Replying To kodak13: "Who do you fancy to win the senior hurling after the weekend? Can Carnew finally win it? Glenealy aren't there yet."
I was at the Carnew game. I think Carnew are just about ready to end their drought. They looked sharp and hungry. Some very good hurling. Glenealy have a young team but are a year or two away from challenging. Didn't see the Bray Avondale game, probably Bray will improve. I think they will need to.
Replying To Freethinker: "I was at the Carnew game. I think Carnew are just about ready to end their drought. They looked sharp and hungry. Some very good hurling. Glenealy have a young team but are a year or two away from challenging. Didn't see the Bray Avondale game, probably Bray will improve. I think they will need to."
Is anyone concerned about the decline (from relatively high standards at least for Wicklow) in hurling standards over the last 15-20 years??. Perhaps Carnew have unearthed a few younger players but I was at the senior final last year and there was a huge gap between both teams even if it wasn't fully reflected on scoreboard. From what I can see the reality is that it is brays to lose and realistically only Carnew (maybe kiltegan ) on good day will challenge them??, I think it will be a generation before glenealy win it again, I think they are only starting a cycle that Carnew are in. Great to see western Gaels and Aughrim get stronger but standards are lower and arguably it is a max 1-2 team senior championship and will be for at least the short term future
Replying To Wonderingnow: "Is anyone concerned about the decline (from relatively high standards at least for Wicklow) in hurling standards over the last 15-20 years??. Perhaps Carnew have unearthed a few younger players but I was at the senior final last year and there was a huge gap between both teams even if it wasn't fully reflected on scoreboard. From what I can see the reality is that it is brays to lose and realistically only Carnew (maybe kiltegan ) on good day will challenge them??, I think it will be a generation before glenealy win it again, I think they are only starting a cycle that Carnew are in. Great to see western Gaels and Aughrim get stronger but standards are lower and arguably it is a max 1-2 team senior championship and will be for at least the short term future"
Some interesting points. In my opinion, hurling has declined in standard over the last fifty yrs or so. Counties that we could hold our own with have left us in their wake - Carlow, Kerry and others. Now we struggle against Derry, Mayo, and Donegal. As regards the current situation re Bray, Carnew and Glenealy, it can be argued that there has only been one dominant team at a time for almost 30 yrs. Kiltegan were dominant for a while, Carnew had their moments, then Glenealy held sway for years and then Bray fought their way to the top of the pile and are now going for 7? again, in my opinion, Bray are showing signs of a loosening grip on the title. Carnew have been threatening for a few yrs now and this could be their year. Looking at their team and the age profile, I couldn't see them remaining at the top for an extended period - providing they get there. Kiltegan indeed are threatening but they have been for a few years now. I'm not sure they are ready yet. Glenealy are rebuilding and are better than Carnew made them look on Saturday. Still, they are 2/3 yrs away from being challengers, I think.
Replying To Wonderingnow: "Is anyone concerned about the decline (from relatively high standards at least for Wicklow) in hurling standards over the last 15-20 years??. Perhaps Carnew have unearthed a few younger players but I was at the senior final last year and there was a huge gap between both teams even if it wasn't fully reflected on scoreboard. From what I can see the reality is that it is brays to lose and realistically only Carnew (maybe kiltegan ) on good day will challenge them??, I think it will be a generation before glenealy win it again, I think they are only starting a cycle that Carnew are in. Great to see western Gaels and Aughrim get stronger but standards are lower and arguably it is a max 1-2 team senior championship and will be for at least the short term future"
Could we say the same about football in the county? While it is great to see Blessington and Tinahely win senior championships in recent years, our clubs are no longer feared in the Leinster club championship since Baltinglass and Rathnew came back to the pack. This is reflected in our inability as a county to be promoted out of division four and to be able to stay out of the bottom division for any longer than one season. Equally, we still haven't reached a Leinster final even though Leinster is no longer the strong province it was previously. Louth could do it, why can't Wicklow? I think our problems start at home - coaching and player development is behind the majority of other counties in both hurling and football. This isn't meant as a criticism of the people giving up their time to do a job as volunteers but more a lack of vision at county level who fail to train these same people so they can development players at a local level who can if they wish compete with other counties at intercounty and provincial level. As the saying goes - it is a sign of madness to do the same things in the same way and expect different outcomes.
I havent posted for quite a while because of how difficult it can be to get back into the website but maybe thats just me. An interesting line up for the senior quarterfinals. As i go to many matches i have a major gripe about saturdays fixtures as i would have liked to see all the matches but that cannot happen now with the time frame. I cant see why the Aughrim fixtures couldnt have been earlier or better still have a dounble header on sunday. Maybe somebody can shed some light on why . Looking at the games ahead . Rathnew v Carnew. Carnew must be proud of their progress as it is their first year back in senior ranks. Many thought they might be fightng relegation at this stage but their proud tradition has stood to them and they have improved with every game. I think their draw with Balto in the first round gave them the belief that they could make an impact and they are in the quarter finals on pure merit. Rathnew have regressed from their former greatness and it is difficult to understand their huge defeat in the last game despite having qualified. Two red cards suggest a lack of focus on the game. If they lack that focus at the weekend Carnew will take full advantage . Rathnew have unearhed some talented players in Adam Byrne and young Moorehouse but they still are lacking enough scoring forwards and their midfield lack mobility and pace. It is a difficult one to call. A slight nod to Rathnew on the basis that we all know the pride they have in the Village but if Carnew can remain composed and stay in the game up to the last quarter then Rathnews legs might lack the energy to see out the game. St. Pats v Tinahely. I suppose Tinahely can consider themselves lucky to be in the quarter finals and they are discovering how difficult it is to put back to back titles...it just shows how goood the Balto and Rathnew teams of the past were. Pats like Rathnew have regressed and more worrying they havent been able to replace the great Paudge or Paul Earls. They over rely upon Tommy Kelly for most of their scores. I feel Tinahely are improving with each game and perhaps coming to form at the right time. Stokes (who should be playing for the county) Darcy and Ging pose a greater threat than the Pats forward line. Unless Kelly has an outstanding game and runs himself ragged i can see Tinahely winning tthis one. An Tochar v AGB. For many this looks the most entertaining game of the round. Two footballing teams who play a fast open attacking brand of football. Yet both have failed to land Miley. Is AGBs chance gone and will an Tochar prevail? It promises to be a high scoring game with many talented players on both sides. Their desire to continue playing open attractive football instead of learning to close games down when ahead has cost both teams dearly in past sasons. It is something they will have to learn whoever makes the semifinal. I feel that AGB might just get their noses in front at the end. Balto v Kiltegan. A real local derby here. Another difficult one to call. Balto can consider themselves lucky to have reached this stage after their draw against Carnew, an Tochar making a basic error to lose the game and Bray only losing by 4 points having to play without the aid of a strong wind in the second half which Balto had the aid of in the first half plus kicking some horrible wides. Kiltegan are playing a fast intense game and Seanie is looking a real threat as always. If Baltos full back line is isolated we could see plenty of goals. Kiltegan have a stronger bench and more passion and intensity in their play than Balto at present. Injuries to Doody, Kirwan and Jackson may be a deciding factor in this Derby. If Jackson and Kirwan are not fully fit or are not playing then Balto will find it very difficult to win possession around the middle and Paudge O Toole may cause havoc with his runs into the heart of the Balto rearguard. My nod is to Kiltegan considering Baltos injury worries and no Rogers in goal if Jackson fails to start