2420120

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Replying To FootballRising:  "Doesn't help when they're discouraged from playing football at development squad and minor levels either. Biggest issue the county board need to address but they're quite happy to sit on their holes and do nothing about it."
Well, you have the soap box of an upcoming review where you can tell the county board just that.
Be sure to use that chance.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1732 - 25/05/2022 15:40:16    2420192

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Replying To Viking66:  "Yes we have the playing population but it still doesn't change the fact that alot of our best club footballers choose to play intercounty hurling."
Ok we will agree to disagree on that point however we have 12 Senior and Intermediate Clubs (ignore Inter A) thats say 600 players, 40 say are with Hurling that's a lot of players still left. You are right though a lot of them would chose hurling over football in a county setup and if they don't make it are just happy to play club Football. They just either don't believe they are good enough or don't see that the effort its worth it. I think there is an attitude problem and young lads perhaps are led to believe they really are not that good at football and shouldn't think about taking it that serious except for club football and that comes from an early age. A lot of Hurling lads think that having strong intercounty football teams will take away from Hurling, I believe the opposite is true - there doesn't have to be a loser in this and that is perhaps the message that needs to be given. Unfortunately changing a mindset is one of the hardest things to achieve.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1804 - 25/05/2022 16:03:52    2420206

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Replying To zinny:  "Ok we will agree to disagree on that point however we have 12 Senior and Intermediate Clubs (ignore Inter A) thats say 600 players, 40 say are with Hurling that's a lot of players still left. You are right though a lot of them would chose hurling over football in a county setup and if they don't make it are just happy to play club Football. They just either don't believe they are good enough or don't see that the effort its worth it. I think there is an attitude problem and young lads perhaps are led to believe they really are not that good at football and shouldn't think about taking it that serious except for club football and that comes from an early age. A lot of Hurling lads think that having strong intercounty football teams will take away from Hurling, I believe the opposite is true - there doesn't have to be a loser in this and that is perhaps the message that needs to be given. Unfortunately changing a mindset is one of the hardest things to achieve."
I agree a strong intercounty football team shouldn't necessarily mean a weak hurling team. Another problem with your numbers is this. There are lads I know who have been and still are good enough to play intercounty football, hurling or both but choose not to for lifestyle reasons. I know lads who have declined invitations from u20 and Senior football and hurling managements in recent years. Some who excel for their clubs and/or excelled at underage for county development squads. Some even were very good starters at u21 for the county but don't want to play senior. You give a figure of 600. Less 40 hurlers. Frankly there would be over 400 not good enough at football to play intercounty, another large number who are older, many of whom have retired from intercounty, and some whose time will come. There are a good number of minor and u20s playing in the senior and intermediate football championship sides. Hopefully the upcoming reviews will help in a change of mindset that you have rightly pointed out is needed, but I think the main thing we are crying out for are 2 or 3 scoring forwards like Forde and Lyng. I think lads with that talent are nearly born with it unfortunately. Some things can't be coached into a lad.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11831 - 25/05/2022 17:03:51    2420234

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For me though it's very simple, it needs to start from the top down

With the greatest of respect to Shane Roche we need a change and one that makes it look like we are actually taking this seriously.

Let's be honest if the roles were reversed would a manager with the same credentials be considered long term for the hurlers? Of course not yet the attitude in Wexford ah sure it's good enough for the footballers.

Even if they're not willing to do that for our senior team which I think is the case tbh, i think there's an element of just being happy enough to let things potter along as they are what about underage and starting there?

Look at what Laois done underage in getting Derek Mc Grath in to help with their underage hurling, I know from family up that way that there's been a huge upsurge in interest at underage from that one move alone cos it sends out a message "Jesus they got Derek Mc Grath in, well that shows they mean business" and kids who may have otherwise swayed to football and even other sports suddenly doubled down on the hurling.

Yep there is a review started so let's see what comes from it.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1336 - 26/05/2022 08:13:38    2420270

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Replying To beano:  "Yes the age profile is encouraging. Cian Hughes coming on as probably the best prospect for a long while, but there are a good few others his age right behind him that have potential too. The best thing is that they will be given the chance as well."
I stand corrected here beano, but I don't think Cian Hughes has played senior championship for his club. Would it be some sort of record (certainly very unusual) to play championship for the county before you played championship for the club ?

Yellaman (Wexford) - Posts: 106 - 26/05/2022 09:44:34    2420278

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Replying To Yellaman:  "I stand corrected here beano, but I don't think Cian Hughes has played senior championship for his club. Would it be some sort of record (certainly very unusual) to play championship for the county before you played championship for the club ?"
He is just out of minor so yeah under the current rules hasn't played senior championship for his club yet. I can't imagine there have been many others to have doe similar, if there are any at all.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1416 - 26/05/2022 10:28:16    2420286

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Replying To tearintom:  "For me though it's very simple, it needs to start from the top down

With the greatest of respect to Shane Roche we need a change and one that makes it look like we are actually taking this seriously.

Let's be honest if the roles were reversed would a manager with the same credentials be considered long term for the hurlers? Of course not yet the attitude in Wexford ah sure it's good enough for the footballers.

Even if they're not willing to do that for our senior team which I think is the case tbh, i think there's an element of just being happy enough to let things potter along as they are what about underage and starting there?

Look at what Laois done underage in getting Derek Mc Grath in to help with their underage hurling, I know from family up that way that there's been a huge upsurge in interest at underage from that one move alone cos it sends out a message "Jesus they got Derek Mc Grath in, well that shows they mean business" and kids who may have otherwise swayed to football and even other sports suddenly doubled down on the hurling.

Yep there is a review started so let's see what comes from it."
In fairness to Shane Roche, he stepped up to the plate and took on the job in unexpected circumstances when Paul Galvin resigned towards the end of 2020.

Co. Board gave Roche a two-year term in order to show some faith in him and give him some chance to build a team. To all intents and purposes, that term is up now, since there won't be any more inter-county football for Wexford this year. And while obviously I can't read Shane Roche's mind, I do expect that he won't be seeking to keep the job, and so the hunt will be on for somebody new all right.

Co. Board has twice in recent years shown a willingness to invest in senior football by splashing out on "big" names (Banty, Galvin), even if the results didn't turn out to be what we would have liked. So I think it's a bit off the mark to allege that they don't care who manages the footballers, and take the view that "ah sure, anybody will do".

As for getting in "big" names at underage level, Co. Chairman has spoken a few times of the difficulties of finding even Wexford people to get involved with the teams at all. Let's face it - becoming involved with a Wexford underage team would hardly be an attractive proposition then for any genuinely ambitious "big" name (rather than a money-grabber), given there's so little enthusiasm even in the county itself for it.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2241 - 26/05/2022 13:18:12    2420337

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Replying To tearintom:  "For me though it's very simple, it needs to start from the top down

With the greatest of respect to Shane Roche we need a change and one that makes it look like we are actually taking this seriously.

Let's be honest if the roles were reversed would a manager with the same credentials be considered long term for the hurlers? Of course not yet the attitude in Wexford ah sure it's good enough for the footballers.

Even if they're not willing to do that for our senior team which I think is the case tbh, i think there's an element of just being happy enough to let things potter along as they are what about underage and starting there?

Look at what Laois done underage in getting Derek Mc Grath in to help with their underage hurling, I know from family up that way that there's been a huge upsurge in interest at underage from that one move alone cos it sends out a message "Jesus they got Derek Mc Grath in, well that shows they mean business" and kids who may have otherwise swayed to football and even other sports suddenly doubled down on the hurling.

Yep there is a review started so let's see what comes from it."
You are wrong about the manager situation. We had Banty and Paul Galvin and you won't get higher profile than that. And in any case I think Shane had us set up fairly well. It's not his fault Shanley , our most creative player, missed most of the season or that we don't have 4 or 5 natural scorers. Or that we are still liable to the odd individual mistake that costs us a goal or point. We would have won in Belfield last time out but for 1 of these for instance.
We had a debate a couple months ago on this about which of the hurlers would make the football panel. While there were a good few, 10-15 depending on which poster, they were nearly all back 9 players for their clubs.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11831 - 26/05/2022 13:29:03    2420342

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Replying To Viking66:  "You are wrong about the manager situation. We had Banty and Paul Galvin and you won't get higher profile than that. And in any case I think Shane had us set up fairly well. It's not his fault Shanley , our most creative player, missed most of the season or that we don't have 4 or 5 natural scorers. Or that we are still liable to the odd individual mistake that costs us a goal or point. We would have won in Belfield last time out but for 1 of these for instance.
We had a debate a couple months ago on this about which of the hurlers would make the football panel. While there were a good few, 10-15 depending on which poster, they were nearly all back 9 players for their clubs."
So you think that a manager with the same credentials would be put in place in the 1st place for the hurlers and left there?

Banty got us promotion to division 3 and yes Galvin was a disaster.

The fact is for the footballers the league is ultimately where its at, thats how we built back in the late 90's and early part of this century to get the footballers competeing and even more so its the case with the Tailteann Cup. Ive watched our footballers and be told how we are playing good football, thats great only for the fact we arent winning and Division 4 football is won by being dogged and hard to beat.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1336 - 26/05/2022 14:43:33    2420366

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Wexford footballs aim next year should be div 3 and to win a taitleann cup.
These expectations are real and Shane Roche knows his brief and needs to be kept on.
Starting again with another set of ideas from another manager seems to be pointless.
The team is young and fresh and needs time together.

skipper101 (Wexford) - Posts: 14 - 26/05/2022 15:02:21    2420368

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Replying To tearintom:  "So you think that a manager with the same credentials would be put in place in the 1st place for the hurlers and left there?

Banty got us promotion to division 3 and yes Galvin was a disaster.

The fact is for the footballers the league is ultimately where its at, thats how we built back in the late 90's and early part of this century to get the footballers competeing and even more so its the case with the Tailteann Cup. Ive watched our footballers and be told how we are playing good football, thats great only for the fact we arent winning and Division 4 football is won by being dogged and hard to beat."
If Darragh Egan suddenly announced tonight that he was resigning from the senior hurling job, I'd expect the role to go to Willie Cleary for the rest of the year, in the same way that the football job went to one of Galvin's selectors when Galvin resigned.

And then if Cleary also convinced the Co. Board that he had a plan and vision for the year or two ahead, and would like a chance to put it into practice, I'd expect him to be given the job for another year or two, in the same way that Roche was appointed to the football position.

In all fairness, I think you're reaching for an argument here.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2241 - 26/05/2022 15:14:13    2420373

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "In fairness to Shane Roche, he stepped up to the plate and took on the job in unexpected circumstances when Paul Galvin resigned towards the end of 2020.

Co. Board gave Roche a two-year term in order to show some faith in him and give him some chance to build a team. To all intents and purposes, that term is up now, since there won't be any more inter-county football for Wexford this year. And while obviously I can't read Shane Roche's mind, I do expect that he won't be seeking to keep the job, and so the hunt will be on for somebody new all right.

Co. Board has twice in recent years shown a willingness to invest in senior football by splashing out on "big" names (Banty, Galvin), even if the results didn't turn out to be what we would have liked. So I think it's a bit off the mark to allege that they don't care who manages the footballers, and take the view that "ah sure, anybody will do".

As for getting in "big" names at underage level, Co. Chairman has spoken a few times of the difficulties of finding even Wexford people to get involved with the teams at all. Let's face it - becoming involved with a Wexford underage team would hardly be an attractive proposition then for any genuinely ambitious "big" name (rather than a money-grabber), given there's so little enthusiasm even in the county itself for it."
You could be right in regards to him stepping down.

I think for the past few years it has been a case of "ah sure let him at it" and my point wasnt in regards to just a big name, in fact ive never mentioned anything to do with a big name just pointing out that if it was the hurlers the same situation it wouldnt have happened or been allowed to.

And again youre missing the point about underage, like i said Derek Mc Grath in Laois led to a huge upsurge in interest in underage hurling, so youre telling me the same couldnt happen in Wexford? Is Laois hurling underage not attractive then yet look at them?

I think your post perfectly encaspsulates the attitude to football in the county to be honest, "what? get in someone with a bit of a name at underage for the football to see if it can generate some interest, shur whats the point, not even enough interest in the county itself"

My point is looking outside the box at what others have done to see if we can generate some more interest in it but again, i done firmly believe the appetite is there for it, i hope im wrong.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1336 - 26/05/2022 15:21:39    2420377

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