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The way the last couple of round of the Senior have panned out, there a really big chance for Tinahely to drive on and do back to back titles and possibly set up a three in a row. The pattern of last year is being repeated in that teams who had strong league and/or early group phase form have fell by the wayside and Tinahely look to be timing their run nicely like last year. Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 170 - 02/09/2025 11:24:14 2634586 Link
I believe the draws for all the football championships are on tonight. Baltinglass v AGB and Tinahely v Carnew is my prediction. Intermediate Hollywood v Aughrim Laragh v Avondale They will be real local derby's kodak13 (Wicklow) - Posts: 102 - 02/09/2025 12:41:59 2634598 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "Three form team: AGB, Tinahely and Carnew plus a battle hardened championship - Baltinglass came through over the weekend. Based upon what I've seen, I think Tinahely are timing their run plus the experience of winning the championship last year will make them favourites to win this year's competition. I have alot of sympathy for Kiltegan. They could easily be in the semi-final. I detest this notion that a championship game is decided using a penalty shootout when the county final probably won't be played until October. I disagree with a high fence being reinstalled around the county ground's pitch. I've followed GAA matches in Wicklow for over forty years; during this time one club has been involved in most of the unsavoury episodes. What happened on Saturday should be the final straw, severe punishment needs to be imposed on the culprits so these incidents stop." Its the same with most counties, they have that one club that can't behave themselves. We have it here in Kildare club hurling too. Yet nothing gets done about it, and so it continues. Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2506 - 02/09/2025 13:53:33 2634613 Link
Replying To Bon: "Its the same with most counties, they have that one club that can't behave themselves. We have it here in Kildare club hurling too. Yet nothing gets done about it, and so it continues." There's more than one club at it in co Wicklow Annacurra,glenealy,Carnew and Rathnew have all had issues over the last few years. No place for it in modern day football. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 111 - 02/09/2025 20:31:29 2634669 Link
There's certainly no shrinking violets in Rathnew, but to suggest that discipline issues start & end with Rathnew is way off the mark. There's very few clubs can consider themselves exemplary in disciplinary matters. Basically, you have as much indiscipline as is tolerated and we've unfortunately had generational mismanagement of our games across most administrative functions but particularly in regard to discipline enforcement. Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 170 - 03/09/2025 01:22:32 2634694 Link
Replying To Hawkeye2: "There's certainly no shrinking violets in Rathnew, but to suggest that discipline issues start & end with Rathnew is way off the mark. There's very few clubs can consider themselves exemplary in disciplinary matters. Basically, you have as much indiscipline as is tolerated and we've unfortunately had generational mismanagement of our games across most administrative functions but particularly in regard to discipline enforcement." 100% and county board need to be stronger. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 111 - 03/09/2025 11:27:34 2634723 Link
In fairness to Rathnew they have reduced their bad behaviour significantly in the past few years, but still have issues with a portion of their club. Even looking at national outlets that have put the story up on their social media, you can clearly see people from this club threatening and abusing people who have commented that it was to be expected from this club. The county board has to take serious action on discipline. I actually think that club would be very happy to see these people get huge bans, however, I don't think our county has ever taken discipline seriously. The Annacurragh video from last year comes to mind, where a lot more punches were thrown specifically directly to the head, but the player received zero suspension. There is also a significant amount of red cards being overturned this year, and I'm sure this will continue. If you get sent off, the very minimum is one game suspension instead of completely overturning the red card, which looks to happen a lot here. It just sets such a bad precedent that red cards can be overturned if you put any pressure on the county board. It should also be noted that Carnew has had a lot of discipline issues also (albeit not as much as the aforementioned club) and has been involved in a number of underage quarrels to put it mildly in very recent years, including from the sideline.. Finally our county has had a serious population growth of people moving from Dublin ect. A lot that has not come from a GAA background. The scenes from last weekend have a massive impact on these parents' decisions as to whether to join the local GAA club in Wicklow or not. The county board should consider this carefully and start taking discipline seriously. Tank (Wicklow) - Posts: 13 - 03/09/2025 11:40:01 2634726 Link
Replying To Hawkeye2: "There's certainly no shrinking violets in Rathnew, but to suggest that discipline issues start & end with Rathnew is way off the mark. There's very few clubs can consider themselves exemplary in disciplinary matters. Basically, you have as much indiscipline as is tolerated and we've unfortunately had generational mismanagement of our games across most administrative functions but particularly in regard to discipline enforcement." There may be other culprits as you suggest and I don't like singling out individuals or clubs, however, I've been following GAA in Wicklow for over forty years and most of the worst incidents involve Rathnew. Amazing thing is when they are playing for the county team and I'd like players to play a bit more aggressive within the rules of the game, they don't. It must be that they know they'll be reprimanded severely outside our own county. The county board have to punish these type of incident severely otherwise these type of incidents will continue. What happened on Saturday was the worse I've seen and I've seen some terrible incidents. I'm saying this as some one who think there should be more physicality in the modern game but this is not about physicality, it is about thuggery. This is a watershed, if there aren't sanctions for this type of incident then somebody could be seriously injured or worse in the future. I attend games in Kildare and Wicklow regularly plus I've attend matches in other counties occasionally. I haven't witnessed this type of behaviour in other counties. Maybe these incidents are more prevalent at league games which I rarely go to. Also, in Wicklow, the majority of players and clubs behave themselves. I believe it is a small minority who are indulging in this behaviour and the lazy media are painting the whole county in the same light. Hopefully this matter will be dealt with properly and teams will behave for the rest of the championship. I'd much prefer to be talking about the two upcoming semi-finals than this type of behaviour. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2134 - 03/09/2025 12:11:42 2634732 Link
Replying To Hawkeye2: "There's certainly no shrinking violets in Rathnew, but to suggest that discipline issues start & end with Rathnew is way off the mark. There's very few clubs can consider themselves exemplary in disciplinary matters. Basically, you have as much indiscipline as is tolerated and we've unfortunately had generational mismanagement of our games across most administrative functions but particularly in regard to discipline enforcement." Good points and relevant. We must have the biggest hole under our carpets in the land with all the stuff that has been brushed under them over the years Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1848 - 03/09/2025 12:28:42 2634740 Link
On a positive note, congratulations to Wicklow u-16 hurlers who won the All-Ireland 'C' championship last weekend beating Kildare and Clare. Well done to everyone involved. Hopefully our hurlers can build on these type of results. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2134 - 03/09/2025 12:52:23 2634744 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "There may be other culprits as you suggest and I don't like singling out individuals or clubs, however, I've been following GAA in Wicklow for over forty years and most of the worst incidents involve Rathnew. Amazing thing is when they are playing for the county team and I'd like players to play a bit more aggressive within the rules of the game, they don't. It must be that they know they'll be reprimanded severely outside our own county. The county board have to punish these type of incident severely otherwise these type of incidents will continue. What happened on Saturday was the worse I've seen and I've seen some terrible incidents. I'm saying this as some one who think there should be more physicality in the modern game but this is not about physicality, it is about thuggery. This is a watershed, if there aren't sanctions for this type of incident then somebody could be seriously injured or worse in the future. I attend games in Kildare and Wicklow regularly plus I've attend matches in other counties occasionally. I haven't witnessed this type of behaviour in other counties. Maybe these incidents are more prevalent at league games which I rarely go to. Also, in Wicklow, the majority of players and clubs behave themselves. I believe it is a small minority who are indulging in this behaviour and the lazy media are painting the whole county in the same light. Hopefully this matter will be dealt with properly and teams will behave for the rest of the championship. I'd much prefer to be talking about the two upcoming semi-finals than this type of behaviour." No disrespect intended, but if you are only attending championship matches played in Aughrim or other main grounds and not also plugged into lower grade championships, league games and what's happening at underage games then you are not even aware of half of what goes on from a indiscipline perspective in the county. Having been at the game Sat (although at the other side of the ground) and seen the videos circulating, this incident doesn't even rank in the top ten of what I have witnessed happening over the years. Like I said above , you get the amount of indiscipline that is tolerated and therein lies the problem. Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 170 - 03/09/2025 15:31:03 2634770 Link
Replying To Hawkeye2: "No disrespect intended, but if you are only attending championship matches played in Aughrim or other main grounds and not also plugged into lower grade championships, league games and what's happening at underage games then you are not even aware of half of what goes on from a indiscipline perspective in the county. Having been at the game Sat (although at the other side of the ground) and seen the videos circulating, this incident doesn't even rank in the top ten of what I have witnessed happening over the years. Like I said above , you get the amount of indiscipline that is tolerated and therein lies the problem." I don't live in the county so I admit I can only attend a certain number of games per year. I'm commenting on what I've seen at the matches I've attended. I don't comment on what I haven't witnessed. I know one thing - a county board will struggle to win the hearts of the public and encourage parents to push their children to get involved in GAA in a county if these or worse incidents are occurring without the problem being addressed. The fact that there is worse incidents that I haven't seen only means that the problem is worse than a lot of people realise. It begs the question, why are these incidents allowed to happen without punishment? It's been going on for as long as I can remember which isn't today or yesterday. What football fan wants to see what happened on Saturday while attending a football game? wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2134 - 03/09/2025 18:13:11 2634794 Link
Replying To Hawkeye2: "No disrespect intended, but if you are only attending championship matches played in Aughrim or other main grounds and not also plugged into lower grade championships, league games and what's happening at underage games then you are not even aware of half of what goes on from a indiscipline perspective in the county. Having been at the game Sat (although at the other side of the ground) and seen the videos circulating, this incident doesn't even rank in the top ten of what I have witnessed happening over the years. Like I said above , you get the amount of indiscipline that is tolerated and therein lies the problem." In fairness I think we are all in agreement that something has to be done ,this can't continue the county board need to act .The amount of appeals is ridiculous, maybe there should be no appeal for referee abuse or repeat offenders for the same offence. Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 111 - 03/09/2025 18:49:00 2634803 Link
Replying To wicklowsupport: "On a positive note, congratulations to Wicklow u-16 hurlers who won the All-Ireland 'C' championship last weekend beating Kildare and Clare. Well done to everyone involved. Hopefully our hurlers can build on these type of results." That u16 team is a class team with some fine hurlers on it. Unfortunately some of the best players are dual players and it looks like they will be forced to choose for minor. Why we can't have a minor dual player programme like Offlay/Westmeath is beyond me. liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 212 - 03/09/2025 19:21:10 2634809 Link
Reading this years predictions quite a bit, baltinglass been written off more than any other club in which I don't get.. Best team 1-15 and have been in 4/5 last county finals. Tinahely will bring it all to them and it will be great to see replay of final last year. Tinahely are favourites for a reason with Balto close second - can see this going down to the wire. ET needed Carnew v AGB - what a story for carnew being intermediate champions and getting to the semi. Thought Agb will suit carnew the most to be able to reach final. Agb have been electric so far so looking forward to this humdinger On a separate note - I hope Rathnew players involved are handed a lengthy ban.. if they get away with it which they shouldn't I'd lose all hope in Wicklow Gaa WicklowB1973 (Wicklow) - Posts: 24 - 03/09/2025 21:48:53 2634821 Link
What has happened to Glenealy Hurling club or did Avondale turn on a brilliant performance? kodak13 (Wicklow) - Posts: 102 - 06/09/2025 21:56:13 2635114 Link
Replying To kodak13: "What has happened to Glenealy Hurling club or did Avondale turn on a brilliant performance?" Posted previously, it will be a generation before Glenealy are competitive again in terms of winning senior hurling and for a solely hurling club (pulling from ashford and rathnew) it spells bad news for Wicklow. Hard to see any positives with hurling at senior level at the moment Wonderingnow (Wicklow) - Posts: 9 - 07/09/2025 10:34:38 2635144 Link
Replying To kodak13: "What has happened to Glenealy Hurling club or did Avondale turn on a brilliant performance?" I think it's a case of a rebuilding process in Glenealy from what enquiries I can make. Avondale have been building for a few years and have some very good footballers who can also hurl a bit. I wouldn't expect the winners to trouble whoever they get in the semi. Kiltegan will probably put St Pats to the sword today, but I think the final will be between Car new and Bray which could be the best final for a few yrs. I have a sneaking regard for Carnew. I had thought there was another year or two in Bray, and am slow to dismiss them. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1848 - 07/09/2025 11:07:28 2635149 Link
Replying To liam500: "That u16 team is a class team with some fine hurlers on it. Unfortunately some of the best players are dual players and it looks like they will be forced to choose for minor. Why we can't have a minor dual player programme like Offlay/Westmeath is beyond me." I think this is where we are lacking as a county. To beat Kildare considering what Kildare are doing in hurling is a great achievement and to beat a county like Clare at any level in hurling is enough to find a way to ensure these players can continue to play. It is impossible to be a dual player at intercounty level at senior but I think it can be done at underage and club level. The county board should try to accommodate these young players who have done more in one weekend to offer hope for hurling than I can remember in the last forty years. Results like these lads achieved shouldn't be wasted just because something different off the field is required. wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2134 - 07/09/2025 17:50:32 2635194 Link
AGB V CARNEW - have to say Carnew have been brilliant this year, Baltinglass, An Tochar and Rathnew unable to figure out how to beat these lads. They will be a tough tough battle for the Arklow men and i see it going right to the wire. Carnew by 1 TINAHELY V BALTINGLASS The champs will be buzzing after an easy win the last day, while baltinglass with a battle against kilteagn will come into this game with revenge from last years final On their mind. Tinahely by 4 willielee (Wicklow) - Posts: 47 - 07/09/2025 19:03:41 2635210 Link