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Wicklow GAA thread

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Yesterday was a fine performance by Wicklow considering what happened in Longford and the fact they were short four players who may have started especially Malcahy Stone and Kevin Quinn. Do supporters think winning a championship match like they did yesterday and playing Dublin next weekend is better than beating Longford and being promoted to division three?

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2196 - 13/04/2026 16:24:06    2666207

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Yesterday was a fine performance by Wicklow considering what happened in Longford and the fact they were short four players who may have started especially Malcahy Stone and Kevin Quinn. Do supporters think winning a championship match like they did yesterday and playing Dublin next weekend is better than beating Longford and being promoted to division three?"
That isn't an easy question to answer. But, when you look at the composition of the 2027 Div 3, I think that this team would struggle to stay up in it. This team is, for me, just too inconsistent. We can't even say that we get better as the year goes on as examples by last years display in Croker v Limerick. With just a few exceptions the team is pretty young and maybe another season in the basement might harden and toughen them up a bit which they would definitely have to do to survive in a higher division. They definitely need hardening up, both physically and mentally. JP Nolan was back in the squad so should be available again for selection. I don't know the extent of young Quinn's injury but it looks like Malachy stone is out for a while. Darragh Fee has a hamstring injury - I think so might be back for the TC. Problem is that all these players seem to be of a pretty similar standard. Our backs appear to have tightened up considerably yesterday. The Dubs on Sunday will show us where we are in the pecking order. We gave them a good game last year, question is, are they better now under Mr Brennan ?. Certainly they have some young exciting players coming through. We might even get more tv time next week and maybe even get a passing mention on MOTD. The panel last night didn't seem to think we were worthy of a mention. They went straight to that opinion poll table which showed over 60% of respondents tipping the Dubs to win Leinster. That was probably their way of putting lowly Wicklow in their place.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2215 - 13/04/2026 17:05:29    2666222

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Yesterday was a fine performance by Wicklow considering what happened in Longford and the fact they were short four players who may have started especially Malcahy Stone and Kevin Quinn. Do supporters think winning a championship match like they did yesterday and playing Dublin next weekend is better than beating Longford and being promoted to division three?"
No, absolutely not, playing at a higher standard consistently for Wicklow has to be a target, barring a miracle the Dublin match will be an occasion more than anything else (not being disrespectful but that's just a fact), I choose playing Div 3 10 times out of 10 when we are going to be in Tailteann regardless

Wonderingnow (Wicklow) - Posts: 23 - 13/04/2026 17:15:13    2666225

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Replying To Rockofsense:  "Nothing wrong with players from junior clubs playing county. Often play with more determination. Many of Kerrys best players come from junior clubs."
There is when they are not better than lads in higher division championships.

Albundy19 (Wicklow) - Posts: 133 - 13/04/2026 22:24:56    2666269

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The answer is both and there is no valid reason why we shouldn't be capable of doing both at some point.

No doubt about it, promotion to division three (or higher!) and staying there would be massive for the long term health of Wicklow football. We need to play at a higher level consistently. You have to beat better teams to become a better team.

But a Tailteann Cup win would spark much more interest than a league promotion or two ever could, I guarantee you, and do not underestimate the value of that. You need the league every bit as much to build a solid foundation, but heroes are made in the championship, and it's easier to bring young players on if they have heroes to look up to.

Bowl (Wicklow) - Posts: 6 - 13/04/2026 23:45:50    2666285

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Re playing Dublin in Aughrim, we should not turn our noses up at it. We were never going to win last year's game but we got loads out of it.

Yes, we could take a hammering on Sunday, and if that happens, it won't do anyone any good. But we know that a decent performance could spur us on to better things in the Tailteann Cup. I believe that's what happened last year.

I know it's very fashionable to turn your nose up at moral victories, but if handled in the right way, they can be turned into something bigger. We saw that 12 months ago. Yes, in the long run I think we should be aiming for more than Tailteann semi-finals and good wins over Westmeath, Waterford and Laois, but in the here and now, those wins were more than welcome.

Bowl (Wicklow) - Posts: 6 - 13/04/2026 23:51:57    2666287

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