Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2229 - 05/08/2022 09:53:44    2436279

logger (Wexford) - Posts: 296 - 05/08/2022 10:20:43    2436284

Senior

Naomh Eanna vs. St.Martin's: if it's as good a game as last year's classic, we'll be in for a treat. Gorey got the job done when it mattered against Shels, making a few positional changes and seeming to hit form again after a couple of sloppy displays. St.Martin's showed got heart to pull the game out of the fire against Anne's (however controversial), and again look to be peaking at the right time. Both sides have had similar trajectories in that competing at the top grade at underage for a while has produced a conveyor belt of talent to assimilate into the senior team. I don't think Martin's have anyone up front as good as Mac, especially with Rory injured, and mightn't have anyone to contain him either. Conversely I think Gorey have the better overall quality across the field, and will win by a few points.

Ferns vs. Rapparees: if the Rapps weren't driven enough, their group loss to Ferns earlier in the year might serve as extra motivation as they look to retain their crown. They have made a good fist of it so far too, especially in the resilience stakes last day out. Kevin Ryan will be a loss for them though as I think they look better up front with him there. Their half-back line has been the launch-pad, and it will be interesting to see who Ferns place there to counter it as they have generally rotated their forward unit positonally on a game-to-game basis. Ferns backs have been collectively very good, although I think Glynn were poor the last day. I expect Kevin Foley will be monitored by Patrick Breen (after man-marking Leacy the last day), and if his influence is curtailed, I think Ferns better spread of Ferns may cause a shock.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1409 - 05/08/2022 11:08:01    2436292

Intermediate

Taghmon vs. Askamore: I think this could be a very entertaining game if their respective quarter-finals are anything to go by. Askamore did well to twice pull the game out of the fire vs Blackwater, although their opponents were naive in that they kept coughing up silly frees for Tucker Kinsella to score, and couldn't contain Tomkins at all either. Taghmon will be more street-wise, and have the fire-power to do a enough damage at the other end. That said, only 1-4 of their total vs. Fethard came from play (Tomkins hit 1-5 alone vs Blackwater), but they certainly will have the set-up to not allow Askamore the same space again and will be confident after their derby win. I think it's a difficult one to call, and might just pick Askamore to nick it.

Buffers Alley vs. Oulart: Buffers Alley are buoyed by winning the under-19 hurling title mid-week, relished beating Oulart in the junior A last weekend and are encouraged by their one-point loss in the group stages. Oulart surely learned nothing in their hammering of Gusserane, and will be cognisant that the Monamolin men will be treating this as their own county final. Their supporters will be in full voice too. Buffers Alley might be like Cody's Kilkenny in that they will produce a performance against the odds, and they may well be the only side capable of halting Oulart's march, but I still think Oulart will be too strong overall.

Intermediate A

Liam Mellows vs Cushinstown: another repeat of a group stage clash, with Mellows running out quite comfortable winners that day. It should be closer this time around, although Cushinstown probably haven't the same zip or scoring impact the Mellows' have shown so far. Their quarter-final vs GOH was a low-quality game decided by a couple of sloppy goals towards the end, while Mellows put in a solid second half performance to beat Monageer on Tuesday. Although I do think these two came out of the easier side of the draw, on the basis that I fancied Monageer to go deep in the competition, I will plump for Mellows to sneak it.

Oulart the Ballagh vs Horeswood: Horeswood are one of the success stories of the growth of hurling in non-traditional clubs, and indeed an example of the improvement of the game in the New Ross district. Oulart's seconds topped a competitive group, and because their first team are going so well, they haven't lost anyone yet which is always a bonus. This is the sort of match Horeswood will relish, both in terms of making a statement against one of the heavyweight hurling clubs and as a measure of how their game matches up against a side that play only hurling. Tough one to call, Oulart to narrowly shade it.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1409 - 05/08/2022 11:28:53    2436298

I see Jack Guiney is back for Rathnure for this evening's relegation playoff.....interesting, to say the least.....

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2229 - 05/08/2022 16:19:03    2436354

Gorey
Rapps
Taghmon
Oulart
All roads lead to Wexford Park this weekend can't wait!
Both relegation finals went comfortably to the teams I thought would lose so don't rush to the Bookies with these predictions!!!!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 06/08/2022 07:59:41    2436385

Very very poor standard of hurling in the Oulart v Buffers Alley match.

Lovely dry day and lads couldn't rise the ball, carry out simple hand passes and hitting wide after wide.

Oulart the better team in the second half and pulled away but it would hard to see them winning leinster if they win the final.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 716 - 06/08/2022 19:54:18    2436472

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 403 - 06/08/2022 20:49:11    2436480

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 06/08/2022 21:08:11    2436482

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 716 - 06/08/2022 21:58:00    2436491

Was at Wexford Park yesterday with the kids great atmosphere for the 2 games. Ended up watching them both with a real local legend Mick Jacob Senior. Still very passionate about hurling in general and Oulart in particular. And a real gentleman too.
Taghmon were too strong for Askamore and kept pulling away steadily as the game went on. In particular Askamores fullback line looked a bit slow. PJ Nolan and Shane Tompkins are still classy hurlers though, Tucker had a good game, and James Byrne looked very good too.
Oulart started the second game poorly. Mick was getting very agitated as the 1st half went on. The Alley were a yard quicker to every ball and were evidently more up for the game. They deserved to win what was admittedly a poor quality half of hurling. The 2nd half saw a marked increase in intensity from Oulart and they put the game to bed in the 3rd quarter. They made and took some good scores but basically just ran harder, tackled harder, and won most of the 50/50 balls they were losing in the 1st half. The Alley then lost a player to a straight red and that was the game done then.
Overall Oulart will start the final as favourites and deservedly so. Their best players, largely the ex inter County contingent along with Billy Dunne, Murtha Doyle and Declan Buggy, have looked fit and focused every time I've seen them this year. Hopefully we won't lose by 30 odd points like we did in the group stage!
Finished up the day with a night in Glenbrien. The Oylegate lads were getting their medals from last year. Seem a good tight bunch of lads and got chatting to a few of them, nice lads, good craic and some great singers! Hopefully they will stay senior for a good while!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 07/08/2022 12:02:28    2436517

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1122 - 07/08/2022 16:04:25    2436548

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 403 - 07/08/2022 19:49:34    2436573

Very enjoyable day of hurling it must be said.

I was at the two games in Bellefield, and thought both Mellows and Horeswood were worthy winners. Mellows blew Cushinstown apart in the second quarter, Cushinstown just couldn't live with their running game, and they managed the game thereafter. Thought Cody, Heffernan and Joe Gardiner were their best on the day.

Horeswood were mainly excellent for most of the game, but got jittery near the end as Oulart went direct and scored three goals. Mythen almost got a fourth in the last attack too, and had they snatched a win or even a draw, it'd have been remarkable but complete injustice for Horeswood. Declan Murphy and Jamie Myler were the best players on the pitch across the two games. Its going to be a belter of a final, especially given the modern day football rivalry between the two.

Watched the stream of the Ferns-Rapps game and it was low-quality and slow burning for the most part, although very entertaining towards the end. Again, I think the correct team won- Ferns hit eight wides in a row at the start of the second half, and also squandered a couple of goal chances, so really could have been out of sight. That said, scoring came that bit easier for the champs, but my belief that they didn't have the same quality up front came home to roost- Darragh Pepper was outstanding off the bench but Oisin was quiet, and apart from Fox from a creative point of view, the likes of Connolly and especially Doyle were subdued. Bit of contention around that Kelly wide at the end of normal time. I thought it was a point watching it and couldn't believe it was signalled wide.

Diarmuid Doyle was very good off the bench for Ferns, Morris really stood up when it mattered, and again their backs collectively did well. Pepper, Jippo, Foley and the half-back line the best for Rapps. That missed penalty was very strange though, there is no way Foley should have struck it after his belt. Referee made a few interesting calls as well.

Martin's might be the biggest winners as that game surely took its toll, but I have feeling Ferns have one more big performance in them.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1409 - 07/08/2022 21:19:24    2436581

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 07/08/2022 21:21:10    2436582

JimbobD (Wexford) - Posts: 4 - 08/08/2022 08:32:23    2436595

TheHogues (Wexford) - Posts: 26 - 08/08/2022 09:12:06    2436598

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 640 - 08/08/2022 09:21:36    2436602

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 08/08/2022 09:35:52    2436605

JimbobD (Wexford) - Posts: 4 - 08/08/2022 10:08:33    2436607