Connect with Oisín McConville on a Monday morning and commend him for Wicklow’s triumph over Westmeath. Approach him with a blend of genuineness and subtle persuasion, enough to rouse a suspicion that you have an ulterior motive. His response suggests this isn’t the first time he’s been approached this way, resulting in him feeling suddenly in high demand. Your motivation? The odds of him declining are low. He chuckles, agreeing with your assessment and extends an invitation – they might not be too busy, but your presence will indeed be welcomed. It could be a positive development for them, an indication that things are levelling up a notch.
[Triumphant Wicklow shocks Westmeath in Leinster Championship opening round]
The Wicklow Centre of Excellence is not a commonplace spot, it’s tucked away in Ballinakill, situated just a few miles off the beaten path towards Rathdrum, and a little further from Glenealy. It boasts six pitches and a clubhouse perched on a hill; idyllic on a fine evening for getting ready for a match.
Arrivals begin around six PM. Dundalk is roughly a 2½-hour journey for McConville, subject to the M50’s traffic. He’s joined by performance coach Des Jennings, the man who held the role of Armagh’s sports psychologist during their All-Ireland victory in 2002. Along the route, they are joined by Mark Doran, who was Colm Collins’s coach in Clare until the previous year and also manages Slaughtneil in Derry.
While McConville acts as the nerve centre and pulse of the Wicklow team, Doran embodies its moral compass. He supervises the later training session, but retreats to the basics during pre and post-team meetings. One could almost imagine his nose detecting any hint of disengagement or deviation from the plan.
The gathering commences with a video conference. Participants are divided into groups to discuss the Westmeath match, with each group providing two strengths and two areas of improvement. McConville takes a turn around the room, setting forth the positives: successful kick-offs, an impressive defensive show in the first half, and accurate aim in the second half. Things to work on include better reactions when Westmeath takes an unexpected defensive position and avoiding being trapped too far back in our own territory.
McConville questions, “Did you gentlemen find things to be a bit tumultuous at any point?” Referring to the rapid request for alterations in the latter half of the game, he inquires, “Was that unsettling? Did you all comprehend the directives?”
Gary Duffy, selector and devoted Wicklow member, oversees the video segment. Duffy’s connection with Wicklow runs deep. He has competed at all levels, sharing managerial responsibilities in 2022 when Colin Kelly departed halfway through the season, and he already has a good rapport with many of these players from his time coaching the under-20s. He presents a series of video clips, some from the Westmeath game, others analyzing the loss to Kildare the previous year. He covers offense, defense, quick transitions, and kick-offs.
As Duffy wraps up, Doran takes over. He’s been observing to one side, obviously eager to push the group beyond mere passive acceptance of instructions. With the exception of Dean Healy and a few others, the group is largely made up of bright, humble young men in their early 20s, eager to absorb new knowledge. From a management perspective, the squad could use a bit more personality.
“What is your primary thought when we’re in a one-on-one situation on their kick-off?” challenges Doran. After an answer from one of the team, he reinforces with, “A conflict. Just a conflict, lads. If they position five on defence for a man-to-man and only four of ours consider it a contest, we’re at a disadvantage. No easy handovers. Any lapse in concentration and they’re breezing by us. If they deploy an extra man back, that’s a challenge that needs resolving on the pitch.”
McConville rises to address the room. His discussion goes on for a quick three minutes, focusing on significant points for this week. The past Sunday was extraordinary. Fantastic. A day for everyone to savour. Even the equipment manager, Eugene Dooley, was heard speaking on the radio while travelling. It was a nice touch.
“Now, we need to focus on the next steps,” McConville announces. “The main element for the rest of this week is your outlook. What are your desires, lads? What are your ambitions for your football career? What expectations do you have for this week? How do you want to feel at the end of the match next Sunday? Personally, I want each of you to be able to say, ‘I gave it my all.’ Is that alright? Fine, let’s get to it then.”
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Wicklow’s football team is not as overlooked as you may initially think. Their triumph over Westmeath marked the fourth time in the last five years that they won their first game in the Leinster Championship. Dublin, Kildare, and Meath are the only other groups who have achieved the same.
Despite that, in other aspects, they are precisely what you may predict. Consecutive victories have been elusive. Wicklow last made it to a provincial semi-final in 1995, aided by a bye into the quarter-finals. You’d have to trace back to 1989 for their last two victories in the Leinster Championship. They’ve only made it to the final once, way back in 1897.
This is McConville’s second stint at the helm. Although the results may not reflect it, he believes they are in a better position now than in his first year. In 2023, they ascended from Division Four with just one loss. This year, they were demoted from Division Three with only one win. Despite the setback, McConville believes they are better equipped now than they were previously.
“Compared to last year, the players have significantly increased their strength and conditioning,” quotes from a post-workout chat during a brief 20-minute gym session. At the Tailteann Cup game against Longford last year, many were left benched, unable to bear the physical exertion. Their improved resilience now puts them in a better position for this year’s matches.
The focus isn’t solely on the game’s outcomes. The team gained much more from their training this spring than they did in 2023. A memorable moment was their brief retreat at the Carrickdale Hotel located towards Dundalk’s outskirts. Plans were initially made for a night out, but the group chose to remain in the hotel, relishing their camaraderie.
Upon their first team discussion last year, the team generally seemed satisfied with their resources but expressed a desire for a weekend retreat. Even though it didn’t occur during last year’s league, they managed to experience it this time around, which proved to be quite advantageous.
Owen Doyle, with his distinctive white hair and Wellington boots, oversees operations at the excellence centre. Strictly enforcing the rule of keeping clear of behind the goals, he asserts that it’s to save you from ruining your shoes due to the foot-deep mud. He insists on retrieving the balls himself for the players.
There’s a swift-paced game organised by Doran, lasting just 12 minutes. Two miniature-sized goals positioned about 40m from each other. The cycle continues with three players speeding off in a row from behind the goal, breaking away swiftly, aiming to score. As soon as a shot is launched, the following trio begins their sprint from the opposing side. It’s a rapid-paced sequence until exhaustion sets in on the strenuous terrain, leaving everyone gasping for breath by the conclusion.
A final rallying cry. Compliments are given by McConville for their succinct and well-executed preparation, focusing on the importance of mentality as the theme of the week. As the huddle is about to disperse, Doran offers a final piece of advice.
“Remember, the key is aggression, boys. We lacked that edge during our preliminary match against Kildare. Without aggression in football, we’re left with nothing. This should be our chief focus. We need to show aggression from the outset when we confront them this coming Sunday.”
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Half by coincidence, Jonny Carlin, a Donegal native, became a footballer for Wicklow. Initially he played football and hurling for his local club Red Hughs before migrating to play League of Ireland football for Athlone Town and Cabinteely. He then took up strength and conditioning coaching at Barndarrig, which eventually led him to play for the club and ultimately clinch a county intermediate championship. Amidst all this, he was sidelined for a year due to a cruciate ligament injury. The culmination of all his experiences was his debut championship match last Sunday.
“It was an incredible experience,” he enthused. “Defeating a team when everyone has written you off is satisfying. Although our league campaign was a disappointment, we are yet to showcase our true potential.
“We suffered a considerable defeat against Westmeath, but we knew that it wasn’t a true reflection of our abilities. We didn’t travel the previous week with the expectation of being defeated by a margin of four or five. Deep down, we knew we were competent enough to overcome them.
“Despite the setbacks, the league proved a valuable experience. It allowed familiarity to build amongst us. As a newcomer to the team, I hadn’t really had the chance to get to know the other members. It was an extraordinary experience. Of course, we would have preferred to remain in Division Three, even if by the slightest of margins. But we knew we weren’t far off from achieving that.”
Carlin makes his way towards the edge of the field as one of the last ones. He calls out for Doyle, requesting one last kick before calling it quits for the day. Sorting out the remaining balls, Doyle refuses, convincing him that it’s already enough. But Carlin insists, asking for just one more opportunity. He gets his chance and successfully gets a kick splitting the posts. It’s time for dinner afterwards.
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Tinfoil-covered trays piled high with lasagne and spuds await them in the clubhouse, simple but satisfying grub. The chit chat drifts across the room as they sit in group clusters, good-natured banter filling the air. A few engage in a game of ping pong tucked away in a corner. The room gradually empties as everyone leaves.
McConville recalls how it used to be when they’d just pick up their food and head straight to their cars. He remembers thinking how the team spirit would suffer if the players didn’t even want to share a meal together. But that’s a thing of the past now; the players prefer each other’s company and they share a eagerness to improve as a team.
The clock strikes a little past nine, the car park gradually becomes vacant. Another evening comes to a close with another challenge lined up. They’ll be facing Kildare next, who are underestimated by many.
It seems no one ever backs them.