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Wexford Club Hurling 2026

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I honestly have no idea what the situation is with the Showgrounds committee.

On the one hand, they've been happy for years to allow parking at the St. Patrick's Park end of their lands. I believe they don't even charge Wexford GAA for the use of this space.

But on the other hand, they seem absolutely 100% opposed where traffic went out through the main part of their grounds and exited onto the Ross Road.

I don't know how they can be so co-operative in one regard but the complete opposite in the other.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3815 - 23/07/2026 13:09:24    2686749

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Replying To Viking66:  "People should park in the Showgrounds, and access the other end should be improved."
Exactly access to the pitch should be in through the showgrounds from the other road which is wider and able to take the traffic. Would make life easier for everyone. As stated above I dont know why this as stopped or what the issue is? Maybe someone one here knows. Do any local clubs use the showgrounds?

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 604 - 23/07/2026 14:51:04    2686780

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I honestly have no idea what the situation is with the Showgrounds committee.

On the one hand, they've been happy for years to allow parking at the St. Patrick's Park end of their lands. I believe they don't even charge Wexford GAA for the use of this space.

But on the other hand, they seem absolutely 100% opposed where traffic went out through the main part of their grounds and exited onto the Ross Road.

I don't know how they can be so co-operative in one regard but the complete opposite in the other."
Seems I left out a few words from a line in the post above. Should say:

But on the other hand, they seem absolutely 100% opposed to continuing the arrangement where traffic went out through the main part of their grounds and exited onto the Ross Road.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3815 - 23/07/2026 15:15:11    2686788

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Replying To alwaysasub:  "Exactly access to the pitch should be in through the showgrounds from the other road which is wider and able to take the traffic. Would make life easier for everyone. As stated above I dont know why this as stopped or what the issue is? Maybe someone one here knows. Do any local clubs use the showgrounds?"
Would seem to make sense all right, but all in the hands of the Showgrounds committee, and as stated above (twice!), I really don't know what their objection to it is. Especially since they're so amenable to allowing parking at the Patrick's Park end of their grounds anyway.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3815 - 23/07/2026 17:07:03    2686819

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Would seem to make sense all right, but all in the hands of the Showgrounds committee, and as stated above (twice!), I really don't know what their objection to it is. Especially since they're so amenable to allowing parking at the Patrick's Park end of their grounds anyway."
I checked the ownership of the ground so they own the full ground to the Ross road so i really dont see what the issue is. Unless the Greyhound track have an issue but they dont own it so not really sure.

alwaysasub (Wexford) - Posts: 604 - 24/07/2026 10:57:05    2686885

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Group A looks to be done and dusted except for the placings. Next weekend is a relegation battle between the bottom two. Group B, aside from Rathnure anything could happen.
The Martins very lucky to get a draw, not the same team without Rory and Barry.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2226 - 25/07/2026 19:50:10    2687100

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Just reading through some match reports from the weekend and Ronan Fagan is saying that Barry O'Connor is back in August for good?

Oylegate-Oulart game was basically over after two minutes, don't think you can read too munch into it

Glynn made Ferns look old and slow, Cathal Sinnott looks like a very good prospect, Darragh Carley much better as a sweeper (As Rory Jacob has said), might be better at wing-back than corner-back but still think he can be got at defensively at wing-back, suppose the sweeper role frees him up because he is a good hurler, his brother is a big unit for someone who's only 19 this year

Oisín Pepper maybe the form player of the Championship so far, his S&C has come on leaps and bounds

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1455 - 27/07/2026 11:57:44    2687473

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I am surprised to see St. Annes in that position. I thought they'd have won one of those first 3 games. I don't believe 5 teams out of 6 should qualify.
Knockout should be Aussie Rules style - 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th and winners of 3rd v 4th play loser of 1st v 2nd for me who play winner of 1st v 2nd in semi final.
Group B is far from settled and anyone could finish anywhere bar Rathnure who are out in front of everybody in the group.
Intermediate shaping up to be Crossabeg v Cloughbawn but a long way to go there.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2141 - 27/07/2026 12:17:39    2687488

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The annes seem tobbe under pressure i d expect them to beat fethard but then fethard with their backs to the wall are going to be so dogged . The annes will be fighting to stay out of relegation too. Same as fethard . Don't think it will be pretty to watch but if ur looking fir tension and jepordy there ll be no bigger game this weekend . Thats actually hard to believe annes in that position where they are hoping firca preliminary 1/4final at best .
Rathnure look like the in form team did nt see Martins play shels and but by all accounts they are nt firing fully as of yet interesting game v harriers coming sunday . Harriers seem to be going OK the weekend will tell a lot about where they are at big double header in park sunday will surt out a lot of thec placings in that group . Not a vintage performance v fethard from what i heard but done enough. Few more lads stepping up in the scoring . Not just the chin show by all accounts although still the main scorer in chief .
Shels are the other form team i suppose really good core of experience and youth could be a threat to martins or rathnure come knockout .
Ferns and oulart are 2 in danger of relegation by looks of it saying that glynn or rapps not lighting it up either .
Oylgate ticking along without much fanfare .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 653 - 27/07/2026 14:02:55    2687518

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Just reading through some match reports from the weekend and Ronan Fagan is saying that Barry O'Connor is back in August for good?

Oylegate-Oulart game was basically over after two minutes, don't think you can read too munch into it

Glynn made Ferns look old and slow, Cathal Sinnott looks like a very good prospect, Darragh Carley much better as a sweeper (As Rory Jacob has said), might be better at wing-back than corner-back but still think he can be got at defensively at wing-back, suppose the sweeper role frees him up because he is a good hurler, his brother is a big unit for someone who's only 19 this year

Oisín Pepper maybe the form player of the Championship so far, his S&C has come on leaps and bounds"
Agree. Oisin Pepper looks to be alot stronger, and seems to have his burst of pace still too.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20368 - 27/07/2026 22:41:18    2687662

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Quite a few fixtures moved out of Wexford Park this weekend - it's very disappointing for Senior teams to be sent to Farmleigh and Grantstown .. No disrespect to the clubs that own these pitches but they are not at the standard for senior club games. Farmleigh is too small and tight with very low posts. Grantstown is very tight also. Again I cannot see a reason with all the money after been pumped into Ferns why we cannot have some games there. The facilities are better that a lot of pitches where games are been played.

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 350 - 29/07/2026 09:43:13    2687945

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "Quite a few fixtures moved out of Wexford Park this weekend - it's very disappointing for Senior teams to be sent to Farmleigh and Grantstown .. No disrespect to the clubs that own these pitches but they are not at the standard for senior club games. Farmleigh is too small and tight with very low posts. Grantstown is very tight also. Again I cannot see a reason with all the money after been pumped into Ferns why we cannot have some games there. The facilities are better that a lot of pitches where games are been played."
Disappointing about how Wexford Park is to remain closed for another few weeks all right.

But as regards matches in the Centre of Excellence - something that immediately springs to mind is that there's no scoreboard there, which wouldn't be great for a senior championship match.

Fairly sure that venues for senior matches are supposed to have enclosed pitches too, and the main pitch at Centre of Excellence only has a fence along one side (the side closest to the building). Any of the crowd who'd go to the lower side would probably end up encroaching too close to the sideline. Temporary poles and a rope don't work.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3815 - 29/07/2026 12:59:20    2687986

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Disappointing about how Wexford Park is to remain closed for another few weeks all right.

But as regards matches in the Centre of Excellence - something that immediately springs to mind is that there's no scoreboard there, which wouldn't be great for a senior championship match.

Fairly sure that venues for senior matches are supposed to have enclosed pitches too, and the main pitch at Centre of Excellence only has a fence along one side (the side closest to the building). Any of the crowd who'd go to the lower side would probably end up encroaching too close to the sideline. Temporary poles and a rope don't work."
For me these are small things that should have been quickly rectified .. COE is used for a lot of underage finals .. We are spending millions on it and can't afford to put a proper fence around one of the fields and get a scoreboard put up also. Underage finals are probably more boisterous than adult games. County Board knew Wexford Park would be closed for a period of time - I also think it's very unfair on Belefield to be used for so many games. Last year the pitch was in dire straits come county semi final and final time. The pitch in Belefield is pretty bleak currently due to the dry weather.

MyOhMi (Wexford) - Posts: 350 - 29/07/2026 14:17:51    2688010

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From the matches I saw, it looked like every pitch was in poor condition.
The idea for Wexford Park is probably to try to preserve it for county semi final and final season? I doubt it is in better condition than other pitches?
Maybe it just plays tight but Bellfield always felt much narrower, what are the dimensions? It would be better if senior matches were played on similar wide pitches, Farmleigh is a very tight pitch but maybe it just plays that way too and maybe they have widened in the last 3 years?

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2141 - 29/07/2026 14:50:08    2688018

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "Quite a few fixtures moved out of Wexford Park this weekend - it's very disappointing for Senior teams to be sent to Farmleigh and Grantstown .. No disrespect to the clubs that own these pitches but they are not at the standard for senior club games. Farmleigh is too small and tight with very low posts. Grantstown is very tight also. Again I cannot see a reason with all the money after been pumped into Ferns why we cannot have some games there. The facilities are better that a lot of pitches where games are been played."
No spectator facilities in Ferns yet, though a small stand is part of the planned upgrades.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20368 - 29/07/2026 15:09:36    2688027

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Replying To MyOhMi:  "For me these are small things that should have been quickly rectified .. COE is used for a lot of underage finals .. We are spending millions on it and can't afford to put a proper fence around one of the fields and get a scoreboard put up also. Underage finals are probably more boisterous than adult games. County Board knew Wexford Park would be closed for a period of time - I also think it's very unfair on Belefield to be used for so many games. Last year the pitch was in dire straits come county semi final and final time. The pitch in Belefield is pretty bleak currently due to the dry weather."
I was up in Belfield a couple weeks ago and it looked like a pitch you would see on a tv documentary about grassroots cricket in India.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20368 - 29/07/2026 15:11:19    2688029

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Replying To Viking66:  "I was up in Belfield a couple weeks ago and it looked like a pitch you would see on a tv documentary about grassroots cricket in India."
By this I mean no disrespect to the groundsmen there, or the club. Its a fantastic facility they have. Its just very dry.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20368 - 29/07/2026 18:03:12    2688065

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "From the matches I saw, it looked like every pitch was in poor condition.
The idea for Wexford Park is probably to try to preserve it for county semi final and final season? I doubt it is in better condition than other pitches?
Maybe it just plays tight but Bellfield always felt much narrower, what are the dimensions? It would be better if senior matches were played on similar wide pitches, Farmleigh is a very tight pitch but maybe it just plays that way too and maybe they have widened in the last 3 years?"
Apparently there was some sort of drainage work had to be carried out towards the Clonard end and it's taking longer to come right again than was expected or hoped. Have heard the issue is there are some sort of furrows in the pitch now that a hurling ball would get stuck in, or where somebody could go over on an ankle and suffer an injury if they happened to step into them while running.

But I don't understand how these furrows developed, I don't know what's being done about them, and I don't know either why the work couldn't have been done a few weeks earlier, considering there were never going to be any more inter-county hurling championship matches there after May no matter how our team went, and how we also knew by end of May that footballers couldn't be drawn at home again in Tailteann Cup.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3815 - 29/07/2026 23:16:31    2688096

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "From the matches I saw, it looked like every pitch was in poor condition.
The idea for Wexford Park is probably to try to preserve it for county semi final and final season? I doubt it is in better condition than other pitches?
Maybe it just plays tight but Bellfield always felt much narrower, what are the dimensions? It would be better if senior matches were played on similar wide pitches, Farmleigh is a very tight pitch but maybe it just plays that way too and maybe they have widened in the last 3 years?"
I believe its drainage works and the assumption is that its not quite ready yet. With the fence so close in Belfield it feels tighter. Not much clubs can do if they have a field that is dry these days.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2226 - 30/07/2026 08:27:18    2688106

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