National Forum

Wexford Hurling Thread

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Tbf, when you consider all the lads who technically aren't retired who didn't play a minute on Saturday, I think that if we were to get most of them back involved in the set-up, we'd be an awful lot better

Martin's the best club side in Leinster and yet only two starters on Saturday, that's not because there's some anti-Martin's agenda on the line but it goes to show that a lot of the best hurlers in Wexford aren't hurling for Wexford for various reasons

If we can change that, we'll improve"
Just to show that I'm not always of the same mindset as you!

Think it's a bit simplistic to assume that county champions should have more on the county team, or that if they don't, that it's a sign that a lot of the best hurlers in the county haven't committed to actually play for the county. Look at the other sides last weekend:
Kilkenny - 2025 champions Balllyhale - three on starting team
Dublin - 2025 champions Na Fianna - one on starting team
Galway - 2025 champions Loughrea - none at all on starting team

Kildare are the outlier with eight from Naas, but that's primarily to how Naas are generally so much stronger than the rest there, and how they've a relatively small number of clubs compared to the other counties anyway.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3546 - 27/04/2026 14:00:59    2669226

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Shane reck broke his thumb at the weekend

hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1206 - 27/04/2026 14:05:56    2669230

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Replying To Timbertony:  "No way to Jacko starting! If Donohue wasn't even brought on in KK then Clarke might come into the corner. Thought he got nowhere near the pace of it either but KK were rampant at that stage. Is Niall Murphy on panel still? Carley and Foley can't play in there again anyway. I'd be reluctant to move D Reck out of where he has been playing very well. Don't have a 6. Expecting Molloy to be championship match fit is too much. Maybe Foley or Carley into midfield next to Hearne. Dublin are strong in midfield. Agreed on Chin to 12.

What's our sub keeper like? Fanning made some great saves but his distribution was terrible. Not comfortable at all finding a man around half back line and that's a big problem for a team that can't win a ball in the air."
Murphy was injured during the League but is back fully fit again, and to be honest, thought he'd have been rated ahead of Clarke in the overall scheme of things. Nothing whatsoever against Clarke, but was surprised he was the one brought on at that stage.

Have only ever seen sub keeper Derry Mahon in action for Bunclody. Never for Wexford. He's obviously a capable keeper to be on the county squad in the first place, but realistically, throwing him in to a "must win" championship match would be a big gamble.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3546 - 27/04/2026 14:07:18    2669232

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Replying To Timbertony:  "No way to Jacko starting! If Donohue wasn't even brought on in KK then Clarke might come into the corner. Thought he got nowhere near the pace of it either but KK were rampant at that stage. Is Niall Murphy on panel still? Carley and Foley can't play in there again anyway. I'd be reluctant to move D Reck out of where he has been playing very well. Don't have a 6. Expecting Molloy to be championship match fit is too much. Maybe Foley or Carley into midfield next to Hearne. Dublin are strong in midfield. Agreed on Chin to 12.

What's our sub keeper like? Fanning made some great saves but his distribution was terrible. Not comfortable at all finding a man around half back line and that's a big problem for a team that can't win a ball in the air."
Seen another poster say Fanning is a major doubt for Dublin game after the belt he got. Agree with you on his distribution but would be a big ask for Derry Mahon to come in for his debut in such a big game.
Im really hoping now its a double header with the footballers we need to create a buzz and the players need to perform

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1009 - 27/04/2026 14:09:02    2669233

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Replying To Timbertony:  "No way to Jacko starting! If Donohue wasn't even brought on in KK then Clarke might come into the corner. Thought he got nowhere near the pace of it either but KK were rampant at that stage. Is Niall Murphy on panel still? Carley and Foley can't play in there again anyway. I'd be reluctant to move D Reck out of where he has been playing very well. Don't have a 6. Expecting Molloy to be championship match fit is too much. Maybe Foley or Carley into midfield next to Hearne. Dublin are strong in midfield. Agreed on Chin to 12.

What's our sub keeper like? Fanning made some great saves but his distribution was terrible. Not comfortable at all finding a man around half back line and that's a big problem for a team that can't win a ball in the air."
Wouldnt be against moving Carley midfield either. Whats clear is we cant go out with the same 15 we started with in Kilkenny. Thinking further I agree with another poster we need to start Rowley and Cillian Byrne too and run at Dublin

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1009 - 27/04/2026 14:11:16    2669235

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Replying To Viking66:  "Skippy turned it down before Keith was asked seemingly."
I feel for Keith he is a gent and judging by his interview with Colm Parkinson after the game I think he feels let down with some players decision not to commit to the panel this year. Its a tough job he has and inter county hurling is cut throat

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1009 - 27/04/2026 14:13:41    2669237

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Replying To Viking66:  "Skippy turned it down before Keith was asked seemingly."
Lads I dunno at this stage should we just go with tried and tested manager when Keith goes as opposed to another Wexford man that might be ok but at the same time might not.

Dowling or Mulally

WEXILE (Wexford) - Posts: 481 - 27/04/2026 14:34:12    2669247

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "I dont agree there is an anti Martins agenda at all . Who from the Martins has been getting a raw deal? I would say Conor Firman might have been given more of a chance other than that I think your point is nonsense"
Read his 2nd paragraph carefully

WEXILE (Wexford) - Posts: 481 - 27/04/2026 14:36:52    2669250

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Replying To Timbertony:  "KK crowd back to their patronising worst the other night alright. Wexford back down to the level Laois were a few years back on that evidence. Miles off it - tactically, skill levels, conditioning, decision making. Only both Recks, Lawlor (in first half) and Kevin Foley looked up to the required standard."
Dont agree 2 be honest spoke to lots of them after the match and they know how poor they are as well didnt think they would beat us.Have 2 be honest i thought we would beat them as well but maybe we are targeting the Dublin game as kk done with us just have to wait and see.

Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 445 - 27/04/2026 14:43:23    2669256

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "I dont agree there is an anti Martins agenda at all . Who from the Martins has been getting a raw deal? I would say Conor Firman might have been given more of a chance other than that I think your point is nonsense"
Firman was given plenty of chances under DF from memory and never looked comfortable. World of difference between club and county level as the 2 x St Martins players who were picked showed at the weekend.

Timbertony (Wexford) - Posts: 553 - 27/04/2026 14:53:57    2669261

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "I dont agree there is an anti Martins agenda at all . Who from the Martins has been getting a raw deal? I would say Conor Firman might have been given more of a chance other than that I think your point is nonsense"
Oh, I wasn't saying there was an anti-Martin's agenda, my point was we only had two of their players starting on Saturday

Rory O'Connor away
Barry O'Connor away
Philip Dempsey injured
Darren Codd injured
David Codd on the matchday squad but not picked
Eoin O'Leary on the panel but not on the matchday squad
Joe Barrett won't play
The rest not considered good enough for intercounty

I don't think there is an agenda but the above shows that the strength of the Martin's isn't really feeding through to Wexford this year for various reasons (Not really the fault of either the Martin's or Wexford, it's just that these things happen now and again)

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1124 - 27/04/2026 14:56:48    2669262

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Replying To Viking66:  "If we lose to Kilkenny we will have lost twice out of 3 games and deserve to be out ."
Yes although using the same logic, KK and Dublin could both lose this weekend and yet both would be in the SFs despite losing two out of three

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1124 - 27/04/2026 14:58:48    2669263

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Replying To Viking66:  "Skippy turned it down before Keith was asked seemingly."
Things can change though, might not be interested this time around either but you never know

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1124 - 27/04/2026 14:59:44    2669264

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Replying To hunting:  "Shane reck broke his thumb at the weekend"
Holy god are you serious? When it rans it pours

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1009 - 27/04/2026 15:02:33    2669265

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Just to show that I'm not always of the same mindset as you!

Think it's a bit simplistic to assume that county champions should have more on the county team, or that if they don't, that it's a sign that a lot of the best hurlers in the county haven't committed to actually play for the county. Look at the other sides last weekend:
Kilkenny - 2025 champions Balllyhale - three on starting team
Dublin - 2025 champions Na Fianna - one on starting team
Galway - 2025 champions Loughrea - none at all on starting team

Kildare are the outlier with eight from Naas, but that's primarily to how Naas are generally so much stronger than the rest there, and how they've a relatively small number of clubs compared to the other counties anyway."
Yeah, tbf I'm not saying the Wexford team needs to be dominated by players from the one club, it's just that you'd naturally wonder how the Martin's could be so good and how we could be so bad with only two Martin's players

And the answer to that question is that it's down to various factors (Most lads on a very good club team won't be up to intercounty standard and then out of the ones who are good enough, some are injured, some are travelling, and some won't play)

Suppose the over-arching point I'm trying to make (Possibly clumsily) is that for various reasons, a lot of good hurlers in Wexford aren't hurling for Wexford

Not all of those will come back but solving that issue should be our biggest immediate priority

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1124 - 27/04/2026 15:07:05    2669268

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Things can change though, might not be interested this time around either but you never know"
He still has the same children he had 3 years ago. Maybe Keith will turn things round yet. He is the manager, and a good Wexford hurling man. He took on a job noone else wanted at the time. So we should support him our best for the rest of the season and hope it goes well for him. His initial 3 years is up at the end of the year, so then would be the time to take stock and see where we are. Not now.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19359 - 27/04/2026 15:11:12    2669270

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Yes although using the same logic, KK and Dublin could both lose this weekend and yet both would be in the SFs despite losing two out of three"
Which would be very unfair on Westmeath if they beat Laois. Maybe we should go a round robin like they have in Munster, though we dont really have enough time after the tier 2 qualification process.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19359 - 27/04/2026 15:12:33    2669272

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Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Yes although using the same logic, KK and Dublin could both lose this weekend and yet both would be in the SFs despite losing two out of three"
Thing is, Kilkenny and Wexford can't both lose two games out of three but end up with one going through and the other not.

If our lads do lose to Kilkenny, Kilkenny finish on four points, and worst that could happen is we finish on two points but go out, while Dublin finish on two points but go through. And it's often the case that somebody on the same points goes through ahead of you anyway.

Westmeath really do stand to be the big losers here, if our lads beat Kilkenny and they (Westmeath) don't absolutely pulverise Laois.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3546 - 27/04/2026 15:13:50    2669274

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Replying To hunting:  "Shane reck broke his thumb at the weekend"
Hammer blow if true . Didnt see him getting a belt there seen Damian really struggling with his hand/thumb after getting a belt near the end of the game

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1009 - 27/04/2026 15:15:46    2669275

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Replying To WEXILE:  "Lads I dunno at this stage should we just go with tried and tested manager when Keith goes as opposed to another Wexford man that might be ok but at the same time might not.

Dowling or Mulally"
Remember the big feeling in the county that the Senior manager should be a Wexford man?!!!
Mulally has gone in with Derek Lyng recently as a telephone consultant!!
He would have been my preferred option when Keith got the job, but in fairness to him he stuck with Carlow after telling them that he would do that year.
Dowling has done very well with Kildare for sure.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19359 - 27/04/2026 15:16:38    2669276

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