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Replying To Viking66: "#Pikeman I think the point being made is that non traditional and/or smaller clubs are producing top level players. And that this is shown by the fact they are competing and winning in higher divisions.
Which is why you are seeing more and more players from these clubs making county teams.
The best players should be making our county teams regardless of what club they are from." Oh, I fully realise that, and I fully recognise and applaud the work going on and the progress being made in those clubs - e.g. three starters from Monageer-Boolavogue on our minor hurling team last weekend, and two from Oylegate-Glenbrien.
But things sometimes have a habit of growing legs that they shouldn't really have.
For instance, would be accurate to say the three clubs specified in the original post on this thing are making great strides, picking up a county title or two, and competing at a higher level than they traditionally did.
But inaccurate to say they're "winning the Premier titles at underage levels" as though they're hoovering them all up, with nobody else getting a look in.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3598 - 13/05/2026 12:53:37
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Replying To Afinestick96: "Think I agree with you Viking . I think 5 group games and then having preliminary quarter finals is too much of a cushion for teams. They dont have to peak until September which means the early rounds are generally poor." Five games is enough, personally think #1 in each group should go straight through to the SFs, and then 2nd should played 3rd in the QFs, 4th and 5th are done done for the year, and 6th play each other in the relegation final
If you play five games in a group and come 4th, I don't think you should really be arguing that you deserve to play more games
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 12:57:22
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I do think that while it is right that the County Board have a programme for the development of the game in the county, each club and secondary school should also have their own programme
Their needs to be buy-in for this to work and a lot of people might think there's no need for a programme at each club or might have little interest in formulating one but the fact is, you have have to convince thee people and bring them along with it by first off working back from targets
1. Ask yourself what grade the club aspires to realistically play at in 10-15 years time?
2. Ask yourself how does the club get there
3. What grades to underage teams needs to be playing at in the next 10 years for you to get there at adult level?
4. Ask yourself if you want to play at that underage grade, what work do you need to do at club level in order to get there?
5. How does the club get more good hurlers? Can the club expand its playing population? Can the club improve the quality of its coaching so the club develops better hurlers?
6. How does the club develop its coaches?
7. How do the players themselves improve? Technically, physically, tactically, and mentally? What are all the technical skills? What are physical skills? How do we best coach these? How do we challenge good players?
8. Do we have the equipment and infrastructure to allow them to improve e.g. a gym for S&C work even though it's probably own body weight stuff? How does we then finance this if we don't have the infrastructure atm
9. What are other clubs doing well and how do we copy them?
10. Are we training enough months in the year?
11. What are our link-ups with primary schools and secondary schools?
12. How do we measure success in the short-run to know we're on the right track? Success at underage level, playing numbers, number of players on development squads, number of players on schools teams?
13. How often do we review our programme to know that we have the right programme in place?
14. Are we adhering to our current programme? If we aren't, why aren't we?
I think if every club and secondary school were to do something like that, we'd be in a great place
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 13:13:50
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Replying To Afinestick96: "Think I agree with you Viking . I think 5 group games and then having preliminary quarter finals is too much of a cushion for teams. They dont have to peak until September which means the early rounds are generally poor." To be frank, I'm not sure it would make much difference.
Let's say we did move to groups of four (so only three group games each), and possibly even expand each grade to 16 teams - i.e. four groups of four.
Clubs would probably only go for it on the grounds of group winners going to a quarter-final, with second and third place playing a preliminary quarter-final. If it was just first and second going straight through to quarter-finals, then half the teams in the county would be out after only three games.
Then you'd still have three-quarters of teams (12 out of 16) going to knockout stages, so questionable whether there'd actually be much more jeopardy at all.
Anyway - just running the numbers on it!
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3598 - 13/05/2026 13:22:04
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Sorry, meant to include in the last post -
And with 12 out of 16 teams going through somehow or somewhere, then particularly the stronger teams still wouldn't have to peak until knockout stages in September anyway.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3598 - 13/05/2026 13:23:23
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Just looking ahead to the U20 game tonight our lads should view it as a massive opportunity. Niland is out of the 26 ( I wonder is he injured as didnt play at the weekend would have thought he was being rested for tonight) . Rabbitte and Cullen Killeen both named on the bench who knows maybe they might start. Galway are still a very good side but We have improved since we played them last so I expect us to really tear into Galway. A win would be an enormous boost for Wexford hurling best of luck to the lads go out and give it your all.
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1068 - 13/05/2026 15:07:30
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "I know you mention that there's a drop-off between Development Squads and Minor but to play devil's advocate, a lot of those development squad games might be in blitzes where the games are forty minutes a side, the only real inter-county competitions for the Development Squads are in late August (Ot at least that was the case back in my day, things might have changed a lot since then), you might be playing against mixed teams rather than A and B so you can't be sure where you stand, and any team is going to be rotated in order to give all lads in the squad a game
Not saying development squad results should be ignored but you can see why results at that level mightn't necessarily translate to Minor level" The results Im talking about are the end of season games, or full 15 on 15 games.
Our record at u14, u15 and u16 would be top 3, 4, or 5 on average over the last few years.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 15:16:18
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Oh, I fully realise that, and I fully recognise and applaud the work going on and the progress being made in those clubs - e.g. three starters from Monageer-Boolavogue on our minor hurling team last weekend, and two from Oylegate-Glenbrien.
But things sometimes have a habit of growing legs that they shouldn't really have.
For instance, would be accurate to say the three clubs specified in the original post on this thing are making great strides, picking up a county title or two, and competing at a higher level than they traditionally did.
But inaccurate to say they're "winning the Premier titles at underage levels" as though they're hoovering them all up, with nobody else getting a look in." I agree he blew it up a little, but his point is still a valid one!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 15:18:21
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "Five games is enough, personally think #1 in each group should go straight through to the SFs, and then 2nd should played 3rd in the QFs, 4th and 5th are done done for the year, and 6th play each other in the relegation final
If you play five games in a group and come 4th, I don't think you should really be arguing that you deserve to play more games" 5 games is too many if there's not much riding on the.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 15:19:35
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "I do think that while it is right that the County Board have a programme for the development of the game in the county, each club and secondary school should also have their own programme
Their needs to be buy-in for this to work and a lot of people might think there's no need for a programme at each club or might have little interest in formulating one but the fact is, you have have to convince thee people and bring them along with it by first off working back from targets
1. Ask yourself what grade the club aspires to realistically play at in 10-15 years time?
2. Ask yourself how does the club get there
3. What grades to underage teams needs to be playing at in the next 10 years for you to get there at adult level?
4. Ask yourself if you want to play at that underage grade, what work do you need to do at club level in order to get there?
5. How does the club get more good hurlers? Can the club expand its playing population? Can the club improve the quality of its coaching so the club develops better hurlers?
6. How does the club develop its coaches?
7. How do the players themselves improve? Technically, physically, tactically, and mentally? What are all the technical skills? What are physical skills? How do we best coach these? How do we challenge good players?
8. Do we have the equipment and infrastructure to allow them to improve e.g. a gym for S&C work even though it's probably own body weight stuff? How does we then finance this if we don't have the infrastructure atm
9. What are other clubs doing well and how do we copy them?
10. Are we training enough months in the year?
11. What are our link-ups with primary schools and secondary schools?
12. How do we measure success in the short-run to know we're on the right track? Success at underage level, playing numbers, number of players on development squads, number of players on schools teams?
13. How often do we review our programme to know that we have the right programme in place?
14. Are we adhering to our current programme? If we aren't, why aren't we?
I think if every club and secondary school were to do something like that, we'd be in a great place" Most of that was requested the last 2 years from the clubs by coaching and games, and Coiste na Nog.
The clubs were supposed to appoint coaching officers to oversee it, some didnt do this.
The coaching officer was supposed to submit a plan along the the lines of what you have there. Only 18 clubs did so.
There was alot of work put into this by County Board, and some of the meetings to do with it were only attended by around half the clubs.
Club apathy is still an ongoing problem. Around one third of the clubs in the county never even bothered sending a representative to the launch of the 2026-2030 strategic plan. Attendance by club chairpeople, secretaries, CnN chairpeople and secretaries, coaching officers, and County Board reps was requested. Some clubs had 4 or 5 lads there. More never sent anyone at all.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 15:27:43
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Replying To Pikeman96: "To be frank, I'm not sure it would make much difference.
Let's say we did move to groups of four (so only three group games each), and possibly even expand each grade to 16 teams - i.e. four groups of four.
Clubs would probably only go for it on the grounds of group winners going to a quarter-final, with second and third place playing a preliminary quarter-final. If it was just first and second going straight through to quarter-finals, then half the teams in the county would be out after only three games.
Then you'd still have three-quarters of teams (12 out of 16) going to knockout stages, so questionable whether there'd actually be much more jeopardy at all.
Anyway - just running the numbers on it!" Top 2 to QFs, bottom 2 to relegation QFs. 4 guaranteed games, rising to 5 for semifinalists, 6 for finalists.
More than enough, especially as every game would be meaningful.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 15:30:09
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Replying To Viking66: "Most of that was requested the last 2 years from the clubs by coaching and games, and Coiste na Nog.
The clubs were supposed to appoint coaching officers to oversee it, some didnt do this.
The coaching officer was supposed to submit a plan along the the lines of what you have there. Only 18 clubs did so.
There was alot of work put into this by County Board, and some of the meetings to do with it were only attended by around half the clubs.
Club apathy is still an ongoing problem. Around one third of the clubs in the county never even bothered sending a representative to the launch of the 2026-2030 strategic plan. Attendance by club chairpeople, secretaries, CnN chairpeople and secretaries, coaching officers, and County Board reps was requested. Some clubs had 4 or 5 lads there. More never sent anyone at all." That's why I said that it's important to bring them along with you, I think if it's imposed from above, there just isn't going to the necessary buy-in as people won't really understand the purpose behind it
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 16:53:08
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I don't know whether that Galway U20 team is a dummy team but when we played them the last day, as much as it was a heavy defeat going by the scoreline, Niland pretty much beat us by himself and we hit a terrible number of wides
If he doesn't play and we don't hit way too many wides, we should be very competitive this evening, free-taking has been an issue as O'Brien isn't a free taker, can't afford to leave a game behind is because of frees, even without Niland, this is a very good side and we won't have much margin for error
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 16:55:12
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "That's why I said that it's important to bring them along with you, I think if it's imposed from above, there just isn't going to the necessary buy-in as people won't really understand the purpose behind it" It wasnt being imposed from above. There were no penalties attached for non attendance to any of the meetings.
It was just poor out of some clubs that they didnt bother. Thats all. And if any members of those clubs are inclined to start whingeing about where Wexford hurling is at then they dont have to look too far for answers to their questions.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 17:13:17
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Replying To ElGranSenor: "I don't know whether that Galway U20 team is a dummy team but when we played them the last day, as much as it was a heavy defeat going by the scoreline, Niland pretty much beat us by himself and we hit a terrible number of wides
If he doesn't play and we don't hit way too many wides, we should be very competitive this evening, free-taking has been an issue as O'Brien isn't a free taker, can't afford to leave a game behind is because of frees, even without Niland, this is a very good side and we won't have much margin for error" They are favourites for the u20 AI this year, just as they were favourites for the minor AI 3 years ago.
Of course they are a very good team. But like 3 years ago there's always the chance they can be beaten.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19555 - 13/05/2026 17:17:03
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Half time in the U20s, Wexford giving it a right good go. We left a fair few points behind us but in fairness Galway did too. Wind seems to be swirling but we definitely had the advantage that half. We gave away some stupid frees through awkward tackling but they are fighting like dogs and you love to see it.
YellowShadeOfPurple (Wexford) - Posts: 71 - 13/05/2026 20:06:20
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A one-point lead at HT although Galway will likely bring in Rabbitte and they're going to have a strong wind advantage in the second half
Hit too many wides, O'Brien did some great work to get into good scoring positions but he ended up hitting some poor wides by his standards, Galway were more efficient although saying that, they did hit a couple of wides towards the end of the half
Conceded too many frees as well, no real flow to the game, the wind is making it hard to hurl but it's very stop-start
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 20:06:39
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U20s ran out of gas in the end, suppose the fact that Galway only brought on Rabbitte and Killeen early on on in the second half would've stood to them in extra time, meant their best players were only getting going whereas ours were tiring
Game was probably gone from us when O'Brien got sent off but the two yellows were silly from him, wouldn't say anyone should read too much into the final score because we were out on our feet and had pretty much used our entire bench
Hard to know how much to read into the fact we were level at the end of normal time and what it means for us in terms of the quality of this team, neither Niland nor Murphy played for Galway and Rabbitte and Killeen only came on but at the same time, this is probably the best side they've had at this level for a good while
They were just able to get their scores that bit easier than we were and they were that little bit better at winning physical possession too
I think even U20 games are referred differently in Leinster compared to Munster, no real flow to the game, just too many frees
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 21:33:15
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Tough one to take. Left it behind us in normal time. Wides and free taking kill us time after time. Boys died with their boot on. Out on our feet in extra time and rabbit ran the show for first half of extra time, we had kept him quiet enough for the last 20 minutes of normal time.
hunting (Wexford) - Posts: 1217 - 13/05/2026 22:03:21
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I think that game pretty much shows that the group stages game was never as bad as people made it out to be and that it was an even game other than us hitting the world of wides and Niland beating us on his own
Take Niland out and stop hitting wides and you cut down that gap a good bit
Might've lost by 3-6 points had Galway started Rabbitte and Killeen, would've made them grind it out
On the bright side, Galway won't be as strong next year plus we'll have Quigley, Donohoe, Moore, Shannon, Carley, Nolan, O'Brien, Doran, Fanning, O'Connell-Byrne, Reilly, and Darragh Ryan all eligible again plus a few Minors from this year
Ok enough team on the whole, not a bad team but not a great team, S&C work has improved compared to last year, would say that the half-back-line, Carley, Nolan, and O'Brien are the ones to take out of it from a Senior perspective going forward, Roark did a good enough job on Rabbitte until he understandably got tired in ET
ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1204 - 13/05/2026 22:28:52
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