Micks View Monday 5th September The Youths 19's lost 3-1 to Bray on Saturday and deserved no better from the game. Too many players did not bring the right approach to proceedings ,in contrast to the home side Bray who worked hard all day for each other,lots of movement,support for the player with the ball and generally had a good attitude all over the pitch. Things could have been different - the Youths had a penalty turned down when Aidan Nolan was taken out of it, only for Bray to break away and win a penalty at the other end when Craig Mc Cabe put in a poor tackle. Soon it was 2-0, Aidan Lehane giving the ball away in midfield, allowing a quick attack and goal. Things were not looking good. David Miller grabbed a goal back for the Youths but it was no more than Bray deserved when they scored a third to make the game safe. A very disappointing affair - keeper Sean Allen was not at fault for any of the goals, Ian Sinnott, Aidan Nolan and Arron Kinsella tried hard. Early days yet in the 19's but a different approach is required. We have had a lot of success at underage over the years but never without the right mental approach. If nothing else this season, I am determined to establish an 18's and 19's squad with the right attitude, I want players who care, who want to be part of something special and most importantly, players who are honest on and off the field. If this means losing some of our more talented players, so be it. When a group of players come together and forge that unity, that sense of purpose,that sense of belonging, wanting to make it happen - win or lose, it can be one of the most beautiful feelings in the world. The alternative does nothing for me - life's too short. That night the Youths senior team lost 3-0 to Shels in Tolka Park but there was no shame in that. An under strength Youths played with passion and conviction and were a joy to watch. With the late loss of players due to work commitments and injury, I had to bring my 17 year old son Joseph as 3rd substitute - as luck would have it, he had to play the last half hour. His League of Ireland debut at Tolka Park. A day of contrasting emotions. Mick Wallace. Mick's View - 6th June 2011 Now that was a surprise. The Youths pulled off shock results when twice they knocked Cork City out of the League Cup at Turners Cross but this win over Derry defies logic. Before the game I wrote the following piece for the programme - "Derry City come back .......life. It will be a pleasure to watch Derry City - a real football club with real fans and a professional approach from start to finish. Let's hope the quality of the opposition inspires the Youths to greater things,always remembering that David can beat Goliath - one of the beauties of sport". Everything is possible,there is no limit to what you can achieve when you bring the right mental approach to the challenge that confronts you On Friday night the Youths state of mind was superior to Derry's. Packie Holden didn't put a foot wrong all night,the back four of Carl Keogh,Murt Kehoe,Dean Broaders and Shane Nolan were superb,Patsi Malone, Craig Wall and Ben Ryan were inspired,Danny Furlong,Kevin Rowe and David Grincell tormented their opponents and linked powerfully with the indomitable Darragh Walsh up front. Four lovely goals,one from Ben who was on fire and 3 from Danny who showed himself what he can do when he has his head right. It was a pleasure to watch,a pleasure to see smiles on Noel O'Conor,Seanie and Ravi. It's been tough lately but a night was always going to come to make it all worthwhile. Just another day in the history of the Wexford Youths. Mick Wallace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mick's View - 3rd May 2011 The Wexford Youths League of Ireland season continues to be a difficult one, following a 2-1 defeat at home to Waterford on Friday night. If ever there was a game of two halves, this was it. The Youths were dreadful in the first half and were lucky to be only two goals down at the break. It was a different Youths that turned up for the second period – at last we saw the Youths play with the hunger and passion we’ve come to expect of players in the black and pink jerseys. Waterford were over ran for most of the second half and could consider themselves lucky to leave with all the spoils. Let’s hope that the interval of this game will prove a turning point in our season. On Saturday the Youths 17’s won the Premier League Youths title for the first time in 3 years when they defeated Wexford Bohs 3-1. The Youths went through the league unbeaten and still they needed a result from the last game to secure the title, such was the closeness all season between Bohs, Moyne Rangers and the Youths. I have felt for a while that this is a serious group of players with buckets of character and personality to go with it. We do need to develop that mental strength that helps bring that killer instinct and makes teams so hard to beat. The Italian experience will help immeasurably towards that goal. Credit is due to all the football clubs around the county in general for all the work they do, and to the Emerging Talent Programme in particular. Under age football in Wexford is in a healthy state.The goals on Saturday came from Aidan Lehane, Aidan Nolan and Denis Murray. Most of these players will be involved in the new League of Ireland under 19 League which starts in September. It promises to be a powerful league and we intend to hold trials in early July with a view to organising a good pre-season. Mick Wallace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mick's View - 18th April 2011 Losing to Athlone on Friday night was certainly a very disappointing result for the Wexford Youths. Following the powerful win in Limerick, we needed to keep the momentum going, but it wasn’t to be. It was a strange game with Athlone – we had more of the ball in the second half but created more scoring opportunities in the first, while Athlone created more clear openings in the second period, despite the Youths dominating possession. We didn’t play particularly well but yet didn’t deserve to lose. The team, club and community project that is the Wexford Youths is now under pressure, given the poor run of results this season but I have no worries for its future. It is times like this that we must show that the Youths project is real and sustainable. From the players, management, volunteers, sponsors, together we can deal with all the challenges that come our way – things look tough right now but I guarantee they’ll look better soon. Speaking of the future, the under 16’s travel to Italy this Wednesday where they will play four or five games, get to know each other better and get an insight into a completely different culture. They will begin to come to terms with the idea that there is more than one way of looking at things and that we must all learn to be tolerant of divergent views. Little steps……. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mick's View - 11th April 2011 A football weekend with a little bit of everything. A super win for Wexford Youths Seniors in Limerick on Friday night, a cruel defeat for the county 16’s in the Leinster Final on Saturday morning and a narrow victory for the Youths 17’s on Saturday evening in Gorey. The Wexford Youths League of Ireland side have had a difficult start to the league campaign, just as in other seasons, but they got the show on the road with a powerful win in Limerick – Limerick of all places. As always, the Youths retain the ability to surprise – we lose at home to Longford and Mervue and then we go to Jackman Park to play a fancied home side with title ambitions – and win. Following a schoolboy defensive performance against Mervue where we conceded five goals, a clean sheet was just what the doctor ordered in Limerick. A little bit of magic from 20 year old Shane Nolan also helped. A spirited performance is the true Wexford Youths tradition – a massive win for this group of players – the challenge now is to build on it. The county 16’s had their long awaited Leinster Final against Kilkenny on Saturday but sadly came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 game. The victors forced the ball home in a crowded area following a corner kick in the tenth minute and it was to be the only score of the game. Wexford did not play to their potential but still managed to boss the possession stakes without creating enough scoring opportunities. The game’s play generally lacked momentum, partly due to incessant interruptions from the official in the middle. The appointment of Stephen Hadley to a game of this stature proved wanting – it may have been the same for both sides but unfortunately for Wexford, we were the ones chasing the game. Still, I would not begrudge Kilkenny their win, they are certainly a fine side and did manage to create the more clear cut openings. For different reasons, Wexford underperformed on the day but the experience will stand to them, I remain confident that this group of players will develop into a serious unit – they have a good attitude, plenty of talent and are certainly interested in getting the rest right. Five games in Italy during the Easter period will be part of that formative process. The Youths 17’s continued their challenge for the under 18 Premier League title with a 1-0 win over Gorey Rangers. It was a good game of football and Gorey may feel aggrieved to have taken none of the spoils – a David Miller penalty deciding the game. One game to play, unbeaten so far this season and still the league remains open. It has been so tight all season with little or nothing between Wexford Bohs, Moyne Rangers, and the Wexford Youths. The Youths will play at home to Bohs in their final game and it may decide the title – but not necessarily so as Moyne may still have a say in matters. Mick Wallace Garry Sheehan Departs Following two seasons with the Wexford Youths, Garry Sheehan has decided to return to his native Limerick. Garry will certainly be missed by the Youths as he has developed into one of those few players who can really frighten opposition defences with his strong running, skill, work rate and electric pace. Gary Sheehan missed a few months of his first season with the Youths as he arrived injured from Limerick but it is a credit to Noel O Connors training programme that Garry played all of every game this season apart from a suspension, a phenomenal achievement for a player with Garry’s speed. The player has added a new dimension to his game this year and must be considered to have a good chance of progressing to the professional scene across the water. I’d like to thank Garry for his unwavering commitment to the Youths for two years and I fully understand and respect his decision. The Youths will always be a healthy positive environment for young players but reality dictates that we will always have a high turnover of players, given our amateur status. Players have to live too and will naturally look to better themselves financially with a view to making ends meet, but it should be stressed that Garry Sheehan was no mercenary. The Wexford Youths were good for Garry Sheehan and Garry was good for the Wexford Youths, I wish him well. Mick Wallace -------------------------------------------------------------- Inter League Begins Wexford League 18’s begin their Inter League Youths championship campaign next Saturday, Newbridge 2.00pm, when they play Kildare in their first group game. It promises to be a tough task for the Youths as they attempt to challenge for the All Ireland title and despite the level of success achieved in the last ten years, we have to be considered underdogs this season. Still, that tag mightn’t do this squad of players any harm and if we can survive in the tournament into the spring, we could yet develop into a serious unit. The commitment and hunger of the players involved will be a crucial factor. From a squad of 30 players, the following panel of 18 have been selected for the first game –Cathal Clince, Caim. Eoin Travers, Fethard Rangers. Jamie Fox, Richie Farrell, and Alan Tobin, Moyne Rangers. Killian Murphy, Forth Celtic. Robert Dempsey, Eoin O Shea, Richard Kumar, Martin Broaders, Fintan White, Craig Mc Cabe, Darren Foley, David Miller, Brendan Mc Crea, Joe Keohane, Ian Sinnott, Aidan Nolan. The Wexford Youths club side went out of the Leinster Youths Cup on Saturday last when they lost 3-0 to a very good Evergreen side. An excellent game of football which started well for the Youths but they failed to take the early chances that came their way. The Kilkenny boys opened the scoring from the penalty spot and soon added a second with a breakaway goal. The Youths just did not bring enough to the table to turn the game around and Evergreen grabbed a third late in the game for a deserved win. Mick Wallace --------------------------------------------------------------- Football Heartache God knows I've had some wonderful experiences through football over the years and should take the bad with the good when it doesn't go our way. But life isn't like that and I can't help feeling absolutely gutted after our under 17's were knocked out of the All Ireland by Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Sunday morning, losing 3-2 after extra time. One of those games which we should have won,played very well in general but sadly gave away 2 poor goals. It was a powerful game of football from start to finish despite a terrible pitch - hard to credit that the biggest club in Ireland would not have better facilities for their underage teams. Craig Mc Cabe,Ian Sinnott,Aidan Lehane and Darren Foley were superb in defence,David Miller and Aidan Nolan led the highly rated Rovers back four a merry dance,while Joe Keohane pulled the strings in the middle,helped by Brendan Mc Crea,Denis Murray and Rioghan Crosbie. Goals from Aidan Nolan and Brendan Mc Crea seemed to be taking us as far as our beloved penalties 'till Rovers grabbed the winner in extra time. A very good Rovers that will take beating,and I should add that referee Joe Clarke was excellent. Heartbreak for this talented group of players who must now work towards a good run in the Leinster Cup,18's All Ireland and for some,the Inter League Youths campaign. The Irish Economy is going down the tube,450,000 are unemployed,cuts in Welfare,Health and Education coming down the tracks and we have to listen to people from the comfortable Elite saying - 'don't complain'. And I'm still upset about the unrealised potential of a group of players who gave their all without reaping the rewards. Life isn't always fair - just ask the 450,000 unemployed. Mick Wallace. --------------------------------------------------------------- Once more to the breach.... The Wexford League Inter League Youths have made some progress of late with 2 trials and 3 practice games,including a game with Kilkenny on bank holiday Monday which we drew 1-1,Robert Dempsey scoring for Wexford. With championship games looming,we have selected a squad of players consisting of Wexford Youths players plus the following - Alan Tobin,Richard Farrell,Chris Doyle,Jamie Fox and Niall Thorpe of Moyne Rangers,Glen O Brien,Matt Kavanagh and Craig Travers,Gorey Rangers,Killian Murphy Forth Celtic,Cathal Clince,Caim,John Kavanagh,Gorey Celtic,and Eoin Travers of Fethard Rangers.We need to put a lot of work into preparation if we are to develop into serious contenders for an All Ireland title. Like most counties,we have plenty of raw talent,harnessing it into a powerful unit is the challenge. This is my 20th year as manager of the county team and the present group of players were still figments of their parents imaginations when I started. Just one more reason why I've brought the passionate and successful Aidan Browne of Moyne on board. Once more to the breach.... Mick Wallace. ---------------------------------------------------------------
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