Very hard to read anything into early season league fixtures but some positives for Wexford at the weekend.
Kevin Foley was pretty impressive as sweeper. More proactive than Murphy and better distribution. Gave one point away when in possession and robbed from behind, but that seems to be mandatory for any Wexford sweeper.
Darren Byrne had a reasonable debut. Some good interventions but a bit to work on too - stood off Aidan Walsh for back to back points late in first half and gave away a point for an over carrying offence.
Dunbar was sharp again. 3 points from play and some assists. Nice to have ROC and Chin back involved too, a couple of nice points from ROC after his half time introduction. Seemed to be plenty of positional rotation. Murphy and O’Keeffe started in midfield with Jack O’Connor wing back on Kearney. O’Connor was later in midfield and likes of Paudie Foley was breaking forward to land efforts on goal. We generally looked to be moving quickly on the ploughed surface and looked collectively in good shape.
However, I would like us to become a meaner team though. There’s an element of we score, you score with us. We still give away crazy scores too regularly through rank carelessness / stupidity. Fouling lads when they’re going nowhere, getting caught in possession at the back, playing loose passes out of defence and so on. I want to see a real determination not to concede and hard but disciplined gang tackling from the front. Look at the way the All Ireland champions Limerick broke Tipperary in the second half at the weekend with their tight marking, disciplined tackling and physicality. We need that mean streak.
I want us to be coming out on top on the dominant tackle count every week.
