This man can take us even further next year.

Proud to wear the jersey again.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2931 - 25/07/2009 22:58:21    361998

Fully agree Sponger ! Well done to everyone involved on our senior county panel of 2009 - you did us all proud lads. We love ya Micko - please don't go !

Micklow (Wicklow) - Posts: 118 - 26/07/2009 11:56:28    362318

Totally agree, can't believe the negative comments on the other threads. Some people will just be negative and critical no matter what. It's sad - you'd expect that everyone in wicklow would be enjoying the thrilling year we've had. Well done Micko!

westwicklowfan (Wicklow) - Posts: 8 - 26/07/2009 12:43:44    362370

I wonder what the subs would think?

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 26/07/2009 14:59:14    362531

Who would you have brought on "Frederick" my old bean ? I'm very surpised you have such an insight of the Wicklow panel since you're from Roscommon or maybe you've nothing worth while to talk. 4 more years Micko , 4 more years !

Micklow (Wicklow) - Posts: 118 - 28/07/2009 08:31:45    365599

I think anyone in Wicklow calling for Micko to leave is being stupid. There's lads still saying we haven't progressed since he's been in charge! I don't know what we'd have to do to keep them happy! As for frederick, how about you go back to Roscommon and question Micko's decisions when you've got a record to equal his!

anon (None) - Posts: 356 - 28/07/2009 13:35:46    366064

I agree, if i was a Wicklow man i'd be praying for him to stay on!
Ok the subs thing was a bit strange, but look at where he has brought you.

Last 12 in the country, a couple of missed goal chances away from an All Ireland qf! And most important of all, you have all the best players in the county wanting to play for the county.

As a Carlow man, what i'd give for just that last part! If we could somehow ever get all the best players wanting to play for co side, then we could do the same no problem i reckon as the talent is there, but they are not interested sadly for us.

All i have to refer anyone back to who doesn't want Micko to stay on is May 2006 Carlow v Wicklow in Wexford Park.
We destroyed you guys in that match, with ironically Thos Walsh running from half way line to score an amazing goal!!

But at that point Wicklow were a mess. Micko came along...ok you are still in div 4, but look at the summer you just had.
Does anyone really think that would have been possible under any other manager???

If there are people in Wicklow who want Micko out, i don't get it...but you have neighbours who would be more than happy to take him!!

The Real 1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 1114 - 30/07/2009 00:42:40    369253

Fair play to you Real1944 because you questioned us last week if we would be any good out of Aughrim but I think you realise after watching us play Kildare how far this team has progressed this summer under Micko. Micko has been the key to Wicklow's success this summer - there is noone in the game like him.
The 3 years under him have been superb - Carlow folk laughed off the achievement of winning the Tommy Murphy cup in his first year - but look at the teams that have won it how they have progressed - us, Antrim, Tipperary. The league standing of Wicklow has never bothered me, I would rather have the summer we just had than promotion to div 3 - Derry would give up their appearance in the league final if they could still be in the championship. Look at Doengal do you think relegation from division 1 is bothering them as they prepare for a QF this weekend. Micko always knows how to have a team ready for the summer - a Kildare man said to me there is no way Kildare would have been able to have played 4 games in a row like we did this year.

I was in Wexford Park that day in May 2006 and anyone that wants to go back to those gloomy, miserable hammerings is deluded. We now have belief, pride and the groundswell of joy and happiness around the county in July has been incredible - but most importantly we have a team to be proud of. MICKO MUST STAY and the county board should be doing everything to make this possible.

wwfan (Wicklow) - Posts: 108 - 30/07/2009 10:26:35    369406

Guys hard luck last Saturday, you gave a great account of yourselves and if you keep up this progress a Leinster final is a real possibility.
In relation to the comments about Micko there are some fair comments being made. When Micko was manager of Kildare during both of his spells he did not give a damn about the underage structure and it went unnutured. The same thing is happening with Wicklow at the moment. What Micko will give you is self believe and confidence. It is now up to those incharge of Wicklow GAA to put strucures in place to ensure there are good players coming through. Finally its great now that the youth in Wicklow have local heroes to worhsip, guys like Glynn, Stafford, Furlong and Dalton are top class. Keep up the good work!

Goal (Kildare) - Posts: 117 - 30/07/2009 11:43:20    369548

Its not Micko,s job to manage,coach or train under 18s or 21s players that is for the respective elected managers and coach,s of those teams to do,and neither is it his job to put proper structures in place for future development that is the County Boards job,of course they can ask Micko for his advise in these matters and i,m sure he would give it,but dont be blaming Micko for the lack of progress at under age level that was happening long before Micko came into the County.

pistelero (Wicklow) - Posts: 1719 - 30/07/2009 15:46:09    370046

Pistelero, Correction. When Micko arrived, One of the 1st things he said is that he would look at the structures and implement new/better for U21 & Minor!

wicklowrunner (Wicklow) - Posts: 637 - 30/07/2009 17:03:32    370209

Wicklowrunner - what do you propose about putting a structure in place? What is different to our structure compaired with Kerry, Cork or Dublin. I would say vey little!! You can throw as much money as you like creating various development squads but in most cases there is not significant improvements . I remember Wicklow spent a fortune on one particular development squad a couple of years back (top coaches, psycholgoists, nutrionists, the lot..) and I don't think any player is still involved on the senior panel. But what we do have now thanks to Micko and all the lads this year, is pride in the jersey and all the youngsters in the county now have top- class players like Glynn, Earls, Hyland and McWalter to look up to and try to emulate. WE LOVE YA MICKO!!

Micklow (Wicklow) - Posts: 118 - 31/07/2009 09:38:27    370988

Wicklowrunner he said he would look at the underage structures in place and see how they could be improved and advise the County Board accordingly,and no doubt he has done so ,but its not in his brief to manage the under age teams he was appointed to manage the County Senior football team not the Minor and Under 21 teams they have their own Managers.

pistelero (Wicklow) - Posts: 1719 - 31/07/2009 12:00:23    371201

Wicklowrunner - what do you propose about putting a structure in place? What is different to our structure compaired with Kerry, Cork or Dublin. I would say vey little!!

FIRST OF ALL - THEY ALL HAVE AN U21 CLUB C'SHIP!!!!!

wicklowrunner (Wicklow) - Posts: 637 - 31/07/2009 12:41:55    371274

Where is the evidence of his suggested Under Age Structures. I have not said he should manage them - but he is the one who said he would improve structures!
Again we would rather play Junior B or C and not play U21. Look at the titles on this Page. Teams that won U21 Club, won Senior Club a few years later - There's your Development!

Tyrones success has all come from Minor & U21 Football!!

wicklowrunner (Wicklow) - Posts: 637 - 31/07/2009 12:45:26    371284

Wicklowrunner how many of those under 21 winners had 15 to 20 players from their own Clubs i seem to remember a lot of them used players from 2 or 3 different Clubs and they ranged in age from 16 to 21.Is there not a rule now that prohibits anyone under 18 from playing under 21 or adult football so it would be much harder for Clubs to field teams,in my opinion the problem in Wicklow is we now have to many social footballers who are happy enough to have a few pints instead of training and play Junior B or C and a lot of these players are under 21 so i think they wouldnt be interested in anything that would interfere with their social life

pistelero (Wicklow) - Posts: 1719 - 31/07/2009 15:48:38    371711

Pistelero - Correction U16's cannot play U21 - U18's can.

Also, your comments about Junior Football sum up Wicklow Football. I used to referee in Wicklow and I loathed to ref Junior B&C (More like Junior Z). Old Men not wishing to train, Young Men wanting to drink and the Young Good Footballers who were too Old for Minor getting "Broken Up" by the previous mentioned 2 Groups.
And to add to it, the Co Board thinking that this Football is Great & Thursday Nights are Sacrament!

Why are the Minors from 3 years ago , not looking to play U21!

I believe there is a place for Junior (Social) Football, but not to the detrement of the Development of the Game, which happens in Wicklow.

wicklowrunner (Wicklow) - Posts: 637 - 31/07/2009 17:25:23    371895

In relation to comments made by WW runner - he certainly does have a valid point..
Here's food for thought !

The County Minor Football Final in 2006 - Bray Emts v Rathnew (which Bray won 14pts to 07pts)
On that day, there were 30 players starting & 7 subs brought in = 37 players actually lined out.

3 years on in 2009 & Wicklow played Laois in Aughrim in the Leinster Un.21 Football Championship

NOT 1 of the above players (37) or any other Bray or Rathnew (Minor 06 panel member) line out OR were on the
Wicklow Under 21 team/Panel in 2009

Now in anyone language , there is something serious wrong here within Wicklow and conveyor belt structure.

It is very doubtful , prob'ly 100% certain that this would not happen in any other County in Ireland.
Even Micko or Archie French must have made enquiries, in 2009 about the Minors of 2006 , that would have been 20/21 in 2009.
Taking them out of the equation , K.O.Brien . Phill Mc Gillacuddy, Martin Coleman would have been aware of the players that could and should have
been sought from the 2006 season.

Wicklow Senior Management don't even know how it's own underage/Juvenile system works !!
Most of them at the Top table are all Kremlem Figures of the past days gone buy....We don't even have to mention names !!

forcus (Wicklow) - Posts: 279 - 31/07/2009 17:56:12    371923

Forcus i remember that game well there was a chap on Bray team i think his name was McNicolas kicked 45s and frees further out over the bar he got man of the match,you say there was 37 players used how many of these players are now playing in any grade for their Clubs let alone their County.Bray is a big town with a big catchment area and should be able to contribute a lot more to County teams football and hurling they are quite good at winning at underage level because they have the numbers and most of their players would be on the age limit while most of the smaller Clubs struggle to get any kind of a team out and were forced to use players 4 or 5 years under the age limit.I know that has changed in the last year or so with the new age limit rule and a lot of small Clubs are unable to field under age teams anymore with their players getting permission to play elsewhere.Rathnew as far as i know dont have a great record at under age level but have always produced great Senior County players down the years and continue to do so.I take your point about the 2006 Minor football final but as i posed the question before how many of these Minors are still actually playing football and if my recollection is correct Bray dominated under age hurling around that period and won 3 or 4 Minor hurling finals in 5 or 6 years where are all those players gone when you see the state our County hurling is in.

pistelero (Wicklow) - Posts: 1719 - 31/07/2009 19:37:27    372045

Some very good posts there guys.

Getting back to the question in point I have a feeling he will stay with us next year. He can see improvement but he will be tempted to do even better. At the end of the day what he sees in Wicklow is total obedience -they will do exactly as his says.

His real legacy is that he has raised expectation levels in the county, and the players have to react to that. And I believe they will. The support has grown with each match ( I was at them all ) and drove the team on. These players have many years ahead of them together.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2931 - 31/07/2009 21:04:29    372176