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Replying To Pikeman96: "Looking for expert coaches to go out to clubs three or four times a year to do that would hardly be feasible, when you consider they'd have to hit more than 40 clubs/combined teams, observe a session at maybe five different age groups (say U10 up to U18), and do a different plan for each of those age groups, based on different needs.
Even if you were to focus on just one group - let's say every U14 squad in the county was to get it this year - it'd still be a tall order.
And then, with the inevitable requests/demands to also do it for football, you'd be immediately doubling the load.
As Viking said, there are a good few courses offered each year at places like the COE or district venues. Have been on a few myself. And as Viking also said, some of them weren't very well attended, despite every club being informed of them." Fair points, it would be a challenge BUT that does not mean we should not do it or a variant of it, we have to find ways to raise standards and ensure more players are hitting the key benchmarks. Now that raises the question, do we have clarity on what these benchmarks are.
wexford2012 (Wexford) - Posts: 115 - 12/06/2025 09:47:17
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Replying To Doylerwex: "I've watched that game about 10 times since and it is no less painful. Chin's goal just felt like it was written in the stars. Soon after when the whistle blew I didn't want to leave croke park. If felt like the fates had made a terrible mistake.
As the years go by and we get further away it's starting to feel worse, but equally we just need to be looking forward.
The only thing we can take from that is:
2009 - 2011 was the worst period in our history.
We all put our shoulders to the wheel and got some decent underage going.
2013-14 we started seeing results
2017-19 we became serious contenders.
We did it before, we can do it again.
It doesn't actually take that long when you start doing things right. The team didn't change that much from 14-19. The core group of players just got way better.
We need to be teaching every child what it means to be from Wexford. Your people have taken on empires. Whether that's a fight for freedom or the aristocracy of hurling in croke park. There's no limit to what you can achieve if you're willing to work and you know who you are.
Le chroi agus lamh. Make sure we all understand what that means." 'The core group of players just got way better. We need to be teaching every child what it means to be from Wexford. Your people have taken on empires. Whether that's a fight for freedom or the aristocracy of hurling in croke park.'
I really don't think this sort of nonsense really cuts it with the youth of today. A win in 1798 is not going to inspire them to a 2026 All Ireland. I think Wexford needs to modernise and get away from the heroes of 96 malarky, there's rarely a coaching course or a discussion group goes by without one or more involved in the 96 team there, it's living in the past. Despite their unquestionable achievements, it's a different game nowadays!
Longtimefirsttime (Wexford) - Posts: 5 - 12/06/2025 10:16:33
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The problem with having little success is the sport. itself suffers from lack of exposure and missing that higher profile.
We definitely are finding it harder to promote it .
We say not winning underage or colleges is not the end if the world. But look at offaly amd the hype it created whether its sustained remains to be seen . Offaly u20s had a larger following than their seniors .
It comes down to promotion of the game generating interest which is hard to do with little success to help that promotion.
We can have 10 good coaches with every team if the chaps don't love the games and practice every day with intent they' will not get to the required standard.
Mostly the best hurlers are also the best footballers , soccer players , rugby players , basketball players, golfers , athletes , tennis etc etc .
At present the profile and rewards for hurling don't match te prospects from the others whether we like it or not that's a fact and parents see little Johnny as the next . Shane lowry , Robbie Keane , johhny sexton .etc . They dream until its too late and the hurling window is shut as they ve missed the formative years .
We need success and higher profile to build success and higher the profile .
Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 369 - 12/06/2025 10:17:03
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Replying To wexford2012: "Fair points, it would be a challenge BUT that does not mean we should not do it or a variant of it, we have to find ways to raise standards and ensure more players are hitting the key benchmarks. Now that raises the question, do we have clarity on what these benchmarks are." It's hard enough to get the development squads expert coaching. We would need a couple dozen extra currently unemployed professional hurling and football coaches to achieve what you want to do, they don't exist.
As regards benchmarks there are guidelines available to club coaching officers, and coaching officers are supposed to submit proper plans for what their club intends to do as regards coaching. This year was the first year, and the figure I was given was only 15 clubs submitted a coaching plan for this year that was up to scratch.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 10:52:07
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Replying To Longtimefirsttime: "'The core group of players just got way better. We need to be teaching every child what it means to be from Wexford. Your people have taken on empires. Whether that's a fight for freedom or the aristocracy of hurling in croke park.'
I really don't think this sort of nonsense really cuts it with the youth of today. A win in 1798 is not going to inspire them to a 2026 All Ireland. I think Wexford needs to modernise and get away from the heroes of 96 malarky, there's rarely a coaching course or a discussion group goes by without one or more involved in the 96 team there, it's living in the past. Despite their unquestionable achievements, it's a different game nowadays!" Our u14s would mostly but not all know who some of our current team are. Thats not good. They likely wouldn't have heard who Liam Dunne or Martin Storey are, my 2 favourite hurlers from when I was younger.
I had a great chat last night with a friends son who is on our u16s, his knowledge of the current game really impressed me. He was able to discuss the ins and outs of the Limerick Cork and Kilkenny Galway games, had opinions on the various different players and teams, their strengths and weaknesses etc. He knows we haven't won an AI since 96, but was on the team train with the team and his father on the way home from Croke Park with the Bob O'Keefe Cup in 2019, got to hold it for a picture, an experience he will remember forever. We need more experiences like these for our young people.
I agree 100% we need to get some current success to inspire lads like him, he thought videos of games back in the 90s with most lads without helmets, aimless pucking of the ball, wild pulls, etc wasn't a close relative of the game in the Gaelic Grounds last weekend.
Every child in Wexford knows who Lee is, we need more like him. Lads who can reach the majority of kids who aren't died in the wool GAA people, as well as those who are.
We need a new generation of Larrys, Martins, Georges and Liams.
An idea I had some years ago was to get the current Senior team to visit the clubs, build a connection that way. In fairness the 2 lads from our club who were on the Wexford Senior Panel the last few years both have spent time at training sessions with our u12s/u14s. But maybe it's something that could be organised on a countywide basis?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 11:08:40
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Replying To Formertownie: "The problem with having little success is the sport. itself suffers from lack of exposure and missing that higher profile.
We definitely are finding it harder to promote it .
We say not winning underage or colleges is not the end if the world. But look at offaly amd the hype it created whether its sustained remains to be seen . Offaly u20s had a larger following than their seniors .
It comes down to promotion of the game generating interest which is hard to do with little success to help that promotion.
We can have 10 good coaches with every team if the chaps don't love the games and practice every day with intent they' will not get to the required standard.
Mostly the best hurlers are also the best footballers , soccer players , rugby players , basketball players, golfers , athletes , tennis etc etc .
At present the profile and rewards for hurling don't match te prospects from the others whether we like it or not that's a fact and parents see little Johnny as the next . Shane lowry , Robbie Keane , johhny sexton .etc . They dream until its too late and the hurling window is shut as they ve missed the formative years .
We need success and higher profile to build success and higher the profile ." Yep. It's a real chicken and egg problem.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 11:11:18
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Replying To Viking66: "It's hard enough to get the development squads expert coaching. We would need a couple dozen extra currently unemployed professional hurling and football coaches to achieve what you want to do, they don't exist.
As regards benchmarks there are guidelines available to club coaching officers, and coaching officers are supposed to submit proper plans for what their club intends to do as regards coaching. This year was the first year, and the figure I was given was only 15 clubs submitted a coaching plan for this year that was up to scratch." Viking - 15 plans up to scratch isnt very encouraging and to my point, how well are these plans even implemented?
I'm not wishing to be unrealistic just trying to think how we can address the obvious problem as it exists.
wexford2012 (Wexford) - Posts: 115 - 12/06/2025 12:11:30
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Replying To Viking66: "Our u14s would mostly but not all know who some of our current team are. Thats not good. They likely wouldn't have heard who Liam Dunne or Martin Storey are, my 2 favourite hurlers from when I was younger.
I had a great chat last night with a friends son who is on our u16s, his knowledge of the current game really impressed me. He was able to discuss the ins and outs of the Limerick Cork and Kilkenny Galway games, had opinions on the various different players and teams, their strengths and weaknesses etc. He knows we haven't won an AI since 96, but was on the team train with the team and his father on the way home from Croke Park with the Bob O'Keefe Cup in 2019, got to hold it for a picture, an experience he will remember forever. We need more experiences like these for our young people.
I agree 100% we need to get some current success to inspire lads like him, he thought videos of games back in the 90s with most lads without helmets, aimless pucking of the ball, wild pulls, etc wasn't a close relative of the game in the Gaelic Grounds last weekend.
Every child in Wexford knows who Lee is, we need more like him. Lads who can reach the majority of kids who aren't died in the wool GAA people, as well as those who are.
We need a new generation of Larrys, Martins, Georges and Liams.
An idea I had some years ago was to get the current Senior team to visit the clubs, build a connection that way. In fairness the 2 lads from our club who were on the Wexford Senior Panel the last few years both have spent time at training sessions with our u12s/u14s. But maybe it's something that could be organised on a countywide basis?" I actually tested that with a couple of our age groups recently.
They all knew chinner obviously but beyond that knowledge was pretty limited.
Young lads dream, they are supposed to dream. I'm banging on about this all the time, that's where ambition comes from.
One thing for sure I am committing to as my club outings as possible next year for bringing chaps to matches. When they're in awe of chinner I'm making it very clear that he started the exact same as them and worked harder than everyone else.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3730 - 12/06/2025 12:27:44
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Replying To Viking66: "Yep. It's a real chicken and egg problem." I think progress is bit like trying to get ketchup out of a bottle, can squeeze on it for a while and nothing happens but if you keep on squeezing, it all comes out, can't get it to come out though if you didn't squeeze in the first place
I don't know if there's any one big change we can make at under-age level but there are probably quite a lot of small changes we can make that if all done would make a big difference. The upshot is that this takes time to come to fruition and it can look like you're doing nothing for a long while and then boom, one day you look like an overnight success
I always say you need at least two hurlers from every crop to become a good Senior hurler, might make all those changes and you could still only end up with three good Senior hurlers from a crop rather than two. But if you do this consistently 10 years in a row, that would means you'd have 30 good Senior hurlers rather than 20. It's a case of putting in a lot of unsexy dredge work for a long time and sticking at it even when immediate results aren't obvious
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 566 - 12/06/2025 12:28:04
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Replying To wexford2012: "Viking - 15 plans up to scratch isnt very encouraging and to my point, how well are these plans even implemented?
I'm not wishing to be unrealistic just trying to think how we can address the obvious problem as it exists." The plans get implemented by the clubs through the club coaching officers. There's no real way of forcing a club to appoint a coaching officer or submitting and implementing plans. Obviously the hope is any club won't be wanting to be left behind.
Coaching and Games are very approachable, if any club wanted help and advice they'd get it.
Biggest problem is that all this is voluntary. It's getting harder and harder to get people to volunteer to do anything these days. And clubs feeling the squeeze demographically have a smaller pool of potential volunteers to start with.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 12:44:20
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Replying To Doylerwex: "I actually tested that with a couple of our age groups recently.
They all knew chinner obviously but beyond that knowledge was pretty limited.
Young lads dream, they are supposed to dream. I'm banging on about this all the time, that's where ambition comes from.
One thing for sure I am committing to as my club outings as possible next year for bringing chaps to matches. When they're in awe of chinner I'm making it very clear that he started the exact same as them and worked harder than everyone else." I think that's alot more useful than trying to motivate them with talk of Pikemen, not you Pikeman!, and what was achieved in the name of the country by many unsung and unknown heros from around the parishes of Wexford between 1916 and 1920.
Lads like Lee, Richie Kehoe, Richie Lawlor etc would be far better inspirations for your young lads. They are real, current, and can be seen and heard.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 12:50:03
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "I think progress is bit like trying to get ketchup out of a bottle, can squeeze on it for a while and nothing happens but if you keep on squeezing, it all comes out, can't get it to come out though if you didn't squeeze in the first place
I don't know if there's any one big change we can make at under-age level but there are probably quite a lot of small changes we can make that if all done would make a big difference. The upshot is that this takes time to come to fruition and it can look like you're doing nothing for a long while and then boom, one day you look like an overnight success
I always say you need at least two hurlers from every crop to become a good Senior hurler, might make all those changes and you could still only end up with three good Senior hurlers from a crop rather than two. But if you do this consistently 10 years in a row, that would means you'd have 30 good Senior hurlers rather than 20. It's a case of putting in a lot of unsexy dredge work for a long time and sticking at it even when immediate results aren't obvious" Absolutely. Rome wasn't built in a day. But worth bearing in mind everyone else is improving too. We don't just need to be doing things better than we were to catch up, we need to pass out the other counties. A starting point is encouraging people in every club and at every level of administration to take on board the fact that while Wexford GAA, or their club, is more than just a sporting organisation, it IS at the end of the day a sporting organisation first and foremost, and as such is defined by results on the pitch. There's too much acceptance at many clubs that they are a Junior or Intermediate club, and a shocking lack of ambition to be any more than they already are on the pitch. That then feeds from the bottom up.
You definitely arent going to improve things if the majority of people have no ambition to be better on the pitch than they are, or sometimes always were.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 12:59:03
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "I think progress is bit like trying to get ketchup out of a bottle, can squeeze on it for a while and nothing happens but if you keep on squeezing, it all comes out, can't get it to come out though if you didn't squeeze in the first place
I don't know if there's any one big change we can make at under-age level but there are probably quite a lot of small changes we can make that if all done would make a big difference. The upshot is that this takes time to come to fruition and it can look like you're doing nothing for a long while and then boom, one day you look like an overnight success
I always say you need at least two hurlers from every crop to become a good Senior hurler, might make all those changes and you could still only end up with three good Senior hurlers from a crop rather than two. But if you do this consistently 10 years in a row, that would means you'd have 30 good Senior hurlers rather than 20. It's a case of putting in a lot of unsexy dredge work for a long time and sticking at it even when immediate results aren't obvious" Absolutely. Rome wasn't built in a day. But worth bearing in mind everyone else is improving too. We don't just need to be doing things better than we were to catch up, we need to pass out the other counties. A starting point is encouraging people in every club and at every level of administration to take on board the fact that while Wexford GAA, or their club, is more than just a sporting organisation, it IS at the end of the day a sporting organisation first and foremost, and as such is defined by results on the pitch. There's too much acceptance at many clubs that they are a Junior or Intermediate club, and a shocking lack of ambition to be any more than they already are on the pitch. That then feeds from the bottom up.
You definitely arent going to improve things if the majority of people have no ambition to be better on the pitch than they are, or sometimes always were.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 13:09:14
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Replying To Longtimefirsttime: "'The core group of players just got way better. We need to be teaching every child what it means to be from Wexford. Your people have taken on empires. Whether that's a fight for freedom or the aristocracy of hurling in croke park.'
I really don't think this sort of nonsense really cuts it with the youth of today. A win in 1798 is not going to inspire them to a 2026 All Ireland. I think Wexford needs to modernise and get away from the heroes of 96 malarky, there's rarely a coaching course or a discussion group goes by without one or more involved in the 96 team there, it's living in the past. Despite their unquestionable achievements, it's a different game nowadays!" 100% right.
All that shtick has zero relevance today when trying to develop tye hurlers of the future.
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1520 - 12/06/2025 13:19:42
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Replying To tearintom: "100% right.
All that shtick has zero relevance today when trying to develop tye hurlers of the future." I am very proud to be from Wexford and our heritage but I agree I dont think it has much relevance which younger lads now . We need more lads like Lee and ROC for them to look up to and aspire to be when they grow up
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 653 - 12/06/2025 14:21:07
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Replying To Afinestick96: "I am very proud to be from Wexford and our heritage but I agree I dont think it has much relevance which younger lads now . We need more lads like Lee and ROC for them to look up to and aspire to be when they grow up" I wonder will ROC and Jack O Connor be involved in League final this weekend
MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 193 - 12/06/2025 15:53:44
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Replying To Viking66: "I think that's alot more useful than trying to motivate them with talk of Pikemen, not you Pikeman!, and what was achieved in the name of the country by many unsung and unknown heros from around the parishes of Wexford between 1916 and 1920.
Lads like Lee, Richie Kehoe, Richie Lawlor etc would be far better inspirations for your young lads. They are real, current, and can be seen and heard." I still really believe both are important have a place but yes, club heroes is very practical.
Without the pikemen stuff we're no different than any other county. Honestly I think what makes us special is very much a part of our identity and we're at our best when it's deployed. There's plenty of evidence for that through Griffin, Dempsey, Conran, Meyler and Davy. They all understood it and used it well.
I have to say of my children didn't know their own history and speak of it with pride I think I would die of shame.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3730 - 12/06/2025 16:16:18
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Replying To Doylerwex: "I still really believe both are important have a place but yes, club heroes is very practical.
Without the pikemen stuff we're no different than any other county. Honestly I think what makes us special is very much a part of our identity and we're at our best when it's deployed. There's plenty of evidence for that through Griffin, Dempsey, Conran, Meyler and Davy. They all understood it and used it well.
I have to say of my children didn't know their own history and speak of it with pride I think I would die of shame." I agree 100% with that last line Doyler, but it's not what motivates them to play hurling though. Back in those days the hurling teams here were sponsored by the enemy so to speak. It's even one of the possible origins of the term "yellowbellies".
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16311 - 12/06/2025 17:13:04
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Replying To Doylerwex: "I still really believe both are important have a place but yes, club heroes is very practical.
Without the pikemen stuff we're no different than any other county. Honestly I think what makes us special is very much a part of our identity and we're at our best when it's deployed. There's plenty of evidence for that through Griffin, Dempsey, Conran, Meyler and Davy. They all understood it and used it well.
I have to say of my children didn't know their own history and speak of it with pride I think I would die of shame." Every time we see a big crowd from Wexford making there way to Croke Park for example, I find it incredibly moving as I get a visceral sense of continuity with our past and specifically the 1798 Rebellion when we were literally a 'risen people' and as Seamus Heaney said in his famous 'Croppy' poem we were "A people hardly marching... on the hike...".
I realise that for many this may have little meaning but for me its part of what Wexford is and means. Now I would make sure my kids understand it but I don't think I'd talk about it with the children I'm coaching - I think though you should seek to raise their horizons, to point to others in the club, today or in the past, who have achieved great things and suggest that they too can do the same.
wexford2012 (Wexford) - Posts: 115 - 12/06/2025 18:06:14
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Replying To wexford2012: "Every time we see a big crowd from Wexford making there way to Croke Park for example, I find it incredibly moving as I get a visceral sense of continuity with our past and specifically the 1798 Rebellion when we were literally a 'risen people' and as Seamus Heaney said in his famous 'Croppy' poem we were "A people hardly marching... on the hike...".
I realise that for many this may have little meaning but for me its part of what Wexford is and means. Now I would make sure my kids understand it but I don't think I'd talk about it with the children I'm coaching - I think though you should seek to raise their horizons, to point to others in the club, today or in the past, who have achieved great things and suggest that they too can do the same." I get exactly that feeling all the time.
The last time I really felt it was Kilkenny in the park 23. The collective will of the support would have brought a tear to a glass eye.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3730 - 12/06/2025 20:50:51
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