New model Forde outstanding as he revs back into the action
THERE WAS potentially great news for Wexford football on Friday night last when Matty Forde turned in a superb display during the first of the Inter-District football trials, which were switched from Taghmon to Craanford at late notice.
Fordes performance has been inhibited by a serious back injury since early last year, and, indeed, many were pleasantly surprised to see him line-out for the Gorey district in their success over the Enniscorthy district, during which Forde kicked seven points.
It was the first step on Mattys hoped-for comeback, with the All-Star having taken a break from the game since last October as the injury, which was operated upon last May, continued to cause him great discomfort.
Whether he will recover sufficiently to be able to rejoin the county squad remains to be seen, and he isnt expected to be in a position to do so for at least another month or two.
Indeed, Wexford manager Jason Ryan refuses to make any presumptions, although he enthuses that: Matty was outstanding for Gorey, kicking some great scores, which is brilliant to see for Kilanerin and for him as a footballer. Hopefully hell feel strong enough somewhere down the line to commit to Wexford again.
In the meantime, Wexford must continue to plan without him for the foreseeable future, including next Sundays date with Westmeath at Gorey (2.30p.m.) in the OByrne Cup tournament Shield semi-final, when the team boss is eager to see an improvement on the games against Dublin and Longford.
We need Forde back and soon - his point scoring ability off either foot from any angle is a joy to behold. I think his case was adjourned, Link - not definite on that though.
The new minor football manager apparently wasnāt happy with a venue chosen for an underage final his club advanced to last year and made a trip to the pitch with measuring tape and appealed the venue choice on the basis it was a few yards shorter than as per the official guidelines. Ergo, heās a mad bastard. Good luck to him.
Double header in Gorey tomorrow - brief match reports would be much appreciated (by me) if anyoneās heading along.
Everybody knows itās a thundering disgrace that thereās NO Sarsfields players on the Wexford football panel. Spot Murphy was dropped last Spring and is still in Australia, as far as I know. Jason Ryan also dropped the best defender in Wexford, Mikey Hanrahan, last year and heās now confirmed that heās heading to Australia too. I blame Jason Ryan for the fact that Sarsfields may well be without their two best players for the championship first round games this coming summer. :mad:
Any idea what time the games are on?
Iāve a soccer match down the south of the county so itās doubtful Iāll make it.
Iād appreciate a report also if anyoneās going.
Hurling Team:
D Flynn;
D Kehoe, B Kenny, K Rossiter;
D Stamp, G Jacob, P Nolan;
C Farrell, T Mahon;
PJ Nolan, W Doran, D Nolan;
S Banville, D Lyng, J Berry.
Football Team:
G Morris;
J Wadding, D Walsh, N Murphy;
K Kennedy, D Murphy, B Malone;
B Doyle, D Waters;
R Barry, C Byrne, A Morrissey;
B Brosnan, A Flynn, P Byrne.
And defeated Westmeath 1-11 to 0-8 in the football. Ben Brosnan got a late goal to seal the win and has been pretty good in these early season games. Away to Louth next Sunday in the league opener and it should be a tough enough game - they defeated Kildare today.
Stephen Banville and Jim Berry got first half goals in the hurling and UCD didnāt offer much of a challenge.
Iām sometimes harsh on Jason Ryan so I want to congratulate him on masterminding Wexfordās second victory of this season - the win today ensuring we have already bettered the win tally for the entire 2009 season.
Was at the games today. Missed the first 15 mins of the hurling cos I got delayed. Arrived after we got the goals and think we were leading 2-6 to 0-3 when I arrived. For the rest of the first half there was only 1 point from play from Darren Nolan who was very impressive (I may sound surprised as he struggled to make our school team). UCD left a load of lads at home and most of their scores in the first half came from Bunclodys Peter Atkinson from frees. Liam Rushe was well marshalled by the Wexford backs. Barry Kenny looked decent at full back. In the second half Wexford upped it a bit and eventually pulled into a 9 point lead. Gizzy came out the field and took the game by the āscruff of the neckā. Everything he touched was donkey. Darren Nolan tagged on a few nice scores and Banville got a nice point. Colm Farrell was also very lively. Darren Stamp was sent off late on for what looked like a second yellow card. Simba Berry was very quiet as well. Am trying to remember the subs brought on - Ciaran Kenny was brought on for Paul Nolan. Brendan Hobbs was brought on as well but canāt remember for who. Lar Prender was brought on as well I think. Andrew Shore was named on the subs but was a water carrier due to a bruised him according to his mother.
All in all a decent win against a poor UCD team who started with 2 Wexford players - Atkinson and James Foley. Shane Tomkins, Shane Rackard and SeƔn Murphy were the other Wexford players on the bench with UCD. The UCD team was
Jamie Ryan - Galway
Eoin OāShea - Kilkenny, Sean Cummins - KK, Paddy Burns - KK
Neal Prendergast - KK, David Kenny - Offaly, David Langton - KK
Liam Ryan - KK, Joey Boland - Dublin
James Foley - WX, Maurice Nolan - KK, Peter Atkinson - KK
David Lyng - KK, Liam Rushe - Dub, Joe Maher - Dub
Best for Wexford in my opinion were Colm Farrell, Darren Nolan and Gizzy. Willie Doran put in a good show. Greg Jacob might actually be slower than Stephen Nolan which I didnāt think was possible.
EDIT - UCDās goal was very late and came from a 21 yard free (I think) which probably took the gloss off the scoreline. Our lads were comfortable and never looked in trouble. PJ Nolan even won a few 50/50 challenges.
The football was a classic game of two halves. Let me start the report by saying that this Westmeath team are possibly the worst 15 intercounty footballers I have ever seen take to the field of play. Wexford lined out with a few changes - Brian Malone started corner back with Andy Doyle coming in wing back. The panther also switched with Red.
Wexford led 8 (or 9) points to 3 at half time and were well on top. Boccy and Waters hadnāt really imposed themselves but we were all over the midlanders. Paddy Byrne kicked three great points in the first 15 mins, one of which was a reflex save from the keeper which he parried over. Red Barry had another great goal chance saved. Ben Brosnan put over a few beauties as well from frees and play. Joey Wadding and Kieran Kennedy were rampaging down the right quite frequently and to be honest everyone thought the game was well over at half time. Just before half time, David Walsh got a clout to the side of the head and Adrian Morrissey got what looked like a bad shoulder injury. Both were replaced at half time by Damian Carter and Pat Naughter. Walsh had been playing very well at full back.
Naughters first touch in the second half was a sweet point off his left foot and Brosnan then slotted over a '45 leaving us 10 points to 3 up. That was after 5 mins of the second half. Our next score came with 3 mins left thanks to Andy Doyle. The half an hour in between was possibly the most turgid football I have ever witnessed. The wind picked up and we couldnāt get out of our own half. Any decent team would have given us a walloping but Westmeath were that useless that they couldnāt manage it. Denis Glennon was their only danger and in fairness to Joey Wadding he marked him very well. They kicked an unmerciful amount of ball wide or into Gavin Morris hands. Our midfield was non existent. Collie Byrne was replaced by Eric Bradley. Collie was nothing short of useless. Colm Morris also replaced Kieran Kennedy. Westmeath brought it back to 10 points to 8 with about 10 mins left and left most of us in the crowd pretty worried.
We had hit a few bad wides in the second half. Flynn, P Byrne and Red were culprits. Eventually, Andy Doyle went on a run down the left and backed himself from about 35 yards out and about 10 yards left of the posts and slotted over. An unlikely scorer but fair dues to him. The subsequent kickout was won by Bradley I think who played it to Brosnan who played a quick 1-2 with Flynn (I think) which left him one on one with the keeper and he slotted home. The ref had already blown though as Flynn played the pass back with an open hand. 2 mins later, Flynn sent in a speculative effort which Brosnan out-leaped both the keeper and his marker to punch home. He was a good 10 yards out when he punched it and was giving both Westmeath lads at least half a foot in height. He got through again on goal about 1 minute later and blazed his shot high - one umpire signalled wide while the other waved his white flag! The ref then blew for full time.
The first half was honestly the best football Iāve seen the lads play since the Armagh game in 2008. The second half was like looking at the 2009 team. Iām not sure what the problem is but Jason needs to sort it. Best on the day were David Murphy who was a calm head when all around him were in a panic. Joey Wadding was very impressive and didnāt put a foot wrong all day. I could see him starting against Dublin at 2. Brosnan was very dangerous every time he got the ball. Iād love to see a full forward line of him, Forde and Lyng. I reckon it would be as good as any team in Leinster if they were all fit. Red was the one worry. He looked awful and made a few sloppy mistakes. On the plus side, the lads looked very fit and were never really over run. The stamina really showed at the end.
Joey Wadding has impressed in all three games so far then. Good to read that Paddy Byrne came onto a game today - he was on the periphery in the previous two games. Ben Brosnan is showing up very well too and will be a genuine scoring threat. Iād be concerned if David Walsh is injured as heās been quite solid since slotting in at full back and we donāt have too many replacement options and probably lack a bit if strength in depth in defence. Hopefully itās just a bang and heāll be all right for next week - he actually came off last Sunday after getting a kick in the head. Iām concerned about midfield - Daithi Waters is quite raw but I suppose these games will be good for experience. Bradley looked sharp enough when he came on last week so he might come back in.
I was watching the game in the company of a few randomers and Boccys parents! His Da informed me that Walsh needed 9 stitches in his ear after last Sunday. Byrne went very quiet after 20 mins. He seems to lack confidence or something. Heāll never shoot first time and will always look for a pass rather than backing himself. Brosnan is a natural footballer. He was a regular in Jasons first few games in '08. Midfield is a huge issue. Boccy and Waters are both lugs. Neither have a footballing brain. Iād prefer to see Kinsella and Bradley in there.
Ha! Surpised no-one else noticed it either. Iāve heard a rumour that Atkinsons ability to hurl could be taken away from him over the coming months. Any truth in the rumour?
